Chapter 1
Well, here is the first book that was published.
Ah, the lovely smell of "My name is" along with the reason why the Animorph won't tell you their full name and where they live. The character narrating this book is Jake.
The way this book is written is like the Animorphs are writing down their adventures so that people will know what is going on in case of their deaths. However, this entire series can't be written after the series is over since that wouldn't make sense.
Right from the start the terms 'Controller' and 'Andalites' are given. You know that a 'Controller' is bad while the 'Andalites' who are the good guys are and will rescue humanity.
The first scene is at the mall. I admit I started going to malls because of this series. Don't look at me like that!
Marco is Jake's friend and Jake seems to be jealous of how good Marco is at games. Also shows why Marco becomes Jake's second in command/trusted adviser later.
Jake mentions not getting along like he used to with his older brother Tom. He hoped that some good would come with making his junior high's basketball team. This paints, from the start, how much he admires his older brother.
Tobias, my favorite character of the series hands down, met Jake when our narrator rescued him from bullies. They became sort of friends ever since.
Jake and Marco meet up with Tobias and Marco comments on Jake's gaming skills. Well...lack of them.
Tobias asks if he can walk home with the pair and Jake agrees.
Jake says that Rachel is very pretty and then comments that he doesn't think of her sexually. Those shippers who ship these two: I see your point.
And Jake has a crush on Cassie! I'm so glad that they got married at the end! Oh...wait...I'm trying to cover up the pain again.
I like how Jake describes how Cassie seems to view the world in a very different way than anyone else he knows. This is very true throughout the series.
Jake gives a comment how Rachel and Cassie should walk with the boys since they're girls and it's nice. Love Rachel's response. I didn't really understand feminism when I first read this series but this is a good example.
Jake comments on how things changed in five minutes. He reminisces how he wishes that the fears he used to know were as bad as his fears ever got.
Ah, the construction site. The spot where Jake's life changed forever.
When he entered he was only thinking of the homeless people that lived there. Not aliens from outer space.
Tobias spots the Andalite fighter first. Of course Tobias would spot it first.
Cassie blurts that it's a flying saucer. Ah, yes, the subtlety.
Chapter 2
Marco laughs at the idea of a flying saucer until he sees the Andalite fighter.
Jake spends some time describing the Andalite fighter.
Marco brings up the option of running home and getting a camera to record the real alien spaceship. Jake makes a Star Trek reference and Marco laughs it off. Yes, Marco, you are the expert on all things alien.
Jake mentions being scared but also thinking the event was beyond cool. I don't blame him as I'd be feeling that mixture of emotions too.
Tobias is really excited about this and Jake makes mention that it's the normal things that freak Tobias out.
The Andalite fighter lands by the group of teenagers who stay where they are because they feel they have to be there. That something big is about to happen.
Marco says they should get adults and that they'd get famous for reporting this. Of course Marco would be interested in being famous.
Tobias tells whatever is in the spaceship, and they can't see the alien right now, that they mean it no harm. Another Star Trek reference is made by Cassie who remarks that every one speaks English on Star Trek so that's the common language in reality.
Was Applegate a Trekkie?
The alien talks in thought-speak and Jake is surprised by this. He describes thought-speak as a sound that isn't a sound. The alien continues and says not to be frightened.
Jake sees the alien. He describes the Andalite as harmless looking until you saw the tail-blade.
Tobias tells his Dad hello. Of course he has no idea that Elfangor is his real father at this point in the series. So it's only in hindsight that you're able to feel all these lovely and painful emotions.
Elfangor mentions that he's dying and that there's no help for him now. Cassie is mentioned to work with animals and so sort of knows how to help him. It's here that Elfangor makes mention of the Yeerks though he doesn't mention the species by name. Just says they're on Earth to destroy humanity.
Chapter 3
This chapter begins with repeating the last line of the previous chapter. I don't get why this is done since readers should remember what happened at the bottom of the last page.
Marco brings up the point that an alien species would be noticeable and someone would've mentioned them in the past. Elfangor has trouble saying what he means and so sends an image into the kids' heads.
Elfangor then talks about how Yeerks needs hosts because they're powerless while out of one. He goes on to describe on how the Yeerks take over a person completely.
Rachel is shocked and Jake says that adults should handle this stuff. Elfangor then brings up the fact that the Andalites had tried stopping the Yeerks and that didn't go so great. And now the Yeerks will track Elfangor, kill him, and destroy all traces that he was there.
Cassie asks how the evil aliens can do that. Elfangor gives the pacifist a, "Aw, you're adorably ignorant" look and then explains about Dracon beams.
He also says that he has sent a message to his home world but help might not come for years. In that time the Yeerks will have had more than enough time to take over the world. Elfangor says that the children must tell the other humans.
This is odd as he must know, having lived life as a human and being a generally smart guy, that the majority of humans think of aliens as purely fictional. And five random children wouldn't convince an entire world of an invasion. Not by a long shot.
Marco brings up the point that Elfangor's plan of having them warn their people is stupid and Jake agrees.
After Rachel suggests trying to help the Andalite, Elfangor says for one of them to get an object from his fighter.
Jake is chosen, by every one but himself, to go into the fighter. It seems to be Cassie that makes it so that he can't back out.
Like that Tobias is staying by his father's side even though he doesn't know they're related yet. So heartbreaking in hindsight.
Jake takes note of the fighter and thinks of the purpose of its design. He spots the Escafil device easily and then looks at a picture of Elfangor's family. I didn't really realize that Andalite fighters were personalized and wonder if it's a common thing for Andalites to do.
Jake feels anger that the Yeerks caused Elfangor to die so far away from home. When he comes back out Elfangor confirms that the picture was of his family.
Yes! Elfangor is offering them the chance to get the morphing ability. He explains how the Andalites keep this technology to themselves. He is only offering it to them now since their need is great and he is hoping that they can help fight the Yeerks until his people return.
Rachel asks what Elfangor means. Upon the Andalite's explanation Marco laughs it off. I love you, Marco, but you can be annoying at times.
Tobias replies that Elfangor is not joking. Do all Andalite relatives share such a connection or is it unique to bird boy?
Marco, Rachel, and Jake talk about how this is too weird. Tobias reminds the others that Elfangor is dying.
I find this funny as I imagine him going, "Dude, we have a DEADline to meet. No offense, Dad."
Cassie is the one that is the first to say yes. Jake says they all have to decide to do it or none of them will do it.
Chapter 4
The decision is rushed since the Yeerks can be seen to be approaching. All the future Animorphs turn to Jake to make a decision. His need to make terrible decisions was started because he was forced into the position of leader. Poor baby!
Jake looks to his friends and looks at Tobias last. It is the bird boy that tells Jake that accepting the power and responsibility is something they have to do.
How Jake describes touching the blue box (aka Escafil device) makes me think of a sex toy. I am now imagining Andalites using the Escafil device as an expensive sex toy. I got a lot of problems as I grew up as I didn't even think about that when I first read the book or the other numerous times I read it as a child.
Once the kids acquire the morphing ability Elfangor tells them to go and says not to stay in a morph longer than two hours. This is because if you stay longer than that you won't be able to demorph.
Elfangor starts yelling about Visser Three and Jake asks what a Visser is. Elfangor answers that he is the deadliest of Jake's enemies.
Rachel says they'll stay and defend him but Elfangor points out that them helping to save the world is much more important than his life.
AW! Tobias and Elfangor share their last moments together. And he doesn't know the Andalite is his father!
The kids hide and Jake is scared. I don't blame them. They find an alien (cool). Then they find out not only are there evil aliens invading Earth but they are their planet's last line of defense (not so cool).
Once the Bug fighter lands Marco whines like a little baby. I find his remark funny and don't blame him for being scared out of his mind.
So Visser Three has the ability to cause fear in mere mortals?
The Blade ship lands it's described creepily. Holy shit, and now Jake has to stop Cassie from screaming at Hork-Bajir Controllers (yes, Elfangor is dying and is giving the children all the information he can. BAD ASS). Hork-Bajirs are 'good people' and are to be pitied.
I am insulted by Rachel not believing Elfangor, but she just met the alien and doesn't know the history of the Hork-Bajir. Otherwise she'd know that most Hork-Bajir are just cows.
A Taxxon comes out and Elfangor states that they are evil. This is strange since in The Andalite Chronicles it's shown that his dear friend Arbron is a nothlit in that form and that there are a rebel group of Taxxons. Either Applegate didn't know about that part of Elfangor's backstory yet or that Elfangor thinks the Mountain Taxxons have failed and so only the evil Taxxons are left.
A Hork-Bajir Controller comes very close to Jake and he is terrified about being found out.
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Animorphs Re-Read Table of Contents
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