Animorphs Re-Read: #4 The Message (Chapters 1-4)

Chapter 1

This book is narrated by Cassie.

The book begins with the recap. This is nice as it allows new readers to start anywhere in the series and get the gist of what is going on. However, for older readers it becomes redundant. I don't mind, though. It just adds to the magic that is Animorphs.

Cassie transitions from the recap to the current night.

Cassie talks about how she's about to morph a squirrel. She also takes time out of the novel to talk about what her parents do for a living.

Cassie says she's in the Rehabilitation Clinic (aka her family's barn). She talks about where different animals are in the barn as well as a room or two.

Cassie describes how scared a squirrel is and that when she morphs one all that fear will be part of her. That she will have to control it since when you morph you get some of the animal instincts. One plus side of that is you don't have to worry about how to move while in morph, the downside is that sometimes animals have really strong instincts.

Cassie says the reason she's going to morph a squirrel is to find out what has been killing animals (aka patients). She mentions that she's been having very odd dreams.

I can see why Tobias would be having these dreams (is revealed later that he is), but not Cassie. Tobias is Elfangor's son so him receiving the dreams seems natural, but Cassie isn't related to any Andalite. Though maybe this is to show that she's connected to animals.

If anyone wants to show me a fic where it's foreshadowing that she'll fall in love with, and marry, an Andalite please do. Her falling in love with a female Andalite would be even better.

Cassie comforts a squirrel in her hands. She talks about how some morphs are awesome and others aren't that great. She references the trout morph from the previous book.

She also shows a tactic she uses when morphing. Before she morphs she imagines what it'd be like being the animal. Nice one!

As Cassie morphs the squirrel she is morphing is so afraid that he runs back into his cage and closes the door. Cassie tells the reader to believe her. I don't know why, but believing a squirrel would do that is a little harder than believing in aliens.

I love how the kids describe events. Sometimes the wording just makes you realize how young these kids actually are. Cassie describes some of her morphing a squirrel as 'way cool'.

Cassie finds out that the squirrel mind is like someone on coffee. Very alert and very hyper.

Then she gets scared as she realizes that predators are all around her.


Chapter 2

The chapter begins with Cassie being overtaken by the mind of the squirrel. She can't control the morph and is running around since there are predators all around her. You know, since she is in a rehabilitation clinic for animals.

Cassie sees a nut and gets excited because this is her nut. This is hers and no one can get it from her. I like when the kids lose control of a morph so you can really see what an animal thinks like.

While Cassie doesn't have control of her morph, Tobias arrives. She says that she isn't stable enough to react like she normally would to him. Her squirrel brain just registers him as a predator and so she runs.

Huh, it seems Cassie is aware enough to know she has to do something but she allows the squirrel side of her to make the decision.

Cassie describes the feeling of running on a wall while in squirrel morph. It's a great description, but she does the 'if you have never, but of course you haven't' thing again. It's funny and seems to be an Animorphs thing I have forgotten about.

Cassie describes the feeling as strange.

Tobias lands on a rafter and Cassie tries to stay still. For anyone who hasn't met me offline (aka most of you reading this), you won't know how much I connect to her about this. I can hardly stay still. Some part of me will usually always be twitching and I really have to focus to stay still.

Cassie discovers the same problem I have and runs again.

As Cassie runs she sees what creature had been killing patients. A fox!

The bad news is that Tobias saw her, doesn't seem to know she's in morph, and is swooping down to get her.

Cassie realizes she doesn't have time to slowly learn to control her morph. She has to do so right now!

Tobias dives towards her but is startled by the noises that the animals make. Cassie is able to escape his attack but falls towards the fox.

Cassie yells for help and Tobias is surprised that she's in squirrel morph. You know, Cassie, maybe warning him before you morphed would've been a good idea. Maybe tell him a day or two in advance. Because he does eat squirrels, you know?

As Cassie tries to keep away from the fox Tobias complains about Cassie not saying she was in morph. Saying that he was considering eating her before he knew. She says that she didn't have time and it appears as she doesn't want to hear any complaints.

Tobias is annoyed that he has to save her sorry squirrel ass, but does so and scares the fox away. He then questions why Cassie is up at this hour of the night in a squirrel morph.

Cassie explains that she didn't know what was killing the patients and so decided to morph squirrel. Tobias finds that he can't hate someone who is trying to rescue birds.

I like that she makes a small joke about him being stuck in hawk form as a complaint I had in the last book was how all the Animorphs (minus Marco) were too scared to joke around with Tobias. And having people joke around with you can help you deal with certain situations.

Oooh! Jake has a picture of Cassie feeding an animal a pill and he doesn't want another picture of her because that picture is good enough! Aw!

Tobias and Cassie notice Cassie's father coming and Tobias points out that she still has a tail. Luckily her dad isn't too observant and when he goes to double check the tail is gone.

At the end of the chapter it's revealed that both Tobias and Cassie are having the same dream. The plot thickens!


Chapter 3

It seems Cassie and Tobias are asking the others if they've been having the same dream since Marco starts talking about his recent dreams. None of which are the same dream as Cassie and Tobias'.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans will get how this pic connects to dreams and possibly this post.

Marco brings up the fact that he dreamed of King Friday. This causes Rachel to imply that he is insane. She gives Cassie a wink and Marco seems concerned for his sanity.

Cassie describes Rachel's room as being fashionable. Rachel's character is not only a warrior but the pretty girl that is into fashion. Cassie notices that the quotes on Rachel's bulletin board reflect their new lives and how Xena Warrior Princess has adapted to it.

Cassie remarks how their lives had become full of paranoia since anyone could be the enemy.

This must be very hard on the children since they are thirteen years old. They are barely grown up at all and they have to deal with not being able to trust anyone outside of the group. Cassie can't go and ask her parents what to do.

Cassie remarks on how each Animorph had reacted to the news. She then goes about how she has a crush on Jake. I'm so glad that they end up with married by the end of the series. With Marco as the Best Man and Rachel as the Maid of Honor.

God, I'm so glad I can deny anything I want to.

Cassie makes a remark that Marco is 'kind of cute' but he isn't her type. Maybe she has a really tiny crush on him?

She goes on to talk about how he doesn't want to be an Animorph but seems to be the most level headed out of them. This is how Marco isn't a one-sided character. He doesn't like the war, but he will still fight and make sure everyone remains safe.

I love Rachel. I can't remember how much I liked her when I originally read the series, but I really admire her now. I think it's because now I have experienced a lot more of how women are usually portrayed in fiction. So having a character like Rachel is just something really special.

Yeah, my first fandom sort of spoiled me.

Cassie describes Rachel as pretty much fearless but admits her best friend might be afraid. But her appearance is that she fearless.

The description of Rachel as beautiful but deadly is done again. Cassie thinks that the war with the Yeerks fits Rachel very well. And that Rachel enjoys the violence.

Rachel tries to change the subject of dreams since she doesn't believe in them but Jake pulls a videocassette from his bag and now I feel old.

Marco jokes about watching a movie. Jake is quick to correct him and say it's the late night news from the previous night. Marco makes a joke about watching Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. They go downstairs to watch the tape.

Marco and Tobias joke with each other while they go downstairs. I love seeing Marco and Tobias mess around with each other.

When they are downstairs Jake briefly explain what's on the tape before playing it. It turns out some of an Andalite ship had washed onto a beach. After Jake is done explaining Cassie faints. I like how she mentions how she doesn't care that Jake catches her as that shows how out of it she is.

AW!


Chapter 4

Cassie is caught up in a vision of falling into the sea and there is a voice telling her to come towards it. I know I mentioned this already but: why is Cassie getting the visions? Is her connection to Ax (and Andalites in general) the reason why she fights?

When Cassie awakes Jake is beside her, Rachel wants to call and ambulance, and Marco doesn't agree with Rachel since he thinks that's a dangerous idea. Once it's assured that Cassie is alright, they focus on Tobias who looks dead.

Don't worry, he doesn't die. Nothing in canon contradicts that so that's what I choose to believe!

Rachel wants to call 911 so Tobias can be helped, but Jake points out that 911 couldn't help Tobias. Luckily Tobias quickly wakes up. The hawk mind takes over at first but then he takes control of his body.

The Animorphs discuss what just happened. Cassie and Tobias had the same dream but they could hear a voice this time. The others could actually feel something.

Jake thinks that what Cassie and Tobias think of as dreams are actually a form of communication. The group decides that what Cassie and Tobias are hearing isn't human. They then start throwing ideas of what might be communicating with the duo.

Rachel thinks that a Yeerk is trying to communicate with the group which makes no sense. When has it ever been hinted at that they could communicate that way and why would Rachel think it was a Yeerk? I know she could be thinking of a trap but still...

Tobias and Cassie connect the 'voice' to that of Elfangor, the Andalite that gave them their morphing ability.

The book then goes to recap that Elfangor revealed the truth about the Yeerks and gave them the ability to fight them.

Rachel makes a comment to Marco about Elfangor's sacrifice not being something that he'd understand. Now Marco is the most reluctant Animorph and he's an odd combination of both reluctant and wanting to protect the others. He doesn't want to fight but he seems to think he has to protect Jake from doing something extremely stupid.

So Marco replies that he does know what Elfangor's sacrifice means.

Rachel then states that if there's an Andalite she's going to help them. This is funny since, later on in the series, you learn that Andalites aren't saints.

In fact, they can be big jackasses with thinking that they are superior to everyone else. However, the Andalites aren't all bad and they are fighting against the Yeerks.

Cassie, Jake, Tobias, and even Marco agree to rescue the Andalite.
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