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bookshelfmystic 's review for:
The Discovery
by K.A. Applegate
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:
Yes
The Animorphs are preteen kids. I have to remember this whenever I want to shake them and yell “YOU ARE MAKING A TERRIBLE CHOICE!!” Still, the terrible choice they make in this book sets up one of the best – and darkest – plotlines in the whole series, leading to the much more terrible choice they are forced to make two books down the line.
This choice is made as the crew votes to accept David as an Animorph or turn him over to the Yeerks . Here is a case – perhaps unlike in #19, The Departure – where even without the hindsight of knowing how the trilogy turns out, Marco’s ruthless practicality should be trusted. But you can sense that the Animorphs are desperate for any sort of help, and adding in a dose of empathy and guilt, they set horrible things in motion through the best intentions. They just can’t leave an innocent kid to be infested by Yeerks – the same choice, in reverse, played out in the last book .
Marco is an interesting person to have narrate the first interactions with David. He’s not really a nice guy, and his conversations with David are all utilitarian. It’s no wonder David felt unwelcome from the beginning. I wondered if reading this trilogy as an adult would elicit more sympathy for David and, well, it does, but not nearly as much as I thought it might; as soon as he kills a bird for fun and lies about it it’s pretty obvious he’s different from the other Animorphs. The reader feels the same sense of anxious dread the Animorphs do: did they trust the right person? Did they make a horrible mistake? It’s an excellent emotional setup for the rest of the trilogy: the stakes are high, the risk is great, the payoff may be incredible, but things are not looking up. The dread only grows as the Animorphs are thrown into action and must trust their new Animorph with their lives against mounting indications that their trust is misplaced. And this is only book one! Strap in, buckaroos.
Miscellaneous notes:
• I continue to chuckle at the unintended period piece these books have become, evident every time the Animorphs interact with (human) technology.
• Each Animorph’s vote in the pivotal decision (making David an Animorph or leaving him to the Yeerks) is really interesting. Rachel’s, especially. Marco’s choice makes perfect sense (and is smart), but is also based on some pretty big assumptions about David’s character. And the fact that Jake, usually the one to make the tough choices, backs off entirely and doesn’t even offer an opinion until the rest of the group has spoken.
This choice is made as the crew votes to
Marco is an interesting person to have narrate the first interactions with David. He’s not really a nice guy, and his conversations with David are all utilitarian. It’s no wonder David felt unwelcome from the beginning. I wondered if reading this trilogy as an adult would elicit more sympathy for David and, well, it does, but not nearly as much as I thought it might; as soon as he
Miscellaneous notes:
• I continue to chuckle at the unintended period piece these books have become, evident every time the Animorphs interact with (human) technology.
• Each Animorph’s vote in the pivotal decision
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Violence