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absolutelyfatal's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
ceeonearth's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Rough one for Marco!
bookishbarnowl's review against another edition
5.0
The UK cover of this book had Marco morphing into a lobster on the front cover. I have a fond memory of having nominal cash and browsing the Scholastic book fair at primary school. I guess lobster boy on the cover was enough to catch the attention of 9 year old me and it was the book I went away with that day. It was an odd place to start - 5 books in. However, it was clearly enough to have me begging my mum to buy me the first four and I was hooked.
This book has a very satisfying twist that 33 year old me forgot about.
This book has a very satisfying twist that 33 year old me forgot about.
megpancoast's review against another edition
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? No
4.0
ekrunkel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
tashagrimaudo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
sapphiremarie's review against another edition
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
rhia42's review against another edition
5.0
I can't believe I forgot about the big twist at the end of this story!!!! It really has been a long time since I've read these books. Still loving them. Still enjoying them. I think I really like Marco a lot better this time. I like all the characters. The one I always identified with was Rachel though. Not because of her fashion sense, but because of her 'go get it' amazon warrior mentality. I wanted to be her even though I was probably more like Cassie. lol.
Marco though... the ability to laugh in the face of so much fear and tragedy in his life. I'm glad at the end of the book there was a spark of hope in his life.
Marco though... the ability to laugh in the face of so much fear and tragedy in his life. I'm glad at the end of the book there was a spark of hope in his life.
idkallegra_iguess's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5
garnetofeden's review against another edition
4.0
This volume is the first in the series from the perspective of Marco. Prior to this volume, Marco is mainly a comic relief character who sometimes seems to drag his feet unnecessarily. This story adds depth to his character, besides giving him a purpose to be involved in the war against the Yeerks.
Marco quotes an author of an ant book as saying, "If ants had nuclear weapons they would probably end the world in a week" (pg. 92). Interestingly, that quote is real and comes from the book Journey to the Ants by Bert Holldobler and Edward O. Wilson.
As an adult reading the series, I scoffed at first when I read Marco's calculations of how fast light travel in miles per second to 82 light years (pg. 15-16). I know I didn't have the speed of light memorized when I was in junior high. Not to mention that I know plenty of people in my university chemistry and physics classes who are incapable of doing that type of conversion calculation. However, after this initial reaction, I was pondering that kids can often be smarter than we give them credit for. I know there are plenty of things I knew as a kid that adults assumed I didn't.
Ax's extreme reaction to taste was pretty funny. From Marco's point of view, Jake seems a little grumpier than previously described - "hacked off", "ragged out". Since I was rereading the older, original version of the book rather than the re-release, I was trying to pay attention to places that would potentially be 'updated'. If there were any instances of outdated technology, I either didn't notice them or didn't adequately mark them.
Rating reviewed 1/23/2023.
Spoiler
Although at this point in the series, it isn't clear to me why Marco's mother was considered a strategic host. I can't see Visser One using a host that served no strategic purpose. Then again, if Marco's mother had a strategic purpose, Visser One wouldn't have faked her death. So perhaps she just provided a convenient body that could disappear, allowing Visser One to experience a human host while not having to worry about maintaining a human front.Marco quotes an author of an ant book as saying, "If ants had nuclear weapons they would probably end the world in a week" (pg. 92). Interestingly, that quote is real and comes from the book Journey to the Ants by Bert Holldobler and Edward O. Wilson.
As an adult reading the series, I scoffed at first when I read Marco's calculations of how fast light travel in miles per second to 82 light years (pg. 15-16). I know I didn't have the speed of light memorized when I was in junior high. Not to mention that I know plenty of people in my university chemistry and physics classes who are incapable of doing that type of conversion calculation. However, after this initial reaction, I was pondering that kids can often be smarter than we give them credit for. I know there are plenty of things I knew as a kid that adults assumed I didn't.
Ax's extreme reaction to taste was pretty funny. From Marco's point of view, Jake seems a little grumpier than previously described - "hacked off", "ragged out". Since I was rereading the older, original version of the book rather than the re-release, I was trying to pay attention to places that would potentially be 'updated'. If there were any instances of outdated technology, I either didn't notice them or didn't adequately mark them.
Spoiler
However, I did find the Yeerk political machinations that allowed for their pat escape a little overly simplified and convenient.Rating reviewed 1/23/2023.