Have You Ever Read the Animorphs Series?

June 08, 2010

No? I’m not surprised. It seems that most people have forgotten them by now.

When I was 13 or so, they were the books to read. This was the mid-to-late 90s. Hanson and the Spice Girls were on every radio. Pogs were in every pocket. Power Rangers and Doug were on every TV. And Animorphs were on every bookshelf.

Created by K.A. Applegate, the series followed the adventure of five kids and an alien that could morph into any animal. The series starts as the five kids (Jake, Cassie, Rachel, Marco, and Tobias) witness an alien spacecraft crash landing in a construction site. The spaceship contains Prince Elfangor, the noble leader of the mighty Andalites. Elfangor is being pursued by the evil Yeerk army and knows he has no chance to escape. He shares secret Andalite technology with the teens giving them the power to transform into any animal they can touch. While the kids narrowly escape the fury of the Yeerks,  Elfangor is slain.

From there, the series sprawls over 54 titles and multiple spin-offs. Other characters come and go, including Elfangor’s younger brother Ax; the murderous Visser Three; the Yeerk-controlled vice principal Mr. Chapman; Cassie’s veterinarian parents; and the time-manipulating Ellimist.

Sound interesting? Trust me, they are. If you’re looking for a rollicking sci-fi ride, Animorphs is the way to go. The first book in the series is called The Invasion.