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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
I was hesitant to reread this at first because obviously it’s for very young readers, but I loved them SO much as a kid when I could get my hands on them. So I decided to start from the beginning when I found the first 3 at Goodwill. I read it in a few hours and I honestly loved it. It holds such nolstagia for me and it’s actually hard to put down. It makes me want to read the whole series again!
adventurous
dark
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:
No
I can’t believe I didn’t read these books as a kid. These go crazy. I was not expecting a mature and sensitive portrayal of depression and love in a children’s book about animorphs.
Apparently these only get more crazy? But this is the second one and already darker than I expected.
Apparently these only get more crazy? But this is the second one and already darker than I expected.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
It's fun to reread old childhood favorites. This one had some good moments but also seemed to get bogged down explaining things the first book explained. I know they did that for people who hadn't read the first book, but it feels like it could have been done in a much smoother way.
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
my first Animorphs read ever and I love Rachel!
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Another day, another Animorphs book. Whereas the first in the series features a much more sprawling epic that favored a quick pace over character development, this one seems to lean deeper into the procedural elements. Here, we don’t have as many set pieces, as many ‘morph’ sequences, or as many consequences that will reverberate through the remainder of the series. Instead, The Visitor focuses more on getting to know a character who was massively shortchanged in the previous installment, building out the chemistry of the protagonists, and mainly focusing on a solo adventure with some espionage-lite elements involving a major member of the school board. Ultimately, The Visitor feels relatively inert. It’s the type of book in a series that doesn’t quite justify itself as a full story. But if it’s important for the reader to know these characters a bit more, then The Visitor may actually prove more enjoyable than the first installment for its measured approach in dialing back the action.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
As an Animorphs advocate, it is tempting to give each of these books 5 stars and use this review space to rave endlessly about why these books are special and worthy of everyone’s time (and worthy--say it with me--of a gritty animated adaptation).
But since I have read these books more times than I can remember, and since I write these reviews largely for myself, I'm going to simply be reflecting on how I felt about this book, this time. In case future me wants to know.
I think I'm happiest in the Animorphs universe during the 'status quo' years--after basic worldbuilding has been established, but before things get super dark. I just love a good-old-fashioned Animorphs adventure.
This book is still firmly "pre" status quo, and while it lays a lot of important groundwork, it's just not a favorite of mine, perhaps because of how early it is. We're still missing one of our main characters, after all, and these kids still don't know what the heck they are doing (it's adorable tho). Mostly, I think this book drags because the plot is really, really basic. The mission is them going to the same house 3 times. It just feels kind of... lackluster.
However, as the first Rachel POV, this book is extremely successful. Marco is my favorite character, but Rachel and Jake probably have my two favorite character arcs over the course of the series. Rachel's journey is only just beginning but we can already see so much that is going to matter. Rachel is loyal to her friends. She is a little reckless, a lot brave. She cares about people, and she sees people who other people don't see.
Highlights: Visser Three loving cats, the first bug morph, the "andalite bandits," introducing voluntary controllers, establishing the concept of host rebellion.
But since I have read these books more times than I can remember, and since I write these reviews largely for myself, I'm going to simply be reflecting on how I felt about this book, this time. In case future me wants to know.
I think I'm happiest in the Animorphs universe during the 'status quo' years--after basic worldbuilding has been established, but before things get super dark. I just love a good-old-fashioned Animorphs adventure.
This book is still firmly "pre" status quo, and while it lays a lot of important groundwork, it's just not a favorite of mine, perhaps because of how early it is. We're still missing one of our main characters, after all, and these kids still don't know what the heck they are doing (it's adorable tho). Mostly, I think this book drags because the plot is really, really basic. The mission is them going to the same house 3 times. It just feels kind of... lackluster.
However, as the first Rachel POV, this book is extremely successful. Marco is my favorite character, but Rachel and Jake probably have my two favorite character arcs over the course of the series. Rachel's journey is only just beginning but we can already see so much that is going to matter. Rachel is loyal to her friends. She is a little reckless, a lot brave. She cares about people, and she sees people who other people don't see.
Highlights: Visser Three loving cats, the first bug morph, the "andalite bandits," introducing voluntary controllers, establishing the concept of host rebellion.
It's amazing how invested I already am in these books. They're action-packed, full of heart, well-written and surprisingly gory. Already the trauma is setting in, different for each of our characters, like Rachel having screaming nightmares. They feel and behave like kids, even when facing such dire circumstances. God, I wish I had read this as a kid.
On to the next one!
On to the next one!