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rhia42's review
4.0
Another fun animorphs book. I keep forgetting how fun these are! I loved them as a teenager. They hold up pretty well.
sapphiremarie's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
idkallegra_iguess's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
tashagrimaudo's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
bookishblond's review
Rereading the Animorphs series as an adult:
Oh my gosh, I can't believe we already get Ax! I didn't remember him showing up so early in the series, but I guess it only makes sense because he's a major character.
This book was interesting because Applegate threw in an ethical dilemma. Philosophy lite. Cassie starts having second guessing when the gang decides to morph dolphins (which was Cassie's idea in the first place). They're too smart! What are we doing? We can't exploit the intelligent dolphins this way! (Omg and the Garden dolphins were named after the Friends. Love it.)
She doesn't have a grasp on how acquiring DNA works, which is fine because she's in middle school, but later in the book when Marco's dolphin morph is injured, she has a perfect understanding on how DNA works and knows that if Marco just morphs back to human and then to dolphin again he'll be fine. Maybe she did some research.
I LOVED how the whales were called the great ones and the dolphins the little ones. Major environmentalism feels. I didn't remember that part.
I just died when Ax called Jake "Prince Jake." I forgot all about that. Ax is a comedic icon. Kind of creepy how he made a human morph out of all of the Animorphs, though... how does that work? Pretty sure that technology doesn't ever come up again...
Oh, and the scene where the kids think they're about to die, again, and Cassie is like, Jake, I have something to tell you! And Jake is like, I know, you didn't have to tell me. That is the EXACT scene that played out between Rachel and Tobias in the last book.
Oh my gosh, I can't believe we already get Ax! I didn't remember him showing up so early in the series, but I guess it only makes sense because he's a major character.
This book was interesting because Applegate threw in an ethical dilemma. Philosophy lite. Cassie starts having second guessing when the gang decides to morph dolphins (which was Cassie's idea in the first place). They're too smart! What are we doing? We can't exploit the intelligent dolphins this way! (Omg and the Garden dolphins were named after the Friends. Love it.)
She doesn't have a grasp on how acquiring DNA works, which is fine because she's in middle school, but later in the book when Marco's dolphin morph is injured, she has a perfect understanding on how DNA works and knows that if Marco just morphs back to human and then to dolphin again he'll be fine. Maybe she did some research.
I LOVED how the whales were called the great ones and the dolphins the little ones. Major environmentalism feels. I didn't remember that part.
I just died when Ax called Jake "Prince Jake." I forgot all about that. Ax is a comedic icon. Kind of creepy how he made a human morph out of all of the Animorphs, though... how does that work? Pretty sure that technology doesn't ever come up again...
Oh, and the scene where the kids think they're about to die, again, and Cassie is like, Jake, I have something to tell you! And Jake is like, I know, you didn't have to tell me. That is the EXACT scene that played out between Rachel and Tobias in the last book.
garnetofeden's review against another edition
4.0
I'm still not liking the new re-release covers. I also miss having the little morph in the bottom corner that you could animate by flipping.
This volume has the first example I've noticed of the re-release 'updating' technology.
"Cool. A piece of prehistoric technology," Marco said.
"Not everybody has DVR," Jake said. "I guess no one else watched the late news last night?" (...) "Rachel, can we go downstairs and use your mom's old VCR?"
Also later it mentions them using the internet to look something up, which probably wasn't commonly used by kids in 1996 when this book first came out. Honestly, I think it's more likely that, if they were going to update to the technology kids would 'typically' use, they probably would have been using the internet to view the video clip as well.
Again, as an adult (and a geologist) I question things I wouldn't have as a child.
Rating reviewed 1/23/2023.
This volume has the first example I've noticed of the re-release 'updating' technology.
Spoiler
"Rachel," Jake interrupted, "I think I have something that may be interesting." He pulled a videocassette out of his bag."Cool. A piece of prehistoric technology," Marco said.
"Not everybody has DVR," Jake said. "I guess no one else watched the late news last night?" (...) "Rachel, can we go downstairs and use your mom's old VCR?"
Also later it mentions them using the internet to look something up, which probably wasn't commonly used by kids in 1996 when this book first came out. Honestly, I think it's more likely that, if they were going to update to the technology kids would 'typically' use, they probably would have been using the internet to view the video clip as well.
Again, as an adult (and a geologist) I question things I wouldn't have as a child.
Spoiler
I wondered about going 20 miles off the coast and then having a dolphin dive to the ocean floor. Although in some places this may be possible, there are areas where that far off the coast would be thousands of feet deep, depths that a dolphin probably wouldn't be able to handle.Rating reviewed 1/23/2023.
ashkitty93's review against another edition
5.0
So. Damn. Good.
This book confirms that I am Marco Trash.
Favorite quotes under the spoiler.
"This idea just gets better and better," Marco said.
"Let's put it to a vote," Jake suggested.
"I'm in," Marco said instantly.
A split second behind him, Rachel said her usual "I'm in."
Everyone stared openmouthed at Marco.
"Just once I wanted to beat Rachel to it," he explained.
----------
< There's a ship up ahead, > Jake announced.
< You just now noticed it? > Tobias laughed. < Wow. Seagull eyes aren't exactly great are they? It's a container ship called Newmar. It's from Monrovia. You want to know what color the captain's hair is? >
< Show-off, > Jake grumbled.
This book confirms that I am Marco Trash.
Favorite quotes under the spoiler.
Spoiler
"This idea just gets better and better," Marco said.
"Let's put it to a vote," Jake suggested.
"I'm in," Marco said instantly.
A split second behind him, Rachel said her usual "I'm in."
Everyone stared openmouthed at Marco.
"Just once I wanted to beat Rachel to it," he explained.
----------
< There's a ship up ahead, > Jake announced.
< You just now noticed it? > Tobias laughed. < Wow. Seagull eyes aren't exactly great are they? It's a container ship called Newmar. It's from Monrovia. You want to know what color the captain's hair is? >
< Show-off, > Jake grumbled.
btemplet's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
loreleifae's review
2.0
Honestly pretty disappointing after the last one. No real drama other than "Cassie is scared to make decisions". Also the CassieXJake thing is so painful.