I didn't really, either. It just got too tough, since I would get them at the Scholastic book fairs at school. I couldn't keep up later in the series. But was amazingly layered and complex as a narrative. Plus the characters were a very diverse group, allowing a wide number of kids to relate to someone in the series. I really identified with Tobias, the shy loner of the group.
Yeah, I knew she died. It was my first experience with getting a spoiler which really killed my interest in finishing the series. She was my second favorite character, and she and Tobias were my first OTP.
Never read the full series myself, but for some reason I had an odd obsession with the Hork-Bajir chronicles title in the series when I was younger. I disliked the ending though, but loved the rest of the book.
I always really liked any and all of the books that had to do with the Andalites. They were cool as shit, man. Ax was my favorite character because to me, the way he was written just made him so pure and innocent (well, mostly). He made me happy.
I adored the Andalite Chronicles. I remember, there was a ton of hype about that book when it released back in the day. And it did not disappoint. Probably my favorite book in the whole series.
I read only one, and it had a girl who grabbed a tyrannosaurus tongue because she was being eaten and needed DNA samples. Thats my complete experience.
SPOILER
Rachel.