I Choose You

Pokemon Chapter Book #1

by Tracey West

Ash hopes to be the best Pokâemon player in the world, but his sidekick Pikachu keeps undermining his efforts.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Fiction, Manga, Middle Grade, Chapter Books, Young Adult

87 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1999

About the author

Tracey West is the New York Times bestselling author of Dragon Masters, a series in the Scholastic Branches line. She has written more than 400 books for kids, including the Pixie Tricks series and the Underdogs series with Kyla May.

Some readers also know Tracey for writing books based on animation such as Pokémon and LEGO Ninjago.

She currently lives in the western Catskills of New York with her husband, Bill; their adopted dogs; and a whole mess of chickens.

Reviews

[Jibin · Rating 5 out of 5]

this the first pokemon book that tracey west wrote it was where ash gets his pikachu and meets team rocket for the first time and ash trains pikachu in his first gym the thunder gym which was a wrong choice because pikachu is thunder and cannot defeat their pokemon easily ash thinks about a plan and uses it and it works i also liked the part when pikachu didnt obey ash at first but then saved ash from a another pokemon

jibin

[Franlys · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a kid named Ash. He wants to be the greatest pokemon master but he comes through a lot of problems like battling other Pokemon Catchers. This book is mostly cartoonish this is a television show and i found this book in my house laying around so i decided to read it. This book is entartaining learning about these pokemons attacking other pokemons this book was Great. I would recommend anyone that likes cartoonish shows or pokemons to read this book its very good.

[Ty · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was a great book to me my opinon of this is 5 stars but the books about ash meating pikachu and becomeing a great team

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of the children's books I review on this blog belong to my children. Before either child was born, I was a Pokémon fan. I started with the cartoons that were shown on the KidsWB and from there moved onto the games. When my son was about two and a half he discovered the Pokémon cartoons at daycare. Now Harriet is also into Pokémon.With both children enjoying the series and games we have started to collect the old chapter books that first came out when the cartoon was imported.

The first in the series is I Choose You. All of the early books are written / adapted by Tracey West. All together she's written more than thirty books. I like her Pokémon books because she's a fan too and manages to fill in the blanks that are sometimes there in an episode, movie or story arc.

I Choose You traces how Ash and Pikachu first started working together. It's basically the initial story arc of Pikachu and Ash's friendship where it's put to the ultimate test in episode 37, "Pikachu's Good-bye." As the focus is only on Ash and Pikachu, a lot of the other adventures in the first season are set aside for other future books in the series.

I like that these books aren't just novelizations of each and every episode. By drawing elements from so many episodes, West is able to show how both characters grow as their friendship develops. In the television series this friendship is pushed aside for the most part after about the third episode to make room for Ash's quest to get into the Pokéleague. It's all about his battling for badges, getting lost and thwarting Team Rocket along the way.

All the books in the series have stills from the episodes and movies. In this one they are grayscale and the whole thing is printed on newsprint. Later books in the series are printed on nicer paper and have full color shots. I am as much a fan of Tracey West's Pokémon books as my children are and I've been reading them on and off since before they were born.

[Geoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Pokemon...
Yeah, I know, I know...

[Mitchel Broussard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This'll be a nostalgic review for the whole Pokemon chapter book series.

Oh, the memories.

Most specifically of waking up hours before everyone else whilst on vacation in our family camper, leaning over for the stack of (then super long at a grand total of 100 pages) Pokemon paperbacks, and having awesome adventures with Ash and the gang. As a child who was wholly prohibited from any sort of pet (sans fish... whoopee for me) the Pokemon phenomenon offered me a form of escapism. Hell, who wants a lame and adorable dachshund when you can have a fucking fire-breathing dragon, amiright? Well, that's what I convinced myself, anyway. Listen, it was either this or those bitch-ass Tamagotchi's and I was NOT going to be the only loser on the block with one of those pussy robots.

I loved imagining the fantastic world where the series took place; where teens could, like Ash, shirk all responsibilities to nurture rare and wild creatures, battle other trainers, and have crazy adventures. I had the games (ahmygawd Pokemon Stadium on the 64 was my LIFE), the cards, the clothes, the underwear, hell I even remember these little plastic squishy toys that had marbles on the bottom you could fake battle with on hard floors.

I usually say my hardcore life as a bibliophile began with Harry Potter... but ya know I didn't even start that craze until the second or so book was out. And considering my friends and I held secret recess meetings to trade cards after they were banned (man were we rebels) in about the third or fourth grade, I'd be confident in saying it was Pokemon that got me to start reading. Well, you know, actual books. Not just skimming through those infuriating Highlight magazines and doing the search-and-find puzzles.

I loves me some Pokemans (except Jigglypuff; Jigglypuff is lame and always will be). I will forever berate my mother for getting rid of these childhood gems.

XOXO, Mitchel.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, I have read the book I Choose You (Pokémon Chapter Book, #1) more than once, and I must say, I cannot find any more good and positive things to say about it.

Basically, the 10-year-old protagonist, Ash Ketchum, learns a highly important lesson at the start of the book: make sure to go to bed early the night before the day of a big adventure. (In his case, it’s the start of a Pokémon journey.) Of course, that lesson is one we know all too well — especially when the same thing happens to us most of the time.

Another thing Ash also learns the hard way is why sleeping late isn’t a good idea when he comes to Professor Oak’s laboratory (while wearing his green pajamas, as he’d forgotten to stop and change his clothes beforehand), only to be sorely disappointed when he discovers the Kanto starter Pokémon — Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle — have already been taken by other trainers who had gotten there on time. To (seemingly) make matters worse, all Professor Oak has left is a Pikachu.

Thankfully, over the course of the book, Ash and Pikachu begin their friendship when they’re attacked by a flock of Spearow (as Ash had hit one of them with a rock, mistaking it for a Pidgey), and Pikachu drives them away with a Thundershock attack. 😊🦅

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Pokémon, as well as those who like a good book, and I give it five stars as well (although ten stars would be even better). 🐦

[Isaac Pardowsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because i am a pokemon fan also I like that ash wants to achieve to be the greatest master of them all. Ash does have trouble on the way like pikachu, misty and Brock, and team rocket. For examples team rocket always wants to steal pikachu and the pikachu doesn't listen to ash which makes things harder. Also the spearow chased him off the waterfall. that is what this book is about.

[Shifan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warning! This may contain spoilers!!!

First of all, the book is good & he second, the TV show looked better than the book. That was when I got obsessed with Pokemon. You should've read it. Pikachu may be a spoil sport but later, he gets friendly.

[Kojo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is good because it's the one where Ash gets his Pokemon license and starts his partnership with Pikachu.

[Heaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

It a pretty good book, I grew up watching the shows and movies. They where the best. It's just the book version of the episode but its still a pretty good book.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always been a fan of Pokémon ever since I was just a little kid and I am very happy to be reading these books all over again!

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh wow, I totally remember this and being in love with it! I had a huge Pokemon phase from the time I was 5 to about 9, then Lego took over.

This was a fun book, I remember that, and I can remember parts of it and being excited to choose my own Pokemon, but man, that was so long ago, and while I will never forget my craze for them, I have moved on.

[Brittany Larkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son Caleb, really enjoyed listening to this story at read-aloud. He is five and and in Kindergarten. It was easy to read simple story line. He was able to take the story line into imaginative play with his siblings and reenact the book on his own.

[Pranjal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice

[★ Dreamfyre · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5✨

This is a reread review as an adult:

Not me trying to constantly remind myself that this book is for children. 😭 Some points of this book made Ash seem dumber than he actually is. The story takes place during three separate episodes:

☄️The Spearow Attack
☄️The Lt. Surge Fight
☄️The Wild Pikachu/Good-bye Pikachu

Due to the skip in episodes, there's this weird moment where Ash is like "I've been in tons of battles" but the story never mentions it ever. Ash has lifted more than a pebble. Having watched the anime and knowing that Ash has fought AT LEAST two gyms before Lt. Surge, it was extremely odd that Misty and Brock had to explain a gym battle to Ash cause ... Ya know ...

He's already done it.

But does the story care? Nope. And the book is for kids but at the same time it was just dumbing down and it irritated me. 😂

Otherwise, it was a good book and I really enjoyed myself otherwise. 😊

------

5/5✨ from my childhood

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because my favorite pokemon is Pikachu and Pikachu was in this book. I also enjoyed this book because I liked the part when I saw all the Pikachus because there were also pictures in the book. I also enjoyed this book because I like the part when Pikachu and Ash became friends.

[Joseph Maksoud · Rating 4 out of 5]

i realy liked this book. this book is about a young ten year old boy named ash ketchem from pallet town it was time for his very first pokemon. he picked pickachu because all the athere one were chosen

[Orpiment99 · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those who want a nostalgic visit to the old Pokemon Red and Blue days this is the book for you. This book is an adaptation from the American Pokemon cartoon, season 1. Great for introducing your kids or other young children to the "original" Pokemon cartoon or Pokemon games from "long ago."

[David]

ITS ok

[Nightshade · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is based on the TV show and I can't believe how much they cut out of it.

[Paula Greenfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the beginning of Ash's adventures and the story of how he got Pikachu. It also tells how they become friends.

[Nicola Proctor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ash and his pikachu what's not to like.

[Tomas Tappin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dictated the direction of my life. Would recommend 5/5

[Mitchell Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review will not be very enlightening with regard to content and reader experience, you were warned.

A tribute to ‘Pokémon: I Choose You!’

‘Pokémon: I Choose You!’ Was the first book I remember reading (alongside Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, go figure!). I was roughly six years old and we were travelling to Melbourne from my country town in NSW, typically a 3.5-4 hour drive. I remember reading up to page 16 by the time we hit Shepparton, at which point the family car was turned into a Hungry Jacks to feed the crew, let the children tire themselves out on the playground and, ideally, give the parents some peace and quiet. So raptured was I in this masterpiece of a book, that I resolved to bless the establishment with it.

As I picked the pickles off my double cheese burger, I continued to reread the same page over and over in a vain attempt at progression. The burger remained uneaten and page unread for a few minutes until the “tsks” made from patient parents convinced me that one would need doing before the other. So, acquiescing to unyielding demands, food was consumed, drink done away with and promptly refilled (the reason Hungry Jacks lounged unparalleled at the top in the early 2000’s, fight me!) culminating in some running and climbing at the behest of parents probably on their last nerve.

Eventually the troupe was gathered up, ushered back into the car and away we went, satisfied, content and excited for Melbourne (my first memory of the city). Darkness had begun to settle as this was an evening trip on a Friday night after a long day of school. Therefore, the location of the aforementioned book was not a priority and children were encouraged to lean back and try to sleep (unfortunate because I could never sleep in moving vehicles). Upon arriving at a residence that was unfamiliar, and unnervingly clean and tidy, children were put to bed in bedsheets that felt far too tight.

It was this moment, three hours later, where the dread rose in my small stomach of sugar, msg and burger-bun. So important was this revelation that leaving bed and receiving a potential scolding was a necessary risk. ‘Pokémon: I Choose You’ had not made the full journey. Parents were notified, the car was checked, yellow pages consulted, “Hungry Jacks Shepparton” was called and confirmed to be the residence desired for enquiry... But alas, a lesson was to be learned tonight, no such book could be seen, no such book had been handed in. Disaster struck, the trip had been ruined and disappointment resonated in every fibre of my small six-year old being. Tears were spilt and comforting words offered to console, an exhausted child sent to bed.

‘Pokémon: I Choose You’ if you’re still circulating the Australian landscape, I hope happiness and fulfilment has been brought in abundance. This eulogy was written to give closure for a moment of disappointment experienced early on in life, I’m sorry for failing you as a travel companion. Thank you for the memories. You taught me of disappointment through Ash’s shame at feeling inferior to Gary in Professor Oak’s eyes. You taught me of unfulfilled parental expectation through Oak’s excited question about whether Ash had earned his first gym badge (like Gary), and the negative response given. You taught me that sleeping in late might cause a missed opportunity or companionship, but may also open up doors for other opportunities and friendships that might last for decades (two and counting). You taught me that the journey is as important as the destination.

You were the very best, like no book ever was.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this in a Little Free Library and since my fiancé got me playing Pokémon Go last year, I figured the first book in the series would introduce me to the backstory. Sure, it’s clearly a kids book and not deep reading, but it does explain some of the things from the game we play like Jessie and James from Team Rocket and why Pikachu is the face of the Pokémon franchise.

[Tomek · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was a poor adaptation of the anime because the text seemed to be aimed a 2 year old children, rather then the more broad appeal of the anime(thought that is still childish). I would only recommend to 4-5 year old children, still to young for the manga.

[Harper Mahlburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harper age 8:Ash wants to be the world's greatest Pokemon master. With Pikachu at his side he sets off to capture and train every Pokemon he can find. Ash is determined, but there is one huge problem, Pikachu won't listen to a single thing Ash said.It was sad.

[Anjo Wormhoudt]

fun

[Alfie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is one of the best things ever