Animorphs: The Graphic Novel – The Visitor continues Michael Grant and Chris Gine’s adaptation of K.A. Applegate’s phenomenal YA series that took the late ’90s by storm. Like the books themselves, the second book primarily follows the perspective of Rachel. Having established the Andalite/Yeerk war in the first book, this one spends more time on the role of controllers – hosts, willing or unwilling, of Yeerk parasites. Rachel begins to suspect that her friend Melissa’s father – a teacher at the school she, Jake, Tobias, Cassie, and Marco attend – is a controller. She and the group work to help her gain the ability to mimic Melissa’s cat so that she can infiltrate the house. There, she sees a hologram of Visser Three and learns a bit more about the conflict. Jake continues to adapt to his leadership role while Marco plays things safe. Cassie adapts quickly to shapeshifting and Tobias remains trapped in the form of a red-tailed Hawk. This graphic novel is a great way for long-time fans of the series to revisit it or introduce it to their own children. Grant and Gine do a phenomenal job portraying some of the body horror elements of the Animorphs’ abilities. ( )

This series has a way of sucking you in. The animal morphing is pretty gross to look at, but it works. Marco is for sure the most annoying character. ( )