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florchusb's review
5.0
I'm reading the series in order for the first time, and as an adult I can reflect on some of the plots a lot more so I figured leaving a review as I go would be interesting for me and hopefully for others!
Let me start this one by telling you that Rachel is my all time favorite character. She definitely was back when I was a kid, but I'm pleasantly surprised that she still is. I find her POV really enjoyable because we then see her not only as strong and brave Rachel, but instead as a person who cares a lot about others and how she may impact them. She could get things far easier by going to live with her dad, but she knows from the minute that bomb falls on her that it would be abandoning her family, friends AND the whole planet.. So even if she's troubled by the big decision she has to make, bailing was never really an option to her.
I find it extra cute that she goes to Tobias anytime she feels overwhelmed and how they both care deeply for each other (going as far as book two when Rachel went to Chapman's basement and Tobias was thought-speaking privately with her worrying the whole time) even though they don't seem to express or even notice their emotional connection just yet.
She thinks about everyone when she makes decisions, which is not so 'clear' from the other Animorphs' perspective. Of course she dreams of a simpler life because, let's face it, being the only ones knowing and fighting an alien invasion is A LOT, specially for a bunch of kids. But reallisticaly she'll always try to do what she considers the right thing, it being scaring an elephant abuser to be better or deciding to stay and fight, BOTH by not going out of state with her dad and by rejecting The Ellimist 'easy way out' of the war.
With my early opinion on The Ellimist I'll finish this review, because I'm not even certain what I think about him. It sounds so good that I don't trust him, I'm naturally on Cassie's side, it COULD be a helpful being that's trying to avoid Earth's destruction, but the way he only appears on desperate moments and tries to influence the Animorphs by showing/saying just the bare minimum gets me suspicious.. I guess I'll just have to wait and see how it all unfolds!
Let me start this one by telling you that Rachel is my all time favorite character. She definitely was back when I was a kid, but I'm pleasantly surprised that she still is. I find her POV really enjoyable because we then see her not only as strong and brave Rachel, but instead as a person who cares a lot about others and how she may impact them. She could get things far easier by going to live with her dad, but she knows from the minute that bomb falls on her that it would be abandoning her family, friends AND the whole planet.. So even if she's troubled by the big decision she has to make, bailing was never really an option to her.
I find it extra cute that she goes to Tobias anytime she feels overwhelmed and how they both care deeply for each other (going as far as book two when Rachel went to Chapman's basement and Tobias was thought-speaking privately with her worrying the whole time) even though they don't seem to express or even notice their emotional connection just yet.
She thinks about everyone when she makes decisions, which is not so 'clear' from the other Animorphs' perspective. Of course she dreams of a simpler life because, let's face it, being the only ones knowing and fighting an alien invasion is A LOT, specially for a bunch of kids. But reallisticaly she'll always try to do what she considers the right thing, it being scaring an elephant abuser to be better or deciding to stay and fight, BOTH by not going out of state with her dad and by rejecting The Ellimist 'easy way out' of the war.
With my early opinion on The Ellimist I'll finish this review, because I'm not even certain what I think about him. It sounds so good that I don't trust him, I'm naturally on Cassie's side, it COULD be a helpful being that's trying to avoid Earth's destruction, but the way he only appears on desperate moments and tries to influence the Animorphs by showing/saying just the bare minimum gets me suspicious.. I guess I'll just have to wait and see how it all unfolds!
shiftycow1313's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
thisislikebuffy's review against another edition
5.0
My favorite so far in my re-read. Rachel was my favorite when I was 9 and 20 years later continues to be. Spoiler for end of entire series:
Spoiler
But also knowing how this series ends this books breaks my heart.npmbimbo's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
iftheshoef1tz's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
missjuliamazing's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
latitudea's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
five stars bc i had a crush on rachel as a kid and i still do. also this is the start of Bloodthirsty Rachel For Real
orsuros's review
4.0
This book definitely had some big reveals and some big choices. Overall it was easy to feel what the characters felt as they went through all of it. The ending seemed a little rushed but otherwise it was great.
sleepingnerd's review
4.0
Ok, so this one was intense. Applegate didn't shy away from the horrors of war since the very first book, but Rachel's emotions are so overflowing, the trauma of it all got to me in this one. They are just kids, but have to face the cognitive dissonance between their normal life and problems against their role in the war and the mortal peril faced daily. There's also a lot of dilemmas, like whether it's worth it to fight for the planet, when the chance of success is so slim, or if it's better to save a few, dooming the rest. The Ellimist also sounds like a really interesting character. I'm excited to see where this goes!
cyanpluto's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5