Last Pick by Jason Walz
Published by First Second on October 9th 2018
ISBN: 1626728917
Pages: 224
Goodreads

Aliens have invaded and everyone between the ages of 16 and 65 has been “scooped” up and removed from Earth. Life is hard for those left behind. The Aliens are rationing the dwindling food supply, while the questions about the future of the Earth are growing. Twins, Sam and Wyatt, lost their parents to the Alien invasion and must rely on each other to survive. Sam is the feisty one who braves the Aliens and steals food to share with others. Wyatt is a talented engineer who can fix anything but is not so good relating to other people, but he might just be the key to figuring out the alien technology. When the “scooper” returns to take any remaining humans of the appropriate age, Sam and Wyatt are being hunted by the “scooper.” The twins must rely on their wits, their natural talents, and the help of some renegades to help them survive. This graphic novel is full of action, but not at the cost of character development. Through flashback scenes depicted visually in gray, we learn about Sam and Wyatt’s past and the importance of their relationship. The action is represented with bold colorful panels that will appeal to both middle school and high school students. The aliens are drawn in a cartoonish style and are not scary. This is a solid addition to graphic novel collections. Recommended for grades 6 and up.

Elizabeth Andersen, Librarian, Westbrook High School Library