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dgrstory's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
corky12's review against another edition
4.0
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
TLDR: Last Pick made me cry happy and sad tears! The relationships progress naturally and feel real. Pacing is perfect, and the plot balances humor with tragedy with poise.
Not only has Last Pick earned my love by showcasing main characters with special needs. It has earned my tears for its brilliant, bittersweet conclusion. That, my friends, is hard to do for this reviewer. Yet here we are, my eyes wet as I write this. I am excited to see Wyatt and Sam's journey come to a close because I know how everything ends for them. At the same time, I want more moments with these wonderful characters.
The author deftly balances heavy war scenes with family humor. Like when Wyatt asks his dad for relationship advice, and his dad shouts, "Look over there" instead of starting an awkward conversation. Wyatt and Sam finally reconvene after a full book apart, and they interact exactly as real siblings would, heartfelt hugs intermixed with squabbling.
The family dynamics throughout this particular book are beautifully done. In fact, my favorite part of Last Pick (besides the needed diversity) is the relationships between characters. The alien invasion plot is nice, but that's not why I continue to read and buy this series. I'm invested in Wyatt, Harper, Sam, and Mia. I wanted to see these outcasts overcome amazing odds, and I was not disappointed. Friendships and romance blossom naturally and gradually. Nothing feels rushed or slow. I'm sad to see the end of Wyatt and Sam's story, but I know Jason Walz will amaze us with whatever new project he has up his sleeve next.
TLDR: Last Pick made me cry happy and sad tears! The relationships progress naturally and feel real. Pacing is perfect, and the plot balances humor with tragedy with poise.
Not only has Last Pick earned my love by showcasing main characters with special needs. It has earned my tears for its brilliant, bittersweet conclusion. That, my friends, is hard to do for this reviewer. Yet here we are, my eyes wet as I write this. I am excited to see Wyatt and Sam's journey come to a close because I know how everything ends for them. At the same time, I want more moments with these wonderful characters.
The author deftly balances heavy war scenes with family humor. Like when Wyatt asks his dad for relationship advice, and his dad shouts, "Look over there" instead of starting an awkward conversation. Wyatt and Sam finally reconvene after a full book apart, and they interact exactly as real siblings would, heartfelt hugs intermixed with squabbling.
The family dynamics throughout this particular book are beautifully done. In fact, my favorite part of Last Pick (besides the needed diversity) is the relationships between characters. The alien invasion plot is nice, but that's not why I continue to read and buy this series. I'm invested in Wyatt, Harper, Sam, and Mia. I wanted to see these outcasts overcome amazing odds, and I was not disappointed. Friendships and romance blossom naturally and gradually. Nothing feels rushed or slow. I'm sad to see the end of Wyatt and Sam's story, but I know Jason Walz will amaze us with whatever new project he has up his sleeve next.
rkiladitis's review against another edition
4.0
The third book in the Last Pick series is finally here! Last Pick is a sci fi trilogy where Earth has been taken over by a cruel alien race; they've taken countless humans as slave labor across the universe, but the disabled; the elderly; the too young are left behind. These "last picked" have banded together to fight the alien menace, and Wyatt - a teen boy with autism - is at the head of the revolution. His sister, Sam, has been sent off into the stars, but she's been fomenting revolution, too, with her new girlfriend, Mia; an underground freedom radio broadcaster. In this final chapter of the trilogy, everything that's been put into motion over the last two books is coming together, and the aliens won't know what hit them. The artwork ad action explode off the page while the very human story of resistance, family, and burgeoning romance keep the reader turning pages. This is one of the best sci-fi series in recent years, with intense, smart portrayals of characters who are left behind and how take charge to save a planet. I recently took part in a graphic novels panel, Librarians Love Comics!, and one of my colleagues mentioned how much he liked this series, so don't just take my word for it. Last Pick is librarian-approved.
thenextgenlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Rise Up is the third & final installment into the #lastpick world and releases on Oct. 6. Those who haven’t read the other two will need to in order to understand this #graphicnovel
thenextgenlib's review against another edition
4.0
Rise Up is the third & final installment into the #lastpick world and releases on Oct. 6. Those who haven’t read the other two will need to in order to understand this #graphicnovel
brandolph's review against another edition
4.0
While this was my least favorite of the trilogy, I loved the trilingual a whole. This was by far the most action-packed of the story, but for me it was also the hardest to follow. I absolutely loved how everything came together though, and am so excited to share this series with the teens as my library