Mini-LP: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (Parts 4-6)

I go up against Darth Vader and the Emperor.




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Mini-LP: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Table of Contents 

Animorphs Re-Read: #1 The Invasion (Chapters 21-24)

Chapter 21

So writers don't enjoy tv shows? I write and I enjoy tv shows. At the time of first reading this book I wasn't big into tv shows and preferred reading book. Well, at least, we know what Jake's mother does for a living.

The family dinner conversation starts out nice and then I feel it tenses up when Jake talks to Tom.

Jake manages to relate eating broccoli to eating a spider. If I ever meet him (most likely through a dream or hallucination) I'm going to ask about if he wants to eat a spider with me. Or something relating to him eating a spider.

Jake continues to ask Tom what he's doing tonight and his Dad says it's a girl. But Jake knows the truth and also knows he can't tell his parents. So Jake's Dad is a doctor?

Jake says that Tom is afraid of him beating him in basketball. Tom angrily agrees with him. Jake thinks about how hard it is to spot a Controller.

When Tom leaves, Jake goes up to his room and calls Marco, Rachel, Cassie, and Tobias. But when he goes to call Cassie he gets her Mom. The plot thickens!

Jake arrives at the school and hopes Cassie is there. He sees Rachel and Marco. Tobias is already in morph and this makes Jake very mad. There's the two hour limit and the fact Jake doesn't know how long this mission will last. This supports my head canon about what happens to Tobias at the end of this book.

Rachel suggests they wait until they know what happened to Cassie. Marco says that it's possible that Cassie got scared and decided not to come. Jake doesn't think she did, but has heard it says you don't know how someone will react to their first battle. I don't like that Marco said Cassie ran, but I can see that he's trying to unnerve Jake not to fight. Because Marco, himself, doesn't want to fight.

Jake's is afraid and so she can see why the love of his life decided not to come.

Tobias lands on Rachel's shoulder, she doesn't mind, and they rub their heads against each other. AW! Just so damn cute, you two!

Tobias asks if they're going to start the mission soon and Jake is worried. Cassie is missing and Tobias is already in morph. They manage to sneak into the school and see Controllers entering the Yeerk pool.

Rachel suggests that they pretend to be Controllers on the off chance that not every Controller knows each other. Marco says it's a very dumb idea but Jake says to try it. Marco points out that Tom would know Jake wasn't a Controller. Jake says he thinks Tom is already down in the Yeerk pool.

Jake sees a policeman with a girl. Tobias reports that the girl is Cassie. Jake breaks down verbally and says that the Controllers have Cassie.


Chapter 22

Rachel asks for clarification and then curses. Again, because this is a Young Adult series there isn't any cursing allowed. A lot of violence, but lord help us if one of the characters says fuck.

Jake says to carry on with the original plan even though Cassie has been captured. Marco doesn't like the idea but agrees to go along with it anyways. They are all nervous as they start to walk to the entrance of the Yeerk pool.

When Jake opens the secret door he notices there is more noise than earlier that day. He thinks this might be an illusion because he's now human. Marco makes a remark that it sounds like they're going into the depths of Hell. And, really, aren't they?

They go through the Yeerk pool entrance together. Marco makes a joke about all the steps needed to get down to the Yeerk pool. And he does have a point. This superior race of beings is still stuck on the steps stage.

The Yeerk pool is described as being extremely huge and shaped like a bowl that has been turned upside down. As I have just finished reading Under the Dome (by Stephen King) I would like to make a joke referencing that book but can't think of a good one. Feel free to make your own in the comments section.

The Animorphs realize that the Yeerk pool isn't just under their school, but under half the town too. That there are more entrances than the one they used. Marco nearly pisses his pants at the realization. Jake starts to feel like it's hopeless to go up against the Yeerks as to build the Yeerk pool, the invading aliens had to have power much greater than any human had. Much less human teenagers.

Jake sees the actual Yeerk pool. The water's movements resemble melted lead and has the same color. He also sees Yeerks in their natural state.

The Yeerks' hosts are kept in cages. People of all ages and sexes are kept in the cages. Hork-Bajirs are kept in separate cages. Every one of them is full of despair and you can tell they have given up all hope.

Jake sees Cassie and wants to morph and save her. Luckily the other Animorphs are able to dissuade him from this idea.

The Animorphs see the sight of a Yeerk leaving its host and entering the Yeerk pool. The woman starts screaming for help once the Yeerk leaves her. I can imagine that this gives the Animorphs major incentive to carry on with their mission.


Chapter 23

Jake mentions what the woman had been yelling out was the same basic thing that everyone had been yelling. But they hadn't had a face to put the words too until that woman. I can understand that it's really not until you have personal experience with an emotion that you fully comprehend it.

There is a second pier that Jake calls the loading station (though he later calls it the infestation station). Such a normal, unassuming title that you forgot for a second that it's where the Yeerks go back into their hosts. Where people try to resist before becoming slaves of the Yeerks again.

There is another area where hosts wait in comfort to become infested again. Humans and Hork-Bajir drink and watch tv. These people are even laughing. Tobias explains that those are voluntary hosts, aka Collaborators, who allow the Yeerks to use them as hosts.

Rachel doesn't believe any person would agree to that and Marco replies that some people are just scum.

Tobias brings up the point that The Sharing lures people in with promises of a better life. A way to escape their pain. Marco then points out Tobias is doing the same thing with his hawk morph. Tobias then flies away and Jake yells after him.

Marco has a point and I wonder if he brought up his last point because he cared. It might've been born from anger, but meant to bring bird-boy back to reality.

Rachel tells Marco not to be a jerk to Tobias as the group needs everyone.

Tobias returns and says that Cassie is being taken to the infestation pier. As you can guess, there will be a way in which Cassie doesn't become a Controller. I would say the reason is because she's one of the main cast and so can't be made into one. However, later on in the series an Animorph does become a Controller for a little bit. So I would say the reason you know she isn't going to become a Controller is that this is only the first book.

Jake asks Tobias if he saw Tom and if he is a voluntary host. Tobias says that Tom is in a cage and this makes Jake happy. He knew his brother wouldn't bow down to the Yeerks.

Tobias says that Cassie is getting close and that they need to act now. Marco takes a few seconds to tell Jake that he is okay with dying, but he doesn't want to become a Controller. So if Jake has to, Marco gives the okay to kill him if the Yeerks try to infest him. That is hard core! Marco, you are a joker but you know when to make your stand. The stands that really matter.

Before Jake can reassure Marco, some Controllers notice them. Jake gets too nervous to morph, but luckily Rachel has kept her calm. She is morphing something very large.


Chapter 24

Rachel morphs into an elephant and is very pleased with herself. Jake is also happy that Rachel morphed. The Taxxon Controller notices her first and the Hork-Bajir Controller attempts to attack her. But the Hork-Bajir did too little, too late. Turns out Taxxons have yellow blood.

The human Controller just says 'Elephant' in questioning manner and Rachel replies that she's an elephant. It's only Rachel's first battle and you can get a sense that she'll become very bloodthirsty, or at least have problems with that part of her personality.

The man screams and Rachel just tosses him aside.

Jake orders Marco to morph and the joker says to be reminded never to make Rachel mad.

As Jake starts to morph he starts considering what the tiger will think of him morphing into it. I find this strange as I wouldn't think Jake would consider a tiger's feelings something to worry about. How Jake describes morphing into a tiger is much different than when he morphed into Homer and the lizard. Morphing into a tiger is cool.

Jake is now fearless and roars at the Hork-Bajir who then freezes up for a few seconds.
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Animorphs Re-Read Table of Contents

Mini-LP: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (Parts 1-3)

I start making my way through the final level of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed!





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Mini-LP: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Table of Contents

Under the Dome (Stephen King)

Title: Under the Dome

Author: Stephen King

Released: 2009

Rating: 6/5

Basic Plot: A mysterious dome drops around the town of Chester's Mill. A man decides to try and take control of the town while others, lead by a drifter, attempt to stop him. All the while time runs out for Chester's Mill.
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Big Jim
This character is unlikable from the first page he appears on. His whole thing is that he must always be right and will kill those who speak out against him. From his first appearance you don't want him in charge of the town. Jim says that he cares about Chester's Mill, he even thinks that in various parts of the novel, but he never really does. He thinks people need to be controlled because they are stupid and he has never tried to actually give the town the help it needs even before Dome came. As he's the big bad of the book, you know he'll survive close to the end and you merely hope his death scene will be glorious.

Children Are Wicked
I am not saying all children are of the devil, but multiple times in this novel it's shown that some children are violent and that when you get older certain violent behavior goes away. Well...for some people. Violent behavior being things like burning ants with a magnifying glass and burning barbies in a microwave. Anytime those violent behaviors carry over to the time the person is an adult or are kept as is, it's not shown as good. All children aren't shown as violent as three teens are crucial to the town's survival.

Rape
In this book there is a rape scene...well, technically more than one. But only one major rape scene (those of you triggered by rape: I only remember two...and one person having sex with corpses is only implied/talked about and never shown). This rape scene serves to show how brutal the police force has gotten as well as how certain professions are looked down upon. It is these two reasons, as well as the rape itself, that makes the scene so terrifying. I must say that when the victim/survivor gets her vengeance, it is a good payoff (I would've been more horrified if all the rapists survived until the end).

Final Thoughts
This book is long (over a thousand pages), but well worth it. The length of the book allows things to develop well. As it's really a study of how quickly a society (in this case a small town) breaks down when put under pressure. How sometimes the reason for it all isn't something grandiose merely because sometimes horrible things happen because of ignorance and a lack of empathy. I love how it's shown how political positions can make a person feel they have a reason to act. There are parts of this book that will make you long for the conclusion of a subplot and it won't be answered for many pages. As for the tv show...I have only seen the first six episodes and I suggest finishing the current season(s) of the tv or finishing the book before going to the other medium. Both are set in two different universes where characters either have different backstories or are living.

Animorphs Re-Read: #1 The Invasion (Chapters 17-20)

Chapter 17

And of course the lizard tail comes off with no problem. It's really common knowledge that a lizard regrows its tail. This is done because the tail will act like it's alive which allows the lizard to escape while the predator is distracted.

Jake thinks that the person had tried to kill him but realizes it had been an accident. The person ends up being Chapman and so our fearless leader decides to follow him. This he decides to do since the Controller might reveal information that would allow Jake to help Tom.

Jake thinks about what would happen if things went wrong. Cassie had mentioned that it could take days of spying on the Assistant Principal. This would cause problems since there's the two hour limit as well as the fact Jake would be skipping classes.

Jake finds it humorous to think that if he got caught for skipping classes he would get sent to Chapman.

Chapman stops at a door and Jake wonders if it's the Assistant Principal's office. It becomes quickly apparent that it is the janitor's closet. The Animorph watches as Chapman opens a secret door.

And Jake has found where the Yeerk pool is.

The only thing I disagree with is when he says 'mindless slave of the Yeerks' as becoming a Controller doesn't make you brainless/unable to think. It just means you can't control your own body.


Chapter 18

Jake tells them about the screams from the Yeerk pool. Turns out that he's so grossed out from eating that spider (and I didn't mention every time he thought about eating it in the previous chapter) that he's eating nachos. Well...he makes mention of the fact that after eating the spider he has a big desire to eat a ton of junk food.

Marco, being the voice of denial in this book, says that it's possible Jake was only imagining the screaming. This because Jake wasn't able to really comprehend what his lizard ears were hearing. Cassie and Rachel both think that they need to do something about the Yeerk pool.

Rachel and Marco get into an argument because they have two very different opinions on whether to fight the Yeerks or not. Rachel wants to fight while Marco doesn't. Rachel says that Marco is being selfish while Cassie brings up the point that he's worried what his dad will do if he dies. Rachel counters Cassie's point by saying that they all have family to worry about.

Tobias points out that no one cares about him. Rachel says she does and I'm getting a bunch of Tobias/Rachel feels right now.

Jake says he's going to the Yeerk pool for Tom. Tobias says he'll go for his father...er...the Andalite aka Elfangor. Rachel says she's scared but will still join Jake in his mission. Marco says he doesn't want to and Jake says he doesn't have to. Marco calls Jake a jerk and says that no matter what, Jake is his friend and so he has to. He'll go to rescue Tom but then he's out.

Cassie points out that the Andalite morphing technology is like people like Native Americans calling on the spirits of animals for strength. It's a nice sentimental moment that Marco, of course, ruins.

Rachel points out that they'll need more powerful morphs of animals that won't be so easy to acquire. They end up deciding to go to The Gardens to get some battle morphs. Marco says that they all can get in for free for being Animorphs.

He said the title!

Jake says the name is just 'okay'.


Chapter 19

They decide to catch a bus from the mall to The Gardens. Tobias doesn't want to have any other morph than his red-tailed hawk morph. Rachel points out that they should acquire as many useful morphs as possible as their ability to morph is their greatest strength.

Jake wonders what morph would be useful against the morph Visser Three used when he ate Elfangor. Marco jokes that they could morph into fleas and itch him to death. Marco then brings up the point that he's never morphed before and is therefore still normal. Cassie says that she still feels normal.

Marco points out that turning into a horse is something that normal people can't do. He then adds that Jake turning into a lizard doesn't make him different, since our fearless leader has always been a reptile.

 Jake is happy to have Marco with them even if Marco is being too happy.

Jake says that The Gardens is one of his favorite places to go on a normal day. His description of the park/zoo reminds me of Busch Gardens. I would bring up SeaWorld, however it's not as big on rides as Busch Gardens is.

Cassie says for them not to look suspicious as she's taking her fellow Animorphs behind the scenes where they aren't supposed to go. She makes a comment that she can't help save the world if she's grounded. Jake trusts Cassie to know her way around as he doesn't know where to go.

Cassie asks if anyone wants to acquire a gorilla for their battle morph. She words it so that the question is implied and not outright stated. It takes Jake a moment to realize what Cassie asked.

Rachel asks Marco if he wants to acquire the gorilla and insults him while doing so. Marco doesn't jump at the idea so Jake insults Marco for being a coward. This works and Marco agrees to acquire the gorilla for his battle morph.

Marco asks if the gorilla (Big Jim) is gentle and Cassie says yes. She then quietly adds that they get violent when mad. The plan is to lure the gorilla to Marco by having the Animorph hold out an apple and hope Big Jim is hungry.

Luckily Big Jim is hungry. I must add that I have finished reading Under the Dome by Stephen King (the written review is upcoming) and the bad guy in that book is called Big Jim. Sort of unnerving like the character called Ezra in Ray Donovan when I'm used to the Ezra in Pretty Little Liars.

Jake tells Marco that the gorilla will go into a trance like state. Marco then grabs Big Jim's wrist and starts to concentrate on acquiring him. I swear Tobias is meaning to be an ass when he talks about how easily the gorilla could kill Marco. Marco is not amused and tells bird-boy to shut up.

Someone comes and Cassie says to just act natural. She says it'll only be a problem if it's a security guy. Luckily there isn't a problem and then the question is what morph to acquire next. Rachel starts going towards the dolphin exhibit because she loves dolphins.

I would say this is stupid but having the ability to acquire any animal is like being in a candy store. I know the first morph I'd want to acquire would be a raven, but I don't live in an area with ravens so that'd be difficult for me to do.

Marco reminds Rachel that they're looking for useful morphs which means they need animals with firepower. Jake tells his fellow Animorphs to stick together. Then a voice asks what they're doing behind the scenes. Cassie says that she doesn't want to be caught and then brought to her mom.

The security guard decides to chase after Jake and Marco since they look very suspicious. Marco and Jake decide to escape on a golf cart. I am excited!

And, yep, Marco starts of by driving straight into a wall. He quickly is able to actually drive (still isn't good, though), but the problem is that neither of the boys knows where anything is. Jake falls out of the golf cart because of Marco's lack of driving skills and jokes about what would happen if he had actually been injured.

Marco says that they can barely beat zoo security so what makes Jake think that they can beat the Yeerks. Jake points out that they haven't beaten zoo security yet. They ditch the cart and pick a random door to go into. They get out of the room when they see it hold a rhinoceros.

They go into another room and see that they are in an exhibit. A jungle one and they don't know what animal is in it. Marco asks how they get out of the exhibit.

Marco then asks what Jake is thinking: why haven't the guards come after them yet?

Jake says he's trying not to think about that answer as he's trying not to panic. Jake's butt touches something warm and Marco is pale white. This is a feat as he's usually dark and tanned.

I never noticed the importance of having a PoC as a main character in this series when I first read it. I didn't realize that PoC having representation in media was a problem and that Applegate was awesome for doing this. I'm not saying color blindness is a good thing, but there are certain things I didn't notice so much as a child.

Oh, and Jake's butt is up against a tiger.


Chapter 20

And Jake says another 'too be exact'. This time clarifying that the tiger is a Siberian tiger. Jake points out that surviving an attack with a tiger is impossible for a human.

Marco wants to run while Jake thinks that acquiring the tiger is the best option for survival. This is because when you acquire a morph the animal goes into a trance like state. Marco's reply of how stupid that idea is makes me smile.

Jake tries to control his breathing so that he can calm down enough to acquire the tiger. He mentions that the technique isn't working for him. Jake and Marco talk to the tiger in a vain attempt to have the animal not kill them.

When Jake acquires the tiger he is concentrating very hard on it. Basically he focuses very hard on the reasons why the tiger could kill him very easily. Before Jake breaks contact, and him and his best friend attempt to run away, he realizes that all the power that could kill him has now become a part of him. And that makes him respect the tiger and think it is beautiful.

Marco replies that Jake is right but they should run away quickly. It's interesting to note that the tiger versus lion question is answered in the Animorphs books known as 'The David Trilogy'.

As the duo starts to run away another tiger is seen. The people looking into the exhibit can now see them and start screaming. As they exit the exhibit the guards point at them and yell for them to stop. Marco asks Jake if they should morph. Jake says no and they just hide in the crowd. They reach the entrance to the park safely.

I feel like Marco asking Jake if they should morph was done out of fear as the idea is downright stupid. If anyone noticed the two morphing they would be caught by the Yeerks. If infested the pair would endanger the other three.

The other three, it turns out, weren't chased at all due to losing the guards easily. I am extremely pissed off that the other three don't believe Marco and Jake. Yes, trust your leader to follow him to life threatening situations but don't believe him when he talks about nearly being killed when you weren't there.

What the bloody fuck?

Rachel says that they shouldn't think about nearly being killed because they'll nearly be killed later that night anyways. How the fuck does that make sense? Oh, yeah, because it didn't happen to her.
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Animorphs Re-Read Table of Contents

Animorphs Re-Read: #1 The Invasion (Chapters 13-16)

Chapter 13

Tobias starts the chapter off by continuing to say they should blow up the Yeerk pool. Marco remains quiet as he realizes arguing with bird-boy will go nowhere.

Marco and Tobias agree that The Sharing is most likely a front for the Yeerk invasion. Marco brings up the fact that he thinks Jake wouldn't fight against the Yeerks if it meant fighting his brother Tom. Marco's final jab is at how Jake has a perfect family and nothing truly bad has ever happened to him. Nothing like what's happened to Marco or Tobias. Jake knows Marco is right in his statement.

Marco continues to egg Jake on about Tom being a Controller to try and stop Jake from fighting the Yeerks. Jake, however, still says he will fight even if he ends up having to destroy his brother.

Jake says the first step is checking out The Sharing and seeing if it is a front for the Yeerk invasion of Earth. I think Marco agrees with Jake here since he doesn't want to ruin the friendship. I believe Marco is smart enough to realize that the meeting will lead to him fighting against the Yeerks. But he values Jake's friendship VERY highly.

Jake calls the others to see if they want to go to The Sharing meeting. Everyone agrees. Everyone will be there. Tobias will be in morph (at least that's what seems to be implied).

Tom gets very excited about Jake and his friends coming to a The Sharing meeting. Jake remarks that The Sharing doesn't sound like a front for the Yeerks. I want a picture of Visser Three and some Taxxons playing volleyball! Now!

Thermals are mentioned yet again and Cassie remarks she has to try flying someday.

Jake and the others arrive at The Sharing meeting. Our fearless leader is having fun after wondering if everyone there is a Controller and how to tell who is one. He also wonders if Tom is really a Controller.

Tom then tells Jake that while The Sharing is awesome now, when you become a full member things get even better. Tom says first you become an associate member and then it's decided by the leaders if you become a full member.

Tom says, "Once you become a full member...the whole world changes."

Thanks, I am sleep deprived and won't sleep for a few nights because of how creepy that line is.

Then Tom temporarily takes control from his Yeerk. Or else the Yeerk allows Tom to have some control to try and see if Jake was one of the teenagers at the construction site. Taking control from a Yeerk, once it has infested you, is extremely hard to do.

Either way this scene is creepy as the reader, if not Jake himself, is brought to the realization that Tom is really a Controller.

Tom's Yeerk then regains, or takes back, control of Tom and goes to the special meeting for the full members.

Marco says that he was wrong about Tom and that The Sharing is anything but a front for the Yeerk invasion of Earth. Jake's reaction is saddening.


Chapter 14

Jake says that the full members are going to a separate meeting. When the others, besides Marco, say that they should check out what this special meeting involves Marco is confused because he thought everyone agree that The Sharing was normal.

Everyone, including Marco, agrees that something is up with The Sharing because people are being too happy. Yes, I knew there was a reason I don't trust extremely happy people. They're really aliens bent on invading the Earth!

Jake says that he's getting into the secret meeting by morphing into Homer again.

Jake fills in Tobias about their plan. Bird-boy makes a comment that is very hawkish. Jake says that Tobias needs to get a grip or else the hawk mind will take control. His comment involved a comment about road kill and Tobias is offended. Though Jake thinks he might not have been offended and he thinks that is the worse option.

Tobias informs the others of where the full members are. Jake says he needs to morph back. Tobias tries to say no and even brings up the fact that he'll be naked. Our fearless leader points out that Marco has brought a change of clothes and the two girls will look away.

Tobias says that demorphing feels like becoming a prisoner. Rachel reassures him that he can morph into a hawk later.

Jake begins to morph as Tobias begins to demorph. Cassie reminds Jake to keep control of his dog morph. Jake replies he knows and not for her to worry. But Cassie still does worry.

And, sure enough, Jake loses control of his dog morph. He quickly regains control of the morph and starts acting like a real dog while eavesdropping on the secret meeting. He makes sure to keep out of sight of Tom as the Controller would recognize Homer and know it was someone in morph. Possibly even know it was Jake.

Jake says he can't see that well but the sense of both smell and sound more than made up for it. He also realizes that Elfangor gave them the ability to morph since animals can do stuff humans can't do. Such as eavesdropping on a secret meeting.

Tom and the other Controllers wait for the same man that told the Hork-Bajir to get Jake's and the others' heads for identification. It turns out to be Assistant Principal Chapman.

Chapman asks if anyone has any ideas about who the teenagers at the construction site were. Tom replies that he thinks Jake is one of them and he brought him to The Sharing to either infest him or kill him.

Just let that sink in a moment: Jake just came to the realization that Tom is a Controller and he is now faced with the fact that a parasitic alien, who is wearing Jake's brother's face, is saying he is thinking of killing Jake.


Chapter 15

Jake has to remind himself that Tom isn't the one speaking. That it is a Yeerk that is speaking with Tom's mouth. That Tom doesn't want to kill him.

Jake's next thoughts are of how impossible it is to battle the Yeerks. The Yeerks can be anyone. Tom is a Controller. Chapman is a Controller. He thinks that Marco is right for saying that they shouldn't battle the Yeerks because it is such an impossible thing to do.

Jake gets depressed and lets himself get lost inside the dog mind. Dogs are happy and don't understand despair. Especially the kind Jake is experiencing at the moment. Jake finally faces the fact that he is going to have to deal with reality.

Jake tries to listen to the rest of the meeting and keeps thinking of Tom saying, "Make him ours...or kill him."

Again, he is a teenager and a lot of things have been thrust upon him. He wanted to be close to his brother but now he's the enemy. On the bright side, though, Jake now has a reason to fight.

The Yeerks also discuss the schedule for going to the Yeerk pool.

Jake then hears Cassie's voice. A policeman is questioning why she's by the area for full members only. Jake, again, complains about how poor dog vision is. Luckily Cassie doesn't get in trouble...trouble being either infested or killed by the Yeerks.

Jake asks why Cassie risked her life. She said she did so because she was worried about Jake. This is very sweet, but why not get Tobias to morph into a hawk again? There was no need for her to risk herself like that.

Jake finds himself reluctant to demorph as he realizes what Tobias already has: morphing is a great way to escape your troubles.

Once Jake has demorphed, Jake tells Marco that he is right. Tom is a Controller. For someone who kept on bringing up that point, he doesn't look happy about being right. This sort of hints at the fact that Marco was only making such a big deal about that because he knew if Jake decided to fight he'd be forced to fight too.

Jake also recaps the secret meeting to the rest of the group.

Rachel is surprised when Jake says that Chapman is also a Controller.

Jake says that Chapman must be some sort of leader as he was the one that said to take their heads for identification.

Marco's reply is, "That is so Chapman."

Tobias says they have to get out of The Sharing meeting now. Jake says that no one will try to kill them at a The Sharing meeting. As the readers and Rachel breathe a collective sigh of relief Jake kills the moment. He does so by by saying Chapman thinks that they will talk and then the Yeerks can kill them then.

Rachel says they won't talk and Marco agrees. Marco agrees because he wants to use this chance to say they shouldn't fight. However, Jake counters by bringing up that he needs to save Tom. I'd say something about Katniss and Prim from The Hunger Games trilogy, but I don't want to spoil the ending from either series.

You're welcome to those of you who have read only either Animorphs or The Hunger Games trilogy. Not both.

Marco brings up that fighting the Yeerks is an impossible war to win. Jake replies confidently as does everyone but Marco. I'm not really liking Marco at the moment but feel that's only because he's going to be the last one willing to fight the Yeerks. And it's not until he has a personal stake that he decides to put his full support into trying to stop the Yeerks. I know I enjoyed him when I read the series previously, so I'm waiting to love him again.

Since the meeting of the full members has ended, Jake decides to delay the final vote until later. Again.

Jake asks Cassie what animal she has that he can acquire so that he can spy on Chapman. She finally decides that a lizard is the best option.


Chapter 16

Jake says he morphed into a lizard in his locker at school. What makes me laugh about this part is that he says that the exact species is a green anole that is a member of the iguana family. And that the reader wouldn't care about that part.

Jake says he tries to make it appear him going into his locker look normal. Yeah...don't think you can really make that action look normal.

Jake mentions that morphing a dog was cool, but turning into a lizard is plain creepy. Listen, man, you will turn into things that will make lizards look downright pleasant. Not that I, myself, think lizards are creepy.

Jake mentions he should have practiced before morphing the lizard before he used the lizard morph to spy on Chapman. He then recounts, in a very shortened version, how he had acquired the lizard.

Jake then morphs into the green anole. Arg! He ends up stepping on an old wad of gum!

When he fully morphs into a lizard the green anole's mind kicks in and it's afraid. Jake tries to gain control by telling his lizard mind to go to the light aka the ventilation slits on his locker. When he finally gets to the ventilation slits he has trouble understanding what his lizard eyes are seeing. Our fearless leader manages to make sense of the lizard sight at the same time the lizard mind is trying to fight him.

The way Jake describes the lizard racing down the hall is just damn amazing. It makes me want to morph into a lizard just to race down a hallway.

Then the lizard mind takes over and Jake goes after a spider. He feels disgusted when he can't resist the lizard's mind need to eat the spider. He wants to demorph and doesn't care who sees him. He even thinks that Marco is right and he shouldn't fight the Yeerks.

Suddenly someone steps on Jake's lizard's tail and he think he's trapped. I'm glad a lizard's tail doesn't have the ability to detach and then a new one regrows or anything!
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Animorphs Re-Read Table of Contents

Animorphs Re-Read: #1 The Invasion (Chapters 9-12)

Chapter 9

Tobias tells Jake how to acquire a morph. You have to meditate on becoming whatever it is that you're acquiring. Homer goes into a trance like state and Jake jokes that the dog knows he's a lunatic.

After ten seconds Homer is back to being his hyperactive self. Tobias and Jake put him outside since bird-boy figures that he'll get freaked out by the morphing process.

Jake concentrates on his image of Homer and then opens his eyes thinking the process didn't work. Raise your hand if you tried to morph and felt disappointed that you couldn't. Because that's what this part feels like to me.

Tobias then tells Jake to look at his hand. It has fur on it!

It's funny how this scene is turning because Tobias is calm and telling Jake to calm down so he can finish the morph. Meanwhile Jake is having a nervous breakdown.

Jake tries to back down again and says he doesn't have to do this.

Tobias agrees sarcastically and points out that it's fight or let the Yeerks win.

With that Jake goes to complete his first morph.

Jake mentions that it feels like he has Novocaine while he's morphing. He says his bones feel strange but they don't hurt.

He mentions he should be scared but he feels happy.

I would love to morph a bird, specifically a raven, but to morph into a dog and feel such happiness is what I want so bad. I have clinical depression so you can see my reasoning. I would also like to smell like dogs smell. I can't smell so being able to do so would be awesome.

So when you morph something you get some of the memories (not just the instincts)? I don't know if this was retconned later on or not.

Jake starts barking at Homer in the yard. The dog part has taken over and Jake is overwhelmed. It takes Tobias talking to him to bring Jake to himself.

Tom comes in questioning about Homer and sees Tobias. Jake's brother asks who he is. Tobias says he's one of Jake's friends and that Jake is around.

Jake picks an odd scent from Tom while he's in Homer morph. Tom calls Jake a bad dog (thinking he's Homer) and Tobias has to scratch behind Jake's dog ear to make the fearless leader feel better.


Chapter 10

Jake calls the others saying that they'd meet later at Cassie's farm. The light of my life, that is Tobias, leaves and Jake talks to Cassie on the kitchen phone. Tom then enters the room and Jake has this feeling that he shouldn't talk to his should-be-wife-at-the-end-of-the-series.

Jake then tells Cassie he'll see her later.

Jake says how he and Tom used to be very close. But now Jake's brother is involved with The Sharing and that takes up all his time. Jake also says that Tom should've been the very first person he told about the Yeerks, but he had this feeling that he shouldn't. And now all I can think of is in the final book...Tom's fate and Rachel...

Tom doesn't react like himself when he says he doesn't care about Jake not making the basketball team. He says there are more important things.

When Jake thinks Tom means girls I...I'm not getting teary eyed...

After Jake does chores he heads over to Cassie's farm. He talks about how it used to be a farm and now Cassie's father uses the main red barn as a clinic for non-pet animals. Cassie's mother works at The Gardens which is described like Busch Gardens.

Everyone but Cassie is there. Rachel shows Jake an article about what happened at the construction site the other night. At first Jake is happy that others know and then continues reading it. He then gets angry when it says that what really happened was teenagers setting off fireworks. There is also a reward out for information about the teenagers.

Jake wonders why the police would lie. Marco replies that it's because the police are Controllers in the most insensitive way possible and with a bonus 'math teachers are aliens' joke.

It hits them that they are really in this by themselves. Marco and Jake argue about whether to fight or not. Tobias thinks Marco is a coward for not wanting to fight, but Jake understands Marco. Sure enough Marco brings up the fact that he is thinking about how his Dad would react to him dying.

Marco's mother drowned and then his father lost it and is now at a job where he's barely able to afford to take care of Marco.

Marco says they can all think he's a coward, but he doesn't care because he's thinking of his father.

Cassie comes up in horse morph and partially demorphs before greeting the group. Marco had never seen morphing before and is very surprised.

Jake is impressed with how much control Cassie has over her morphing ability.

And then the cops show up!


Chapter 11

Jake tells Cassie to morph but she is confused which way to morph. This is due to the fact that the horse part of her mind is panicking. Jake tells her to morph human and for the others to stand in front of her.

The police officer asks if the kids are hiding something. Luckily Cassie demorphed in time.

Rachel asks, politely, what the officer wants. He says that they're looking for the kids that set off fireworks (aka, the teens he's talking to). Marco coughs and Jake covers for him.

Jake's Controller sense tingles and he knows the police officer is a Controller. How he describes a Yeerk is just damn creepy.

This Controller recognizes Jake as Tom's brother. The parasitic slug then starts trying to sell Jake on The Sharing. I didn't mention this: but earlier in the book Tom also says Jake should join The Sharing.

Love Marco's line of saying that Jake is "a regular genius" to the officer.

Rachel says they have to be careful about morphing and Cassie is ashamed that she put her friends in danger by getting artsy with her ability to morph. Cassie says that she's only able to morph tight clothing and it took practice to do that. Of course the Andalites wouldn't worry about morphing clothing as they go around all naked.

Marco says that they shouldn't morph and Rachel agrees with him. Tobias brings up the point that they can't trust anyone since anyone could be a Controller. Cassie says that she can't see herself not morphing since this ability could help save endangered species. Tobias brings up the fact that humans could be the next endangered species.

Jake ends up being asked to decide and he says it's better that everyone vote. When Tobias says they should fight, Marco brings up the loner's inability to fight. This makes the future bird-boy blush. Cassie says that they should take time to make this decision as it's a big one that'll affect their future. Jake is relieved that Cassie brought up that option.

Jake says that everyone should go back to their normal lives until later. He and Marco play a video game, but Jake can't seem to get into it like he usually can.

Tom comes in and offers to play the video game with them. Jake mentions it's been months since Tom has done something like this.

Tom then questions Marco and Jake about the event at the abandoned construction site. This doesn't make Tom look suspicious or anything...

Tom then says Jake and Marco should join The Sharing. After Tom leaves Marco says Jake's brother is a Controller.


Chapter 12

 And, of course, Jake doesn't react well to his best friend saying that his brother is the enemy. Don't really blame him as a lot of responsibility has been thrust upon his shoulders. Especially for a teenager.

Marco basically tells Jake to stop thinking like an idiot and realize how odd Tom has acted recently. ESPECIALLY his interest in the events that happened in the construction site the other night. Marco finally relents and says there is a possibility that he is wrong, but the likelihood of that is very low.

Tobias arriving stops anymore fighting between the two. And he has finally acquired his signature morph: THE RED-TAILED HAWK!

So that's, dear readers, why I've been calling him bird-boy. Well...part of the reason, but you'll find out the entire reason at the end of this book.

Marco is mad about Tobias morphing again and Jake warns bird-boy about staying in morph for over two hours. Tobias seems conflicted about demorphing, almost as if he prefers being a bird than being a human.

He finally demorphs. Jake mentions the process took three minutes for Tobias this time.

Unlike Cassie, Tobias is still unable to morph into with clothing on.

Tobias says how riding the thermals was the coolest thing he's ever done. When Jake asks what a thermal is it makes me think of the many children who didn't grow up knowing what thermals are. Thermals are talked about so often in this series that I have known what a thermal is since around age ten.

Tobias says that he got his red-tailed hawk morph from an injured hawk that was in Cassie's barn. Jake wonders how bird-boy could morph a non-injured animal acquired from an injured animal. I have to laugh that it is Marco, the joker of the group, who tells Jake he's an idiot for not understanding how DNA works.

Tobias and Marco get into an argument. Tobias is on the side of empathizing with the injured hawk while Marco thinks it's an idiotic standpoint to empathize so completely with an animal (that isn't human).

Jake gets a feeling that Tobias will purposefully trap himself in morph and so reminds the teen about the two hour limit. Bird-boy replies that he can keep track of time by looking at clocks and watches, since a hawk's eyesight is so powerful.

In The Andalite Chronicles it's revealed that Elfangor asked Tobias about his mother, but it's shown in this book that Elfangor also gave bird-boy visions. Not visions as in predictions, but visions showing information about the Yeerks that the Andalite Prince didn't have time to tell the five teenagers.

Marco tells Tobias that he suspects that Tom is a Controller. Jake threatens Marco again. Tobias doesn't take a side but says that they should still be very careful around him.

Earlier Tobias had said he was looking for a Yeerk pool and continues talking about them now. He talks about the Kandronas. Talks about how Kandrona particles are like vitamins to Yeerks and that they need to feed every three days.

Tobias admits that now the idea of flying around looking for Yeerk pools was a dumb idea. Marco asks what bird-boy would've done if he had found one. When Tobias says that they'd blow it up, Marco replies that they would do nothing since they had decided not to become involved in stopping the Yeerk invasion of Earth.

Tobias says that he has decided to fight and Marco again brings up the point that the loner has never fought before. Tobias says that he has finally found something worth fighting for. He says that whatever the others decide, he will fight.
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