Reviews

The Message by K.A. Applegate

trin's review

3.0

Animorphs IV: The One With the Whales

shandyt's review against another edition

4.0

I don't know how many times I've read the print versions of these books, but now, listening to the audio editions, I'm noticing things I never had before. Cassie has a very distinctive "voice" from the other POV characters. She almost comes off as hippie-esque in her use of "like" and "whoa" and "cool". The narrator for this book hasn't been my favorite so far (listening to her try to recreate yelling was hilarious), but as a book, this is one of the better entries into the series. We finally get to meet the sixth Animorph! You know... the real sixth Animorph, not

Spoiler

David

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all_seeing_ifer's review

adventurous fast-paced

3.0

fishapods's review

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

giannidamaia's review

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Actual story progression in the Animorphs? Say it isn’t so! 

Granted, what we make up for in plot we lose a bit in character development. However, the bits of character that we’re able to build here feel genuinely consequential. Arcs are beginning to happen, themes of nature fighting for its place in the world are connecting, and the overarching plot seems to have taken a huge step forward. There are tropes aplenty littering this installment, but is that such a bad thing considering the audience that the story is catering to? 

Will Animorphs Book 4 convince people to read the whole series? Remains to be seen. But this is the progress towards narrative momentum I’ve been waiting for. 

br00k3a133n's review

adventurous emotional tense 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? Yes

3.0

prickettmb's review

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

prickly_plant's review

adventurous 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

3.0

amy_bda's review

adventurous dark funny 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

4.75

orsuros's review

4.0

The fourth book does a good job at balancing the smaller moments with the bigger picture, which leads to some intense and meaningful moments.