The Resistance (Animorphs)

The Resistance is the 47th book in the Animorphs series, written by K.A. Applegate. It is known to have been ghostwritten by Ellen Geroux. It is the third book in the ten-book arc that finalized the story of the Animorphs. It is primarily narrated by Jake, with flashbacks secondarily narrated by Isaiah Fitzhenry, a great-uncle of Jake's grandfather who was an American Civil War lieutenant.

Plot summary

A free Hork-Bajir is captured by the Yeerks and involuntarily reveals the location of the Hork-Bajir valley. Jake and the other animorphs head to the colony to warn the Hork-Bajir. Jake thinks it would be best to abandon the valley and flee, but the Hork-Bajir, led by Toby Hamee, insist that they want to stay and fight. As a part of the battle strategy, the Animorphs (most of them) morph beavers to make a dam to flush the Yeerks out of the valley. Jake and Tobias spot a group of campers who would be likely be innocent victims of the fighting and approach them to try and convince them to leave. They don't buy Jake's lame story and Jake decides that he must show them the truth and he and Tobias both morph in front of them. It turns out that the campers are Star Trek fans and (believing the Animorphs to be actual aliens) insist on helping the Animorphs. They assist Marco's parents (who now live in the valley) and the free Hork-Bajir in an assembly line of creating spears and other weapons.

Meanwhile, every other chapter consists of somewhat-related diary entries from Lt. Isaiah Fitzhenry, a great-uncle to Jake's grandfather, who fought in the American Civil War, specifically against General Forrest.

The battle for the valley begins, and it is very bloody with many dead. Visser One morphs a horrible eight headed alien creature, and the formidable Yeerk force can only be driven back when the water from the dam is released down the valley. One of the campers was killed in the battle. Jake reminds Toby that the victory is only temporary and that the Yeerks will be back. Toby realizes that they must leave the valley, and Jake says that maybe one day they can return. Jake returns home and reads the conclusion of Fitzhenry's diary. He received a fatal wound in the battle, but expresses in his last written thought that he hopes he did his best. Jake is uncertain of how his story will end, but as he closes the book he whispers "Yeah, me, too."

Themes

Many parallels are drawn between the battle in the Hork-Bajir valley between the Yeerks and the Animorphs, free Hork-Bajir, and campers and the Union soldiers fighting alongside African Americans (who were looked down upon by some) and the townspeople against the Rebel soldiers. Although the Union soldiers are defeated in the particular battle at (fictional) Sinkler's Ridge, Tennessee, the Animorphs triumph in a Pyrrhic victory after Ax releases the water built up in the dam into the valley, which sweeps the Visser and the rest of the Taxxon- and Hork-Bajir-Controllers away.

Lieutenant Isaiah Fitzhenry is a young man who is struggling to lead his soldiers and the African-American workers who the townspeople (and some of his fellow soldiers) disagree with fighting alongside at first against the odds (they are outnumbered by the Rebel soldiers by hundreds). Jake also feels the struggle against odds, outnumbered by the Yeerks and their force as well as technological superiority, although he finds the courage to lead even in the face of seeming defeat. In this way, Isaiah and Jake are compared and shown as the heroes of the story, undertaking risky operations.

Along with this theme of bravery in the face of defeat and triumphing/fighting against the odds, there are also themes of teamwork and unity amongst all types of beings, including humans with each other (white people with African Americans) and humans with other (alien) species (the campers in the valley with the Hork-Bajir).

Morphs

Trivia

• This is the fourth book in the mainstream, numbered series to be narrated by more than one character, the third being The Journey, the second being The Prophecy, and the first being The Departure.