Kid Hit
It's tough to save the world and still get your
homework done. But that's the order of the day
for the Animorphs, a group of teen-age
superheroes starring in a kids' book series of the
same name.
Besides shopping and science projects, the
Animorphs change ("morph") into animals to fight
the evil Yeerks, a parasitic species from a distant
planet who enter human bodies, wrap around
their brains and turn people into robotic
"Controllers."
That may sound like a bad 1950s horror movie.
But author K.A. Applegate, 40, has turned the
premise into the hottest thing in children's
publishing since Bobbsey first met her twin.
Launched in June 1996, Animorphs have become
so popular with their target readers, ages 9-12,
that they're giving the megaselling Goosebumps
a run for the money.
Publishers Weekly named Animorphs the best
new children's book series last January. In June,
the books broke into the top 10 on USA
TODAY's Best-Selling Books list. Currently on the
list: The Forgotten (No. 18), The Android (No.
132) and The Secret (No. 190).
Applegate didn't start out writing kids' fiction. She
has written short stories and magazine pieces,
and "I have a dark secret, I've written Harlequin
romances."
But with kids' books she has found her niche. She
peppers the books with teen-speak phrases such
as "way cool" and "you know." "Kids are a much
more open-minded audience. I have room to
really experiment," she says.
The secret of Animorphs' popularity is their focus
on nature, Applegate says. "The aim is to allow
kids to experience what it's like to be a host of
different animals. I get letters from kids talking
about what it's like to be a shark or a tarantula. It
really captures their imagination."
Applegate was a fan of animal books when she
was young. Favorites included Charlotte's Web,
The Yearling and Old Yeller.
Some parents have criticized the violence
depicted in the books. But Applegate says it
comes with the animal territory. "The action is
derived from the natural world, and that can be
pretty brutal. One of the most violent scenes I
ever wrote was about two ant colonies going
after each other. Ants are not nice people."
None of the scenes are gratuitously violent,
Applegate says. And she believes parents must
decide which books are right for their kids. "It's
the parents' ultimate responsibility to be sure the
books are age appropriate."
The popular Animorphs now rank with books by
authors such as Stephen King, Michael Crichton
and Goosebumps' R.L. Stine on best-seller lists. In
fact, Applegate says she owes a debt to Stine.
"He paved the way for kids' series. To the extent
that Goosebumps was the 400-pound gorilla,
now they're the 375-pound gorilla."
Although she's not a science fiction reader,
Applegate says the sci-fi elements that infuse
the Animorphs series are a vehicle for exploring
big issues such as freedom and responsibility.
"These are stories about ordinary kids trying to
save the Earth. They're dealing with complex
issues like morality, freedom, even death. I'm not
saying these books are like reading Hegel, but
they can be a launching point for kids to discuss
these issues. Kids want to know what's right in
the world."
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