Reviews

The Message by K.A. Applegate

orsuros's review

Go to review page

4.0

The fourth book does a good job at balancing the smaller moments with the bigger picture, which leads to some intense and meaningful moments.

meemzter's review

Go to review page

5.0

This was my very first Animorphs book I ever read. I was 7 years old. I wanted to read it because it had a dolphin on the cover. I remember having absolutely no clue what a "Visser Three" was. This was the book for me that started it all.

I think this is a really solid installment. This is a great introduction to Cassie as a character, and this book also does a lot to establish characterization of the others (perhaps because Cassie is so observant). I loved little touches like Cassie being glad that Tobias is becoming more comfortable with himself, Cassie showing up at Marco's after his close call (which like, that whole scene, 12/10). Cassie is our queen of compassion, and it shows in the way she describes and interacts with the characters. She also feels wildly uncomfortable making decisions because she doesn't want to own the consequences, which is a really interesting aspect of her character that I think we see a more nuanced take on later on.

I rolled my eyes and laughed when Cassie asked if morphing is the same as what the yeerks do. Animorphs deals with a lot of very interesting ethical questions but this is NOT one of them. Put it away and let it never return. (I am pretty sure it returns.)

I suppose we should address the whales that have some sort of telepathy with dolphins.
I'm.................. fine with it.

This is also the first book where I've registered anyone talking about how Rachel was born to be a warrior and seems to thrive in battle and seems maybe a little happy they found this war. We love to see it!

Cassie and Jake are just the most beautiful romance like... him having a picture of her working in the barn??? and them shoveling manure together in silence like STOP THIS.

There were lots of small interactions between the characters that I really enjoyed, but I think at the end of the day this book just made me happy because it FEELS like Animorphs. This is a major adventure, with some really iconic morphs, the stakes are high and the outcome? We get the final Animorph! I am soooooo hype for The Predator.

Highlights: seagull morph, dolphin morph (!!!!!), a big multi-morph adventure, really great Cassie development, AX!!!!!!

sleepingnerd's review

Go to review page

3.0

You know, I do think I'd like to be a dolphin. I need that level of carefree and playfulness in my life.

This was another fun volume, and I can already see I'm going to like Ax. Also, we're introduced to Cassie's burgeoning conflict of not wanting to be responsible for others' pain and, thus, not wanting to make decisions. I can also bet that the element brought here, of how you "heal" when morphing, will be used in many gruesome scenes.

missjuliamazing's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

ypplesandbynynys's review

Go to review page

adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

sarahdm's review

Go to review page

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

Well they can’t all be bangers.

xxjessicae's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark 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

5.0

 Easily the best one so far - the stakes and consequences for poor decisions actually felt real, and the worldbuilding stepped up a notch compared to previous books. 

xfirefly9x's review

Go to review page

4.0

A favourite series from my childhood. This one was especially interesting because it took the Animorphs underwater in dolphin morph. Their face off against Visser 3 and interactions with the whales were particularly memorable moments.

bookishbarnowl's review

Go to review page

5.0

1) I wish I could turn into a dolphin
2) I forgot how violent these books could be for a kids series
3) My adult imagination conjures up the Taxxons to be way more grotesque than when I was a kid. Absolute nightmare fuel.
4) Andalites are adorable.
5) Did I say I wanted to turn into a dolphin?

I don't care if this is easy reading pulp designed for those aged 10 and up (although I think I read these aged 8). It is engaging, nostalgic pulp that relaxes my brain after studying for my AML diploma. It also needs a new TV series or film quite badly, please and thank you.

yet's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional informative
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25