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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
This one genuinely impressed me! In this book, Cassie's the first person to really start wrestling with the moral implications of their powers, and as a result The Message is elevated to be more than just a fun adventure story.
I didn't really follow theme when I first read these stories in elementary school, but The Message is all about Cassie's struggle over the moral qualms of morphing— whether it’s ok to take over the bodies of intelligent animals like dolphins. We don't really know much about how morphing works, so there's a brief moment of uncertainty when Cassie first becomes a dolphin-- what if there is a sentient being sharing the body with her?
Ultimately the story becomes a really powerful message about the necessity of fighting in the name of justice and environmentalism. It’s the first time the Animorphs learn what takeover by the Yeerks mean— destruction of all ‘unnecessary’ life on earth, not just humans. The invaders would kill all the animals that aren’t effective hosts or food for hosts, and turn the planet into a utilitarian wasteland. This underscores morphing as a manifestation of the spirits of all animals on earth fighting for survival, and resolves cassie’s moral quandary over whether she can morph a dolphin. The lives of dolphins are also at stake in the battle against the aliens.
I'm continually impressed by Applegate's ability to insert complex issues into a children's story without diluting the substance. Plus, they're really fun! Excited for the next one!
I didn't really follow theme when I first read these stories in elementary school, but The Message is all about Cassie's struggle over the moral qualms of morphing— whether it’s ok to take over the bodies of intelligent animals like dolphins. We don't really know much about how morphing works, so there's a brief moment of uncertainty when Cassie first becomes a dolphin-- what if there is a sentient being sharing the body with her?
Ultimately the story becomes a really powerful message about the necessity of fighting in the name of justice and environmentalism. It’s the first time the Animorphs learn what takeover by the Yeerks mean— destruction of all ‘unnecessary’ life on earth, not just humans. The invaders would kill all the animals that aren’t effective hosts or food for hosts, and turn the planet into a utilitarian wasteland. This underscores morphing as a manifestation of the spirits of all animals on earth fighting for survival, and resolves cassie’s moral quandary over whether she can morph a dolphin. The lives of dolphins are also at stake in the battle against the aliens.
I'm continually impressed by Applegate's ability to insert complex issues into a children's story without diluting the substance. Plus, they're really fun! Excited for the next one!
As a kid, I was never a big fan of Cassie. The constant morality issues got tiresome when all I wanted was action. (That said, Rachel was never my favorite either. She swung way too far in the opposite direction. I wanted a nice balance, darn it!) She doesn't have Marco's sense of humor or Tobias's dramatic issues or Jake's...Jakeness. She was kind of boring.
Now I can appreciate her far more. Having unexpectedly found myself in a major like ecology and evolution, I can appreciate the way she thinks about things, especially when it comes to animals and nature, more than I ever could as a kid. I became more like Cassie than I ever expected to.
I still like some of the others' POV books far more. But Cassie has grown on me. :)
This book is also fun for two other reasons: 1) DOLPHINS! Such a cool animal, and one of the ones I was always super jealous that I couldn't morph into... BONUS POINTS because in all the times I read and re-read this series in middle school, I never once realized that the dolphins in this book are named for the cast of characters from Friends, and I am weirdly gleeful about that reference. *grin* And 2) The introduction of Ax, everybody's favorite awkward wonderful Andalite teenager! :D
Now I can appreciate her far more. Having unexpectedly found myself in a major like ecology and evolution, I can appreciate the way she thinks about things, especially when it comes to animals and nature, more than I ever could as a kid. I became more like Cassie than I ever expected to.
I still like some of the others' POV books far more. But Cassie has grown on me. :)
This book is also fun for two other reasons: 1) DOLPHINS! Such a cool animal, and one of the ones I was always super jealous that I couldn't morph into... BONUS POINTS because in all the times I read and re-read this series in middle school, I never once realized that the dolphins in this book are named for the cast of characters from Friends, and I am weirdly gleeful about that reference. *grin* And 2) The introduction of Ax, everybody's favorite awkward wonderful Andalite teenager! :D
whales possess enough higher consciousness to understand the concepts of freedom, friendship, and animorphing in this one.