As of now I'm two books back in and it is so much fun. I immediately remembered all the reasons I loved this book. The characters were believable and genuinely likable. They had normal problems that you would expect teenage kids to have. But beyond that there were aliens and superpowers. In one story. Win. Also the books were very quick so you felt badass after reading a book in a single day.
As for the writing itself, I actually found it very interesting. It's been a while since I've read a legitimately young adult fiction novel and it was interesting how simple and clear the writing style is. Not dumbed down necessarily, just simplified. I'd forgotten that all the Animorphs books were written in the first person but it lends itself nicely. Makes every emotion more intense even though, as I've said, the storytelling is simple and to the point.
I still remembered about half of what was happening in the stories. Enough to remember what was going to happen but not how, so reading was fun. The thing that I really admire more now than then was the world that K.A. Applegate created. All these amazing alien creatures with vastly difference evolutions and yet all totally believable (well, to a scifi geek). It's the kind of world I strive to create.
And yes, it has inspired many a dream of being an Animorph and what it would be like to change shape and become another animal. What would it be like to be within the mind of a bengal tiger? K.A Applegate gave me a window.
I still haven't reached the arrival of my favorite character (Ax the Andalite) so my plan is to reread the entire 52 book series. The other thing about Animorphs is that I never finished it. I got to maybe book 40 or so. Now I plan on reading them all. Expect an update in one of these blogs later this year after I've read 'em all.
