The Invasion by Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant
If you were a devotee of the Scholastic Book fairs as a kid, perhaps you remember the Animorphs series by Katherine Applegate and her husband Michael Grant (initially credited together as K. A. Applegate). That captivating series kicked off in 1996 with The Invasion.
I don't recall how I first encountered Applegate and Grant's iconic series, but encounter it I did. This staple of my childhood began--as many science fiction series do--with an alien coming to Earth. An encounter with that alien leads him and a group of five teenagers to gain the ability to morph into any animal they've touched.
But life isn't all floating like a butterfly, Earth is under attack. The alien and teens must use everything at their disposal--especially their new morphing powers--to defend Earth. Additionally, if any of them morph into an animal for more than two hours, they will be stuck and if they do not maintain a firm grip on their humanity, their animal form will take over.
Even though I read The Invasion over two decades ago, there is a scene that has always stuck with me. The alien--Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill--witnesses one of the teens take off her shoes and then socks. Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill is horrified as he believes he is watching the teen peel off her skin. The teen quickly explains what is happening, but that moment of misunderstanding made me think about how simple actions can be misinterpreted without vital context.
I recently heard that Ryan Coogler is adapting the Animorphs series as a TV show for Disney and I couldn't have been more excited.
Animorphs remains a cornerstone of my early reading years, and the nostalgic good feelings are enhanced by the fact that Applegate is a vocal ally for transgender rights (unlike other once-loved children's book authors).
If you want the joy of the Scholastic Book Fair back or want to discover it as a new vibe, pick up a copy of The Invasion by Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant right away.
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