The Invasion (Animorphs #1): Volume 1

Note: This review pertains to the entire Animorphs series, rather than this specific book. When I read most of the Animorph books several years ago, I thought it was very suspenseful and entertaining. Now, as I look back, it seems that these books, although targeted at 4th-6th graders, have suprising depth, with often tenebrous themes concerning free will, sentimentalism, and morality.

Jake, Rachel, Cassie, Tobias, and Marco were just average teenagers when they decided to take the shortcut home through the abandoned construction site. But in that construction site, they learned the secret from Elfangor, a dying Andalite. Things called Yeerks have the power to invade the bodies of anyone. The Yeerks plan to take over the world by doing this. And now, Elfangor has given the five kids the power to morph into any animal they want. Using this power, they can fight the Yeerks. At first, the kids just want to believe that their experience was all a dream. But they realize that it's no dream when they try out their morphing powers. Things get even more scary when Jake discovers that his brother, Tom, has been invaded by a Yeerk. Now, it's up to them to destroy the Yeerks and save the world. They are the Animorphs. THE INVASION is the first Animorphs book, and it is definitely an amazing way to start out the series. We learn about all the major characters and some of the species that most humans are unfamiliar with. And although this book appears to be for kids, it's pretty intense. I would recommend this book (and series) to anyone--especially people who love sci-fi.

This is a great book to start off this great series. The Invasion starts of the animorphs series and is one of the best. Jake, Rachel, Tobias, Cassie and Marco are normal kids heading for home. Then they decide to take a shortcut through the abandoned construction site. Suddenly, a space ship lands right in front of them. Out comes an injured andalite (which is an cross between a human, scorpion and a deer). He explains that the yeerks, a band of paristic aliens have come to Earth. They have turned some people into "controllers" by going inside their heads and enslaving them. The kids have to stop them. The andalite gives them the power to morph, which is the ability to turn into any animal they touch. Then a yeerk ship comes. Out pops Visser Three, the only yeerk able to control an andalite. He morphs into a horrible creature and EATS Elfangor (that's the andalite's name). The kids escape and think over these horrible events. Most of them are reluctant except for Tobias. But then they all fight together. It all ends in a fight on the yeerks' feeding ground. Find out what happens to Tobias who loses the battle in a way you can't imagine.

If you are in to slimmy centipede with bug like bodys this is a book for you. Five brave kids fight against these aielns to save the human race. Only to find out that the leader of the pack is a controller. Or a Adelealite a thing that can take the form of any living thing. Jake and his friends fight fierce to find out what this monster is up to. They are afriad that one of them might die. The author keeps you at the edge of your seat. I personally recommend this awesome, thrilling, exciting book.

Series have a bad reputation for being junky books with formula plots, but Animorphs is probably the best series for your child (both girls and boys) to be interested in. (Avoid Goosebumps like the plague!) Series are good for reluctant readers because there's always another book to read next, and kids want to keep reading. This series, about a group of kids who can "morph" into animals and use this power to save the world from a secret alien invasion, will hold kids' attention and it may be enough to get them excited about reading for life. It's certainly better than playing Nintendo all day! I am 14 and I haven't read an entire Animorph book, but I've read enough parts to tell what they're like. My brother (age 10) and his friends love the series. There is also information about animals--how a hawk flies, what a lizard's eyesight is like, what it feels like to be that particular animal. So your child is learning something as well, probably without knowing it! There is exciting action and adventures too, but it's not excessively violent. There's lots of humor in it too. So, if your child is a reluctant reader, try Animorphs. Or if your child is already interested in the series, you have nothing to worry about. Another good series is Redwall, by Brian Jacques, though it is more violent. They're also good for a wider age group--I read them too, and even some adults I know enjoy them. PS. Check secondhand bookstores and libraries, as buying all the Animorph books new may get expensive.