Richard's Animorphs Forum
Animorphs Section => Animorphs Forum Classic => Topic started by: TobiasMasonPark on April 07, 2011, 03:20:08 PM
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I don't know how many of you agree with me, but I just have to say that is sort of bothers me--if not completely pisses me off-- when someone sees me reading an Animorphs book, or talking about Animorphs and say, "Dude, you're eighteen. Why are you reading a kids series?"
You could say, "TMP, don't listen to what they say. If you like the series, and you're a true fan, it shouldn't matter to you."
Well, it's difficult to do so when everyone points out that the Animorphs are for kids.
And I'm going to list the reasons why it is the complete opposite; with a little help from my Rafriends.
But first, let's point out some of the things that DO make the Animorphs a "kids series"
1) The very large font and length of an average Animorphs book (like, size 20, 150 pages and 26-30 chapters)
2) The main characters are, in fact, children--somewhere around 12 or 13 during the events of the invasion.
3) The Author intended the series to be for kids. Her target audience were kids--who are now nearing their late twenties, might I add.
4) The lack of swearing. Characters will rarely curse; and, even when they do, they only ever say "crap" or "damn"
5) The cover art gives the impression of being a children's book series.
6) Very few instances of Adult situations; i.e sex, rape, pre-meditated murder (by a human). Mostly, it is speculated that an Animorph ever kills another human. For example: we can only assume David killed Saddler, though it was never openly stated.
Well...six points for the children's series argument. Personally, that's all I could come up with at the time being--maybe I'll think of more later-- but anyone reading this is free to add more.
Alright, now the reasons why the Animorphs is NOT a Children's series:
1) The vocabulary and word choice alone is far more sophisticated than what is to be expected of a children's book. For example: the Chronicles books seem to be above the reading level of a nine year old. I myself was eleven or twelve when I attmpted to read the Ellimist Chronicles, but put it down after a few chapters because I didn't understand what was going on. Again, that's not to say that the Animorphs are "too smart" for kids; I'm just saying, there are certain books and instances where the author uses certain words, references or describes things in a way that will often go over a kid's head.
2) The psycholigical horrors that the Animorphs experience over the course of this fifty-four book arc seems, to me at least, to be something a nine year old will really appreciate. I'll admit, that when I was twelve, I shuddered after reading the description of the ending of the solution. But I don't think kids will get the ethical and moral dilemma of the series. I think that's why everyone sees Cassie's books as being boring. Kids are drawn to Tobias' books because they want to see what flying is like; the read Rachel's because she's badass; and they read Marco's books because they want to hear a good joke. Personally, I read less books narrated by Jake, Ax and Cassie. Ax, because he was too smart for my twelve year old brain; Jake's because he was maoning about how tough it was to be a leader; Cassie's because...again, morals--things a kid might not get until they're older...Or maybe I'm not giving nine year olds enough credit.
3) The decisions made by the Animorphs may not always be ethical, things that kids wouldn't have thought of. Real adult decisions.
4) Understanding the Yeerks and why they do what they do. A kid would just see them as being "all evil", but we see the opposite in books 19 and 29. The fact is, K.A is telling her readers that the world is not always black and white; there are moments where things are in shades of grey. I doubt kids would really get that. Mostly, they'll see the Yeerks as bad, Animorphs as good; black and white.
5) Megamorphs 3: Elfangor's Secret. Kids will simply discount this book because it's basically a "history lesson"--hell, I know I did. They won't know about Trafalgar, Agincourt (though, admitedly, neither did I) the crossing of the Dellaware, and the alliances of the second world war. A nine year old can't appreciate history.
6) In book 37: the Weakness, Rachel mentions "Hamlet Complexes" and "Oedipus Rex"--kids will simply not know who Oedipus was, and why he was relevant for that book...But the fault is really the ghostwriter's.
7) The scientific and mathematical theories Ax refers to is obviously going to go over a nine year old's head.
8) Descriptions of the violence and battle scenes...Though, kids nowadays see a lot worse on COD, so I don't know if this counts
9) The fate of David and why it was wrong.
That's all I have at the moment. I'm sure some other people can get a few more.
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I just feel the need to nitpick: the font's more like size 10 Arial. :P Not size 20.
*twiddles thumbs* I may have written in it a few times because it was in Animorphs. :-\
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Well, we can agree that is a very large font, right? :P Large enough that you can tackle a single book in under two hours; with plenty of time left for you to demorph.
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10 isn't large. :P And actually, I've never read a book in under 2 hours, so I'm of the opinion that that's bull-hockey fast readers keep saying. XD
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Sure, I'll bite. But I should point out that in general, it's not a good idea to say "1000 reasons" unless you are sure there actually are 1000 independent reasons. :) Also, this:
The scientific and mathematical theories Ax refers to is obviously going to go over a nine year old's head.
Ax refers to ~0 real life scientific and mathematical theories in Animorphs.
- Ellen Geroux's Tobias books (the ones with Taylor) should frankly come with a "reader discretion is advised" note.
- Yeerk infestation = rape metaphor that may go completely over kids' heads
- Graphic violence
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He explains Z-Space theory. Sure, it's fictional...Still counts. Maybe I should have said, "Kids no understand Ax smart talk" :P
13) Tobias morphs a member of the opposite sex. Doesn't sound like something a kid should be reading. Not because there is something wrong with a cross-gender morph; I just don't think kids would understand.
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Definitely the graphic violence and the psychological stress each character experiences throughout the book. I think only Marco comes out at the end satisfied with his life. Everyone else was scarred by the war.
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The violence. All over the place.
The first book? Hero andalite gets eaten. Killed in battle? Nope. Glorious blaze of death? Nope. Died ramming the bladeship? Nope. He gets lifted up, and he gets eaten like a burger.
Tobias? Torture. Father's an alien, mother's amnesiac. Relatives don't give a flip about him. He gets stuck as a bird, and is forced to kill every day, eating raw animals. Occasionally, roadkill.
Jake? Murderer. Actually, they're all murderers, but Jake takes 17 000 sentient beings, 17 000 yeerks which could have included the Yeerk Peace Movement, and flushes them into space with a single command. Blackmails an android incapable of violence, sends his cousin, the only family he has which understands the things he has been through, to kill his brother. Both of them end up dead. Do things get better? No, he goes through PTSD.
Rachel; she was the one who was most warped by the war. The one most ready to sell out what made her human. Without the others, she would have been killed early on.
David, a kid who suffered horribly because he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. His life is subsequently broken down into a chain of events where he loses his parents, loses his home, loses his way of life, loses the trust of the only people who could help him, tries to get it all back, go far away and just get away from it all; but he can't. He gets turned into a rat (because the alternative was... what? oh, right, killing him).
just some reasons why the series isn't... 'kiddy flavor'.
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Sometimes I wonder how this series was even marketed to kids in the first place, though in KA's defense she doesn't drag you along very far before showing you how the series will really go. There are some goofy books a little later on, but one of the darkest parts of the series is in the very first one.
I'd say the ending is a big reason. No ten year old is going to be happy with an ending like that. I doubt anyone in the actual target audience would like that kind of ending because they want a happy ending. Look at some Don Bluth films like Secret of Nimh or Land Before Time. Those were dark movies, but they had happy endings. I think Bluth, or someone else, once said that you can show just about anything to a child, as long as there's a happy ending. That happy ending will keep them from being traumatized. I think that's a big reason why I liked those movies. They scared the crap out of me as a kid, but in the end all was well.
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Considering the vast majority of us first read the series as kids and apparently enjoyed it (otherwise, why are we here? :P)... I think it works fine as a children's series.
Jake? Murderer. Actually, they're all murderers, but Jake takes 17 000 sentient beings, 17 000 yeerks which could have included the Yeerk Peace Movement, and flushes them into space with a single command. Blackmails an android incapable of violence, sends his cousin, the only family he has which understands the things he has been through, to kill his brother. Both of them end up dead. Do things get better? No, he goes through PTSD.
Umm... okay, I see how you say that about Jake, but for the rest it doesn't really work. Unless you're going to sit there and tell me that what a soldier does in battle is the same as what a serial killer does. Because it isn't.
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There are things (which you already mentioned) that make the books more for younger readers, but they certainly have qualities and events that make them less than suitable for children. At the very least, a lot of the serious issues won't be understood by children and young teens. There are some references I didn't get until my 3rd or 4th re-read.
I was about 12 when I first read the ending to the series, and at the time I didn't appreciate it at all. It's one of the many events in the series that (while totally appropriate for kids) younger readers just won't understand.
I think one of the reasons I like the series is that it has depth and detail that appeals to my more mature side, while still retaining the qualities I enjoyed when I was younger (without being too childish to still read for fun).
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I'm not going to bother with the number scheme. But I will throw my cents in here.
One: Visser Three routinely executes a number of Controllers, or mutilates them horribly. This isn't merely eluded too either, he actually hands the bloodied severe hand of a human back to him and says, "re-attach it".
Two: Chapman runs down another human being so they can get him infested.
Three: A number of human and Hork-Bajir controllers die horribly in the escape attempt in the Invasion.
Four: Tobias is savagely bullied in Megamorphs 4 which is why I can never read that book again.
Five: Ax threatens to nuke an entire city in order to get Visser Two's cooperation. Later on they nuke an entire Yeerk Pool full of men, women and children from all species.
Oh, sure there are more. But need I go one with the reasons why this is not a children's series?
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The inclusion of voluntary controllers. Thats deliving into a slightly older outlook of how some people will believe anything, or betray their own people for personal gain.
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I like that they included voluntary controllers, as I like things better when it's not black and white. Though honestly I was in my mid teens by the time the series even started, and it was over a year after that by the time I found the series. I just wish voluntaries weren't demonized.
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Their is really no excuse for selling out ones race I mean the talk might draw some people in but they should get cold feet once they ralise they can't blink when they want to.
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How about the fact that nowhere does it say one needs to be loyal to one's entire race? Some of these people may have no loved ones, and suffer a horrible life that's made better by introducing someone who values you as something. Some people might just be trying to make the best of a dire situation because they want to minimize the mental torture and don't want to spend the limited free time they get in a cramped cage. Different people live different lives, so unless you can have a conversation with each individual you shouldn't judge them.
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Yeah thats the reason people jump off bridges but isnt that what therapy is for?
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I just don't like to judge them too harshly. Sure there are probably some sleaseballs, but in a series that has sympathetic Yeerks and unsympathetic Andalites, I find it a bit awkward to paint all voluntaries with the same brush.
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that is true. Maybe the yeerks, instead of sacking the andalite world, asked to make some kind of artificial body (visser three got the yeerk box but I bet if they worked hard enough they could make a mobile form that can provide kadrona.
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Well not everyone has the money for therapy and you have to know/admit there's a problem before you can even consider therapy. Also I'm not sure that you need to be in such a dire situation to be receptive or at least open to having a Yeerk in your head. There is definitely lots of areas where the shades of grey should be painted rather than black and white. How do you judge a host to have betrayed or have been disloyal to their species? By the time you are a host it's too late for you to decide against it so the betraying your race question might be more related to how much in line your thinking is to the Yeerk's enslavement campaign. I think the books try to demonise voluntary hosts where voluntary hosts mean people who agree with the Yeerks enslavement and think more of their selfish desires rather than other humans' freedoms. This isn't too difficult a concept for a child to understand but it could have been shown a bit more clearly.
If you think about the way you (and your Yeerk) live your life, in a sense not much will massively change for the majority of controllers. In the discrete phase of the Yeerk invasion controllers still continue their lives as you would. An example of a point of interest might be say the Yeerk prefers meat over vegetables for a vegan host. It's possible for the host to appear like they've changed their minds to their friends and family. In this case the host would probably try to resist the most at feeding times and be more cooperative for the more mundane and routine parts of their life. Generally Yeerks try to placate their hosts by not making such big changes. People will fight the most for the key moments in their life but a lot of their lives is pretty ordinary. You find out what really matters the most to you.
Should you feel guilty that the Yeerk has helped you improve your tests at school or organise your work life more efficiently? Perhaps the Yeerk has resolved issues with people in your life to get along better. Should you feel bad about any improvements at all to your life? Given that the host cannot really control anything it's been talked about in another topic that people would cooperate at one point to some degree. Where cooperate means not be a nuisance to the Yeerk. There are some people who would try to constantly fight but it's more likely an understanding is reached such as: ordinary life Yeerk automation might be tolerated and planning/execution of human enslavement might be when the host will try to be the most disruptive.
Sorry all that was a bit off topic but, as far as the idea being not a children's series goes, for complexity it's not too bad. Applegate gets to the key themes concisely which is perfect because as a child I understood the impact of these things enough to be interested by how things happened and the different points of view rather than being bogged down by too much description of say the surroundings or objects. As a child you let your imagination run away by the mystery and you fill in the details to get on with the story. It's true that it's not like a children's series in the sense that it's not about children having fun with their friends or falling out or school. It just has more important things and more implications than an ordinary children's series which is why I think so many of us enjoy Animorphs.
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Considering the vast majority of us first read the series as kids and apparently enjoyed it (otherwise, why are we here? :P)... I think it works fine as a children's series.
Jake? Murderer. Actually, they're all murderers, but Jake takes 17 000 sentient beings, 17 000 yeerks which could have included the Yeerk Peace Movement, and flushes them into space with a single command. Blackmails an android incapable of violence, sends his cousin, the only family he has which understands the things he has been through, to kill his brother. Both of them end up dead. Do things get better? No, he goes through PTSD.
Umm... okay, I see how you say that about Jake, but for the rest it doesn't really work. Unless you're going to sit there and tell me that what a soldier does in battle is the same as what a serial killer does. Because it isn't.
[spoiler=Murder]–noun
1. Law . the killing of another human being under conditions specifically covered in law. In the U.S., special statutory definitions include murder committed with malice aforethought, characterized by deliberation or premeditation or occurring during the commission of another serious crime, as robbery or arson (first-degree murder), and murder by intent but without deliberation or premeditation (second-degree murder).
2. Slang . something extremely difficult or perilous: That final exam was murder!
3. a group or flock of crows. [/spoiler]
Based on that definition, each of the animorphs commited second-degree muder; they did not go in intending to kill a lot of people, hork bajir or taxxons. Therefore, no premeditation. However when forced into it, they attacked and willingly and intentionally killed to save themselves. You may say that they were soldiers in a war, and what they did was no different than what a soldier did, but there are many examples where they intentionally killed people who were either defenseless or when they were asked to back off. (well, most of them)
Cassie: killed Aftran's brother. She even admits she did it after the command was given to retreat, and she feels absolutely nothing for it. it is this lack of feeling that forces her to temporarily quit the animorphs.
Jake: 17 000 yeerks, in book 53. In book 6, he boiled a tub of yeerks. Book 26, he killed the Howler. You could say that it was in self defense and the Howler was trying to kill him, but remember that the Howlers are basically kids. So he kills an alien kid (whose only real crime was their master) to survive. Nobody ever brings it up because it was a weird mission.
Ax: Dracon beams in bug fighter into yeerk Pool, several times. Result; boiled yeerks in their defenseless state.
Marco: Can't think of too many, but I do recall he does step on Edriss after the Yeerk bails from his mom. There are probably more, such as when he was willing to kill Karen after he discovers that she is a controller, and she knows their secret. True, he didn't actually intend to kill her, but Marco is the most ruthless of the animorphs, aside from Jake at the end of the war.
Rachel: Probably a lot. She and Ax was David's watchmen for two hours. By the way, that was probably 'a fate worse than death'. Trapped as a rat? I think that would count as a 'war crime' at the very least. Death would have been preferable, and David even says it right out at book 48; just kill him. Also, she destroyed the Kandrona, while you could say it was necessary and it was a war, her (and the animorphs) actions resulted in tons of Yeerks being starved; many of them died hungry. Imagine if a single person made a move that resulted in essentially, all the people over the world starving, including the good people (Yeerk Peace Movement?) you may have dealt a huge blow to the enemy, but how many other bystanders did you get killed in the cross fire?
Tobias: Not much killing, since his morphs rarely have the power to kill. He fights in his bird body, and the most he could do was blind someone.
Also, as much as you'd like to think that what they did was necessary (and of course, it was for their survival) it doesn't make them feel any better about what they did; they have ended so many lives to preserve their own, and even if you can call it justified, at the end of the day, the blood is still on their hands (figuratively) and they will have to live with what they do; Jake? Didn't do so well. Rachel? Didn't have to deal with it, because she died. Cassie? Dealth with it, because she ultimately stuck to her morals. Marco? Dealt with it by sinking into the materialistic lifestyle. He'd gotten his parents and family back, and became a superstar. Tobias? Didn't do so well; lost the only person that loved him. Ax? Did great, because the Andalites are pretty much honoroble murders and respected him immensely. Then he got assimilated by the borg... er, One.
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Yeah thats the reason people jump off bridges but isnt that what therapy is for?
Lets not forget how easily Tobias became a voluntary controller in MM4. Sure, he resisted in the end, but this is Tobias and look at what he went through. If you can forgive him you can forgive the others.
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There's a different thread for this topic about voluntaries and why they shouldnt be demonized somewhere on this forum.
Let's try to stay on topic.
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I agree with point #1 on why it isn't a kids series. First animorphs book I read (#2, The Visitor) I read it because there was a cat on the cover and I loved cats and the only thing I remembered from it before I really got into the series was that some girl morphed into a cat and went into someone's basement and almost went over the two hour limit. And then there was something about a hawk... lol. Now the series makes much more sense and the science makes sense to me and I remember it and understand it better.
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I don't know how many of you agree with me, but I just have to say that is sort of bothers me--if not completely pisses me off-- when someone sees me reading an Animorphs book, or talking about Animorphs and say, "Dude, you're eighteen. Why are you reading a kids series?"
I did not have this problem as I hid the fact I was still reading those books after elementary school to everyone except one friend (my "bff" at the time, and she did tease me!)
Back to topic: Why are those books not for kids or for kids.
First you would probably need to separate the series in 2 parts since it evolved as the readers evolved and it really got darker towards book 40 something and then you would need to define "kids".
Are you talking about 8 to 10 kids ? Or 10 to 12 kids? Or...?
You say that the characters are "children" around 13, but at that age many children are considered teens more than children.
To me those books are well suited for young people around the age of 10 (start of the series) to 13(end of the series) so that I cannot really argue your position that those books aren't for "kids" (if kids means young teens).
I'll add some points to your list "why they are for kids(=young teens)":
7) The shortness of sentences which is something that I actually really appreciate. A lot. ( :P)
8 ) The simplicity of the text. Simple words are used, no long descriptions full of complicated adjectives, sentences are mostly turned towards action rather than description...
9) The plot itself is mostly action oriented, and this despite Cassie's "whining moments".
10) The violence may not be a point in favor but is definitely not a point against.
First because the ones which typically get hurt (at the start of the series) are the yeerks and those yeerks are firstly introduced as evil beings.
Second because until late in the series, there are no real strong consequences on the main characters, the ones the reader gets attached to (apart from Tobias, but as it happens in the very first book, which is not even narrated by him, it is hard to empathized). Often the books conclude with them gathering around food or some group activity.
Besides the perception the reader gets of the "evil aliens" slowly evolves with the books in a carefully planned way (at least at the start of the series) and young teens are old enough to be receptive to the moral conflicts introduced by the author. Book 19 does a really good job at handling the motivations of each specie and at giving a "human face" to the enemy. I think that at least by the age of 12 an average teen should be able to understand the moral issues this book brings.
11) The humor. Book 14 cracked me up when I was 9. I laughed from the start to the end. Not something that would work on me anymore. In general the humor is adapted to young teens (except Ax's joke about the symmetry of the shelves, this one is for all ages).
A big point that I'd like to make here, even if not really in a list because it would cross several list points is that the grey vs black and white, the moral issues etc... Are the main reason why those books are really good for young teens and why they may seem dull to adults.
Because when you are 11/12 you start rebelling against authority (of adults), or at least questioning it, you create your own identity and you start questioning some of the knowledge and moral you were given so far by your family, school...
The kids in animorphs do the same, they discover the shades of grey, they cannot trust adults, and with the battle for earth they discover new/hidden parts of themselves... All those things echo to what the readers feel, and maybe help him raise questions as well (book 19,THC,...).
The turn off part for older teens is that they generally already went over this. They know adults can be dicks, life is not all white and black,... Let's say that when you are 18, you won't be attracted to animorphs for its intellectual challenges since it mostly addresses issues you should, by that age, have already thought of (in class, with your friends, or by yourself)
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10) The violence may not be a point in favor but is definitely not a point against.
First because the ones which typically get hurt (at the start of the series) are the yeerks and those yeerks are firstly introduced as evil beings.
I agree with some of your points. But this I have kind of an issue with, because it seems to imply that so long as something is evil from your perspective, which is going to be influenced by what someone tells you or your interpretation of events, then it's okay to commit an act of violence to them.
Yet, the violence committed against the Yeerks in all of those books was also being comitted to innocent Hork-Bajir, whom we are told in the very first book were mostly involuntary controllers who lost their planet.
And as most kids at the age groups you are referring to have a hard time seeing shades of grey, I would say that alone makes it questionably geared towards young adults who have had experiences with the real world and the concept of prejudism at the very least.
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And as most kids at the age groups you are referring to have a hard time seeing shades of grey, I would say that alone makes it questionably geared towards young adults who have had experiences with the real world and the concept of prejudism at the very least.
One of the goal of the author is to make the kids realize this. That comes progressively with the story (book 13 for the horks, and the THC).
In short, that's why I think those books are especially suited to young teens, because it helps them raise questions about things they might have not wondered before since they are generally exposed to a white and black literature before, with the villains on one side and the heros on the other side.
But to older teens this part loses interest because they don't need long digressions on why it's bad to hurt innocent beings and why hork bajirs are victims and why the heros are not all white etc etc...
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It's understandable for the Animorphs to be sceptical about the good/evilness of Hork Bajirs early on even if they were just told that they're to be pitied but in combat situations they'd probably focus more on survival. Whilst the Animorphs do go looking for fights their intention (for the most part) isn't to inflict maximum casualties rather they have a mission and an objective. It's probably bad that the books sort of promotes violence but young readers can tell the difference between real and fictional. In a world where children can take on adult humans/aliens it's less about the fighting and more about the situations.
I think the different perspectives of each team member stresses the different views so that even children can tell the shades of grey. When people read from Rachel's perspective there is a sense of a warrior spirit who looks for fights whereas from Cassie it's someone who is caring and empathetic. The balance of these views makes even children realise there is right and wrong times for violence.
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I am stunned by the deep thought that has gone into this and im a little sad becauseI feel like im not contributing much.
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One thing I always thought was a little jarring as a kid was the Ellimist. He's basically a God that fights what amounts to the Devil. While Cryak is definitely the greater of the two evils, the Ellimist is not exactly a squeaky clean moral figure, either, and can really make someone (like me) think hard about any possible real Gods, and whether or not they're really worth the worship. Not exactly what you think of in the same vein as "children's entertainment".
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Hi GalagaGuru welcome to the forums! I think it's good to be open minded. Whilst the Ellimist might appear to have the power of a god it doesn't reflect that God is like the Ellimist but I get what you mean. Younger children probably won't think make this distinction until later and can find out more about religion from better sources. As with most sci-fi it's easy to fall into the Science vs Religion debate but I don't think Animorphs really goes into that. There are desperate situations in Animorphs but I think Applegate's Everworld has more influence than Animorphs on religion since it's about many Gods/Goddesses of the Ancient world.
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One thing I always thought was a little jarring as a kid was the Ellimist. He's basically a God that fights what amounts to the Devil.
I tend to think of the Ellimist/Crayak dynamic as being similar to the Shadows and the Vorlons. They're basically two different aliens that exist on a higher plane and fight each other for entirely different reasons.
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Hi GalagaGuru welcome to the forums! I think it's good to be open minded. Whilst the Ellimist might appear to have the power of a god it doesn't reflect that God is like the Ellimist but I get what you mean. Younger children probably won't think make this distinction until later and can find out more about religion from better sources.
Yeah, there's a lot of differences between Ellimist and God, but it's not about drawing similarities. It's about getting people to think.
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Well...whilst I'm not religious I do think that if even a story book can question your faith then perhaps the foundations for having it to begin with weren't that strong. I'm not saying religion is bad but if getting people to think is considered a bad thing then free will might as well not exist.
There are a lot of themes in Animorphs and it's good that it doesn't try to press only a certain view onto children. Growing children need to be able to think openly!
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Unfortunately, the thing about a structured education means that often, children are often thought to think in a certain way; while it might efficiently allow learning, it restricts their creativity. But moving back on topic.
Another reason why this series should not be considered a children's series? Death.
People die. All the time. Civilians, bystanders, innocent hork bajor, innocent kids, tons of yeerks. In every book, at least one person dies. In the first book? Elfangor dies. Ellimist? Sooo many deaths.
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Death isn't something that children really think much about. They understand the effects of "a bad guy" no longer being a problem or to feel sad/unhappy when a hero is no longer around but it isn't something that causes Animorphs to be not fit for children. I mean take Disney for example: Bambi's mother dies! Death is an inevitability of life.
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Death always happens in childrens books i have a 200 page long book with huge font were the kids are scare for their kidnapped mother because shes a diabetic without any insolin. In the bible theirs death, in percy jackson, harry potter, hack i know some kids who watch a tv show called 1000 ways to die. Its a common part of liturature because kids are being exposed to dirtier things than they were 60 years ago.
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My point wasn't that Animorphs isn't for kids. I meant it's content is more for young adults.
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I suggest this is more like 1000 ways animorphs doesn't talk down to kids, and can also be appreciated by an older audience.
but the reading comprehension level definitely makes this a kids series. arguably the chronicles books are on a higher level in that regard, but that makes them a challenge for the reading age, not outside of their reading age.
what animorphs proves is that you don't have to dumb down content to write a kid's series. in fact, you shouldn't dumb down content to write a kid's series (though you should obviously leave sex out of it)
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Saying that... this reminds me of implied sex/rape in The Mutation to other people that the underwater dwellers have met in the past and were planning on. I guess that's definitely not something that you would expect in a children's series.
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Okay, I know it's been covered before, but...
The psychological aspect in the series is very adult. Especially the affects of war psychology. When I was younger, I didn't really appreciate it, but now that I've matured somewhat I just can't get enough of it. The psych, I mean.
My sister makes fun of me for still loving Animorphs. This is her reply to anything I say that is Animorphs related:
"Nerd."
But, I've listed off some quotes from the series before without telling her that they're from Animorphs and she is impressed by them. The psychology is so deep and so accurate and real. But when I tell her where the quote originates from:
"Nerd."
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Animorphs is for all ages!! *sigh* Some people just can't appreciate good reading material...
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It is mainly written twoard kids but I think KA got a little passionate while writing.
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There's no doubt about it initally being for kids but, just like with Harry Porter, the author realized broad her demagraphic had become and started writing books that appealed to the more grown up readers
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Really? because in the very first book a man is covered in blisters when harry touched him and ends up disintegrating
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Keep in mind that that's only one death. The number of people who die in Harry Potter would pale in comparison to the number of deaths in Animorphs.
17000 yeerks, countless humans, andalites, taxxons, hork bajir, planets, galaxies and solar systems in the ellimist chronicles. Harry potter's death toll, even if you count the nameless and faceless people whom Voldemort presumably had killed in the First War tallied up would account to slightly less than a single continent's population.
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Ok you got me there, but when you compare animorphs to kids playing black ops its kind of....weak
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I would imagine actually the numbers don't matter so much as the graphicness of the deaths. I'm not saying 100,000 deaths don't mean anything but as a children's book the numbers are just numbers. If the imagery was so vivid with very explicit gore as to give nightmares then it would be bad.
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. If the imagery was so vivid with very explicit gore as to give nightmares then it would be bad.
This. Not so much with the nightmares bit, but as I stated before, there are a number of graphically depicted deaths in the Animorphs series.
Lets not forget Visser, which the actual Animorphs don't even make an appearence in until the end of the book. That book is a cornocopia of mature concepts, including but not limited to, the heroin addict.
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he is right but I think kids do know about drugs. Every month or so a cop comes into the classrooms sporting slogans like "cocain is a pain" or "crack is wack"
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he is right but I think kids do know about drugs. Every month or so a cop comes into the classrooms sporting slogans like "cocain is a pain" or "crack is wack"
Which is propaganda and not actual street knowledge. It wasn't until a major Police convention in my town that I knew how to recognize any of those drugs.
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In a video I recently saw the guy was actually smoking pot.
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Ellen Geroux's Tobias books (the ones with Taylor) should frankly come with a "reader discretion is advised" note.
totally agree
also with that book(33), who ever ghost-written the book uses words i rarely use. i had to search up like 5 words in the dictionary(i love dictionaries!) and most books i don't need to search up any.
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eh whatever