Fresh Approaches: Return of the Animorphs
RSSBy Joy Fleishhacker
Charging the teens with the task of fighting back to save mankind, the dying Andalite pilot also gives them an extraordinary power—the ability to transform into any animal that they touch. Told in a gripping first-person narrative by one of the protagonists, each fast-paced entry in the series delineates the efforts of these young heroes to rescue the world while incorporating personal challenges, coming-of-age issues, and broader themes including responsibility, respect for nature, and morality. The series expanded to include 54 volumes as well as several spin-off titles, and the books were adapted into a television series that aired on Nickelodeon in the late 1990s. In addition, the "Animorphs" have established quite an online presence with fan forums and a dedicated wiki called "Seerowpedia." Scholastic recently re-launched the series with a fresh new cover design. Each volume is adorned with a lenticular image of the featured narrator that actually appears to be morphing into an animal. For example, The Invasion shows a portrait photo of Jake that gradually changes into a close-up of a lizard (a creature persona that he takes on in the book) as the volume is manipulated. The image is well-designed and eerily affecting: the profiles and features of both boy and reptile are neatly lined up; the eyes are exactly overlaid, providing a focus point for viewers and making the transformation seem all the more realistic. The background evokes the emerald-green scales of a lizard, adding to the effect. Author K.A. Applegate agrees with this assessment and is "thrilled" with the result: "They [Scholastic] somehow managed to retain the essence of the original covers while bringing them completely up to date. They are so cool: when you walk into a bookstore, they just leap off the shelves. Booksellers have told me they are the easiest books in the world to hand-sell. Even the most reluctant reader wants to grab a book and makes that dude morph into a lizard." Launched over a decade ago, the series has had a lasting effect on readers. Applegate recounts meeting "long-time fans, now in their twenties" at a recent book festival, some of whom "...talked about how they'd been struggling readers, and how 'Animorphs' was the way they learned that reading could be fun. Others were born readers who found the story lines compelling. There were soldiers and biology majors and artists and techies and aspiring authors. It was great to see." Clark also believes that the books remain pertinent to today's readers: "...aside from being a fun, fast-paced sci-fi series, 'Animorphs' deals with some heavy themes-especially relating to war, dehumanization, and personal responsibility. The world seems to have become only more complicated since the books were originally published, and yet the messages inside continue be relevant and affecting." He also credits the series with having "...helped steer kids' genre fiction into the place it is today. 'Animorphs' was published at a time when genre paperback series... tended to be very light fare. The characters may not have been very developed or nuanced, and the stories in a series were more episodic and self-contained. 'Animorphs' is definitely accessible reading, but it's also incredibly rich, and each of the main characters develops in really complex, sometimes heartbreaking, directions." What role does the series play in libraries and classrooms? According to Applegate: "I hear all the time that 'Animorphs' is the ultimate booktalk. Because the books are an easy read, reluctant readers aren't scared off. Because the books have compelling plots, advanced readers aren't bored. There are riffs on biology, technology, politics that can lead to interesting discussions. But at the end of the day, it's the big question: what would it feel like to be a (insert your favorite animal here)? that hooks them every time." Publication Information APPLEGATE, K.A. Animorphs # 1: The Invasion. ISBN 978-00545-29151-4. _____. Animorphs # 2: The Visitor. ISBN 978-0-545-29152-1. _____. Animorphs # 3: The Encounter. ISBN 978-0-545-29153-8. _____. Animorphs # 4: The Message. ISBN 978-0-545-29156-9. ea vol: Scholastic. 2011. pap. $6.99. This article originally appeared in the newsletter Extra Helping. Go here to subscribe.
October 4, 2011
Courageous teenage protagonists, spine-tingling sci-fi adventures, the amazing power to take on the abilities and sensibilities of a particular animal-K.A. Applegate's "Animorphs" series (Gr 3-7) has all of the elements that keep readers coming back for more. Animorphs #1: The Invasion, first published by Scholastic in 1996, sets the scene as five friends—Jake, Marco, Tobias, Rachel, and Cassie—witness the landing of a UFO and learn from its occupant that Earth is secretly under attack by parasitic creatures that have the capacity to take over the minds and bodies of other species—even human beings.
The first four volumes are already available with the fifth installment (The Predator) scheduled to be published in December and the sixth (The Capture) in March of 2012. Zachary Clark, editor of the series, comments on the new design: "We decided early on that part of what made the original series such a success were the dynamic covers. They may look a little hokey to us now, but wow, in the '90s those morphing kids were so cool. Lenticulars seemed like the best way to capture the spirit of the original books, and also offer something really eye-catching."
What makes the books so appealing to youngsters? Applegate explains: "I love writing for kids this age because they are so generous with their imaginations. You say, 'How about we morph into a red-tail hawk and catch some thermals?' and they'll say, 'Sure, just don't forget to make it fun.' They're at a very confusing and exciting time in their lives—their bodies are changing, their awareness of the world is expanding. The questions they're asking are timeless ones: What are my obligations to my friends? Would I be courageous in the face of danger? Why are Cinnabons so addictive? (You'll have to read the series to understand that last one)."
The "Animorphs" have been a staple in many school and public library collections for years and this is a great opportunity to update well-loved and slightly worse-for-wear copies with inviting and contemporary-looking volumes that are dazzling enough for both booktalking and display. Send series fans to Scholastic's "Animorphs" website, featuring photos of the same individuals who adorn the covers. They can find out more about the five characters (in both their human and animal forms) and actually click on the images to make them morph. Viewers can also take a personality quiz to determine their ideal animal form, test their critter knowledge, view a video book trailer, and check out the books' covers and plot summaries. Educators will be interested in a detailed and well-developed discussion guide that delves into universal themes as well as the plot specifics of the first six volumes.
