Visser (Animorphs) [Hardcover]

K.A. Applegate (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1999 | Age Level: 9 and up

He's the source of incredible destruction and evil throughout the galaxy. She's the leader of the Yeerk invasion of Earth...and Marco's Mother. This is their story.

Editorial Reviews

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

In an hour or so, once I was out of sight of land, I would lower my sails and wait for a Bug fighter to come lift me off the deck. The engine backwash of the Bug fighter would capsize the boat. Or I might put the Taxxon pilot to the test and see if he could ram the low-slung boat. That would puzzle the humans.

Either way, my body would never be found....

My time of lying low was over.... I would spearhead the invasion of Earth. I would take charge of our greatest conquest. I would stand alone atop the Yeerk military hierarchy.

I was to become Visser One.

Her human name is Eva. There was a time when she had a loving husband and a son, Marco. When she had a wonderful career. But that was before she was infested by Edriss 562. Before the invasion of Earth. Now, Edriss 562 lives in Eva's head and controls her every movement. And through Eva, Edriss has become the highest-ranking general in the Yeerk empire, surpassing even her arch rival, Visser Three. She is Visser One.

But, it has become known that Visser One's tactics for attaining her current position were less than acceptable--even to the Yeerks. Now she is on trial for treason. If she's found innocent she'll continue to rule. But if she's found guilty, she'll lose her life--and possibly the life of her host, Eva. Which will mean that Marco will never, ever see his mother again.... K.A. Applegate has dared to journey to the dark side with this haunting glimpse into the hearts and minds of a race determined to survive and conquer--at any cost.

K.A. Applegate is the author of over 100 books for middle-grade readers and young adults including the best-selling Animorphs and Everworld series. Ms. Applegate was born in Michigan and has lived in many regions of the United States, including Texas, Florida, California, and Minnesota. She now lives in Chicago, where she divides her time between writing, reading, and vegging out in front of the tube.

What motivated Ms. Applegate to write Visser? "In writing Visser I wanted to address one of the big questions fans regularly pose: How did it all start? I wanted to suggest the possibility that the Yeerk evil could only flourish when it met with human weakness. But I also wanted to suggest the possibility that human strengths--simple human good, in this case a mother's love--could weaken evil. (Ages 9 to 12)

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks; First Scholastic Printing edition (November 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439087643
• ISBN-13: 978-0439087643
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #701,538 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Katherine Applegate's many books include the Roscoe Riley Rules chapter book series, the picture book The Buffalo Storm, and the award-winning novel Home of the Brave. With her husband, Michael Grant, she wrote the hugely popular series Animorphs, which has sold more than 35 million copies worldwide.

Katherine was inspired to write The One and Only Ivan after reading about the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, the Shopping Mall Gorilla. The real Ivan lived alone in a tiny cage for twenty-seven years at a shopping mall before being moved to Zoo Atlanta after a public outcry. He is now a beloved celebrity at the zoo, which houses the nation's largest collection of western lowland gorillas. Ivan is well known for his paintings, which he "signs" with a thumb-print.

Katherine lives in California with her husband and two children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The dark side of the Animorphs series!, November 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Visser (Animorphs) (Hardcover)

This book was spectacular! It is about whaen Visser One (Marco's Mom) is being accused of treason. They look at her brain to see her memories. According to her memories, she had special feelings for a human-controller named Hildy Geravis, who's Yeerk name was Essam. They had children, which is suspicious to the council. Visser Three plans to exploit this oppurtinity so that Visser One will die, and so Visser Three can become Visser One. And the only person who can save Visser One and Marco's mom is Marco and the rest of the Animorphs, who Visser Three thinks are "Andalite Bandits." The Animorphs are sworn enemys to all the Yeerks. This will be their hardest task ever. This book also features a great illustration of Visser Three with a multi-colored shiny cover and back. This book was great, but it wasn't the best. I think The Andalite Chronicles was the best. If you liked this book, i'd reccomend The Hork-Bajir Chronicles, The Andalite Chronicles, or the Animorphs Megamorphs. Have the power to morph with Visser!

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Among the very best in the ANIMORPHS series, November 16, 1999

By 

Julie (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Visser (Animorphs) (Hardcover)

This is among the best, if not *the* best Animorphs book I've ever read. It could be considered a "backstory novel" (as the other two similar books, the Andalite Chronicles and the Hork-Bajir Chron.) since during Edris's trial she recounts in detail exactly how she went about targeting Earth for invasion. But it also has a lot of relevance to the "present day" Animorphs series. Somewhere in the middle of the novel it takes off where a cliffhanger in Animorphs #35 left off...except with a different point of view. Visser One, the main character of this book, was facinating to read about; her personality crafted from a large number of conflicing positions, and how one person can hatefully accomplish an evil purpose yet at the same time act out of genuine love. This book was somewhat dark, and the ending may leave you feeling depressed, as it isn't exactly a happy "everything's okay now" ending. Even the general emotion derived from the narrative is a bit of a downer. However, this an excellent book I reccomend for anyone who likes Animorphs -- I would reccomend it for anyone, but unless you've read the two "Chronicles" books and quite a few series books, (particularly the ones with Visser One in them or focus on Yeerks in general) the characters and themes will have little meaning. Though those who are not long-time readers of Animorphs will be surprised at such a detailed and sympathatic narrative by one who is normally a villain -- the highest general of the "evil" bodysnatching, parasitic aliens. Read it today!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This CANNOT be missed, March 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Visser (Animorphs) (Hardcover)

A MUST READ! KA Applegate's best yet. She has finally decided to venture into the minds of some of the most power-hungry evil villians -- the Yeerks.

When Visser One (alias Marco's mother) is put on trial for treason, she ends up confessing some of her deepest, darkest secrets...secrets that will change the lives of Eva (her host)and the Animorphs, and perhaps decide the fate of the human race.

You see, this Yeerk, Edriss 562, Visser one, was the one who gave the Yeerks earth. But she can't allow an all-out war like Visser Three (Esplin 9466) wants. She has secrets on earth that may be destroyed in a war...and she won't let that happen.

This is the fate of Marco's mom, Visser One, the Yeerk who dared to love. Who dared to give her heart away to another creature. The Yeerk who dared to have emotions...

AGAIN, KA'S BEST YET. IF YOU MISS THIS, YOU'RE MISSING OUT ON EVERYTHING ...