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posies23's review
4.0
It's always hard to rate the first book in an obvious series, because you never know if future volumes are going to live up to the first one. (Let's just say I've been burned before.)
With that said, this graphic novel sets up an interesting scenario and some compelling characters. I really like the ideas lurking beneath the surface here -- that what might appear on the surface to be liabilities might actually be strengths. There's some good humor and action here, and some really thought-provoking scenes and character interactions.
My sincere hope is that Walz builds on his strengths, and the rest of the series is as compelling as the first volume.
With that said, this graphic novel sets up an interesting scenario and some compelling characters. I really like the ideas lurking beneath the surface here -- that what might appear on the surface to be liabilities might actually be strengths. There's some good humor and action here, and some really thought-provoking scenes and character interactions.
My sincere hope is that Walz builds on his strengths, and the rest of the series is as compelling as the first volume.
suspiciouspinecone's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Absolutely vibed with the protagonists. Simply adored it. The plot was not fantastic, but it works. My one major criticism (aside from the fact that I didn't love the art) is that they never said 'autism.' Like, if you're going make it that obvious, it's really best to diagnose him. Also, I'm a little suss of the way 'disabilities' and 'disabled' keeps being written in quotes. Disabled isn't a bad word, you can just say it.
dgrstory's review
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
justlily's review
4.0
YES! THIS! MORE OF THIS! Is there lesbians in the next one?! The only way this could be any better is if there are lesbians in the next one!
corky12's review
5.0
TLDR: Plot may seem cliche, but the characters are heart-warming. It is nice to see characters with autism and other "disabilities" in genres other than slice of life fiction about "coping with___."
At first, I was skeptical of this book. It won an award, but the plot sounded so overdone. The book follows twins, Sam and Wyatt, as they try to save the Earth and not get alien-napped. Teenagers versus aliens during the apocalypse. Yay? BUT there is a special twist that's close to my heart. The people left behind aren't your average "middle-class white kids bullied for being themselves." No, these are people with differences. One of the protagonists has autism. In fact, everyone left behind has some sort of "problem" with them, and the aliens see them as easy prey.
Recently, more books are coming out with diverse casts of characters. However, this is one of the first I have seen where the character's supposed "disabilities" have been seen as beneficial. This book did not revolve around Wyatt's ASD, bullies, educating people about his disorder, or coping with special education. Rather, it was a clever device for adding depth to the characters and giving them purpose. As a sibling of someone with Fragile X (similar to autism) and a special educator, I am trying to read as many books as I can about those who are differently abled. Most I have seen did not have much of a plot except "dealing with ___." (Take Wonder, for instance. Wonderful book but all about fitting in with facial disfigurement.) There's nothing wrong with those books, but people who are differently abled need representation in all genres. If the only stories about them are meloncholic tales about coping and bullying, that is not real representation. That's more of a public service announcement for the rest of us.
From the outset, readers can tell Jason Walz has experience with people with special needs. The way Wyatt interacts with other characters and his specific mannerisms are realistic and poignant without straying into the territory of trope or mockery. I personally relate to Sam, who is neurotypical ("normal"). She loves her brother, but sometimes she does stupid things because his differences get her nerves. Walz captures the reality of living with someone with special needs because this is his life. The author is a special education teacher. He has the qualifications to write about these kids because he has witnessed the behavior firsthand, using that to craft a science fiction adventure starring two kids. One exasperated by the struggle of dealing with a brother with autism (not to mention the apocalypse) and one struggling to find his place in a world where even the aliens call him useless.
Even if science fiction is not your thing, even if alien invasion stories are overdone, you will enjoy this adventure if you like reading about characters who are not what you expect. These kids are not heroes; they are just trying to survive. And sometimes those are the best stories of all.
At first, I was skeptical of this book. It won an award, but the plot sounded so overdone. The book follows twins, Sam and Wyatt, as they try to save the Earth and not get alien-napped. Teenagers versus aliens during the apocalypse. Yay? BUT there is a special twist that's close to my heart. The people left behind aren't your average "middle-class white kids bullied for being themselves." No, these are people with differences. One of the protagonists has autism. In fact, everyone left behind has some sort of "problem" with them, and the aliens see them as easy prey.
Recently, more books are coming out with diverse casts of characters. However, this is one of the first I have seen where the character's supposed "disabilities" have been seen as beneficial. This book did not revolve around Wyatt's ASD, bullies, educating people about his disorder, or coping with special education. Rather, it was a clever device for adding depth to the characters and giving them purpose. As a sibling of someone with Fragile X (similar to autism) and a special educator, I am trying to read as many books as I can about those who are differently abled. Most I have seen did not have much of a plot except "dealing with ___." (Take Wonder, for instance. Wonderful book but all about fitting in with facial disfigurement.) There's nothing wrong with those books, but people who are differently abled need representation in all genres. If the only stories about them are meloncholic tales about coping and bullying, that is not real representation. That's more of a public service announcement for the rest of us.
From the outset, readers can tell Jason Walz has experience with people with special needs. The way Wyatt interacts with other characters and his specific mannerisms are realistic and poignant without straying into the territory of trope or mockery. I personally relate to Sam, who is neurotypical ("normal"). She loves her brother, but sometimes she does stupid things because his differences get her nerves. Walz captures the reality of living with someone with special needs because this is his life. The author is a special education teacher. He has the qualifications to write about these kids because he has witnessed the behavior firsthand, using that to craft a science fiction adventure starring two kids. One exasperated by the struggle of dealing with a brother with autism (not to mention the apocalypse) and one struggling to find his place in a world where even the aliens call him useless.
Even if science fiction is not your thing, even if alien invasion stories are overdone, you will enjoy this adventure if you like reading about characters who are not what you expect. These kids are not heroes; they are just trying to survive. And sometimes those are the best stories of all.
pipstewart's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
rkiladitis's review against another edition
5.0
Last Pick is the first in a new dystopian trilogy. Three years ago, aliens invaded earth, taking everyone between the ages of 16 and 65: everyone they deemed "useful". The survivors left behind live under cruel rule. Too young, too old, too disabled, they're seen as worthless, receiving slim food rations and living under constant threat. But Sam and Wyatt, a twin brother and sister, are about to change all that. Sam's the rebel, distributing food and fomenting revolution; Wyatt, her special needs brother, is the brains of the operation: he's cataloging the aliens, and knows how to work with their technology. They start disrupting the aliens' plans and making themselves a general nuisance until the aliens decide they're too much of a threat, right on the eve of their 16th birthday.
Last Pick is SO GOOD. I tore through this one during a lunch hour; it's compulsive reading with a tight storyline and characters you want to root for. Aliens appear to be enthralled with earth culture and are played in part as comic relief, from the overlord who seems to be influenced by American Westerns, affecting a cowboy-type flavor of speech, to the gooey creature that shares a love of Ultraman with Wyatt. There's some intrigue going on among the aliens, too; I'm looking forward to learning more in the next installment. Sam and Wyatt are a solid sister-brother unit; Wyatt's special needs appear to place him on the autism spectrum, and Sam acts as his partner and protector. An underground radio broadcaster, a Latinx who refers to herself as La Sonida, offers moments of retrospection and I hope we get more of her, too.
Adventure, science fiction, and dystopian fans are going to love this. If you have readers who love Spill Zone and Mighty Jack, hand them this one. Last Pick has a starred review from Kirkus.
Last Pick is SO GOOD. I tore through this one during a lunch hour; it's compulsive reading with a tight storyline and characters you want to root for. Aliens appear to be enthralled with earth culture and are played in part as comic relief, from the overlord who seems to be influenced by American Westerns, affecting a cowboy-type flavor of speech, to the gooey creature that shares a love of Ultraman with Wyatt. There's some intrigue going on among the aliens, too; I'm looking forward to learning more in the next installment. Sam and Wyatt are a solid sister-brother unit; Wyatt's special needs appear to place him on the autism spectrum, and Sam acts as his partner and protector. An underground radio broadcaster, a Latinx who refers to herself as La Sonida, offers moments of retrospection and I hope we get more of her, too.
Adventure, science fiction, and dystopian fans are going to love this. If you have readers who love Spill Zone and Mighty Jack, hand them this one. Last Pick has a starred review from Kirkus.
rbreade's review against another edition
Engaging dystopian story about twins, Sam and Wyatt, and alien invaders, the latter of whom oddly sound like some of the Earthlings they've conquered, e.g., a "Sheriff" who wears a bolo tie and a duster and has for some reason adopted a number of regionalisms, much to the disgust of his commanding officer. Looking forward to the continuation of this story because the final panel here is a--horrified?--reaction shot of Sam,
Spoiler
who has allowed herself to be captured and who is looking out on what the reader must assume is the alien world.literaryk's review
4.0
Great story line! It moves very fast as graphic novels tend to do, but it still finds time to highlight Wyatt's autism and the misconceptions the general public tends to have. On the flip side, the story also showed what a supportive community looks like. I will be picking up the next book!