Project Animorphs: Book #29 The Sickness

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animorphs reread project

The Sickness (Animorphs, #29)

Book 29: The Sickness

Publishing Date: June 1999

Narrator: Cassie

My rating:

5 of 5 hearts

Cassie and the Animorphs find out that their Yeerk ally Aftran has been captured and is going to be interrogated by Visser Three in a few days about the Yeerk peace movement. They decide to infiltrate the Yeerk pool and rescue her. Meanwhile, Ax falls ill with a deadly Andalite infection called yamphut, and it infects the other Animorphs as well. Cassie is left to infiltrate the Yeerk pool and rescue Aftran all by herself, and by the way also needs to perform brain surgery on Ax to save his life.

Out of the ghost written books, this is one of the better ones. As the Animorphs start dropping like the five little monkeys jumping on the bed, the leadership is handed from morpher to morpher. Cassie’s obviously not second or even third in command, and only takes charge when there is a medical reason. That being said, she manages to efficiently and dangerously rescue Aftran single-handedly and get them both out fo the Yeerk pool alive only to race home and perform brain surgery on a dying alien.

There is also some very neat and subtle foreshadowing that helps clue in to how the mystery of keeping Aftrain alive without access to Kandrona rays, and some moments of Cassie introspection when she admits she’s probably the only Animorphs that has wondered what it’s like to be a Yeerk, a blind, helpless worm.

Basically, Cassie is at her best in this book. She tends to do well when the leadership role is forced upon her. It also doesn’t hurt that she’s the best morpher and often complete these amazing feats under duress.

Even though Cassie was annoying in some of the earlier books with her moralising and navel-gazing, when she needs to take action she shines pretty brightly. Also, she makes the two biggest decisions in the entire series that pretty much change the whole game.

Although this book isn’t essential reading in the overall story arch, it is well worth the read to see Cassie kick a bunch of ass solo and see Aftran’s story arc concluded.

PS – the ghost writer for this book was the same author that wrote the Roswell books! (which I have not read.)

Join me for a review of Megamorphs #3 Elfangor’s Secret next week!

Nemo
Nemo

About Nemo

A lover of kittens and all things sparkly, Nemo has a degree in English Literature and specialises in reviewing contemporary, paranormal, mystery/thriller, historical, sci-fi and fantasy Young Adult fiction. She is especially drawn to novels about princesses, strong female friendships, magical powers, and assassins.

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4 thoughts on “Project Animorphs: Book #29 The Sickness

  1. the scarecrow

    This is one of the few Cassie books that I really enjoyed. She really stepped up to the plate on this one.

    That said, the part where they did the operation? Awesome! I love how it worked out and that Cassie didn’t just magically luck out into cutting the right part.

    1. Nemo

      Oh yes, Cassie just kicks ass! How many other people would be able to remain cool in the face of brain surgery on an alien!

  2. theredqueenhypothesis

    I really liked this book! It’s exciting, and fun, and as everyone starts getting sick, the pressure builds. Also, Cassie performing brain surgery? That was pretty epic. That girl had a ROUGH day and she pulled through pretty well–definitely one of the better Cassie books.

    Also, Erek entertaining delusional Ax is pretty adorable XD

    1. Nemo

      She had more than a rough day, she had possibly the worst day anyone’s had in Animorphs history. But often in Cassie books she is forced to take some kind of leadership role. And yes, Erek entertaining Ax is adorable. Delirious Ax makes me homesick, poor baby.

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