A short romp with big tech explosions that sets the stage for sorely needed growth.
This next chapter of the 27 Run series struggles to be accessible to newcomers but packs a mecha-powered punch for fans of the original.
Beti is a fearless, brown-skinned mecha pilot, and her telekinetic partner, E.K., is an elkhound who understands that being woman’s best friend won’t always be easy but will consistently bring thrills as the pair battle Crawlies, a mass of hungry alien predators that have invaded Earth. Heavy-handed exposition and clumsy dialogue catch readers up: 27 large monsters now rule over the post-apocalyptic planet Earth. The Crawlies pose a distinct threat that Beti takes on headfirst with an arsenal of hand cannons, submachine guns, and light swords. Spreads of sharp, vibrant coloring often immerse readers in the highflying and explosive fighting of the future that’s standard for the Japanese-indebted genre, but clunky linework, sparse backgrounds, and less-than-expressive facial illustrations do little for the limited character development and worldbuilding. When a (contrivedly) blinded mecha pilot, a White man, and his talking robot, Sid, are reintroduced to Beti, E.K., and readers, the climactic reunion between the human love interests falls painfully flat both in terms of the visual and narrative stakes. References to ’90s pop culture and Game of Thrones abound as the sequel maintains a distinct personality that committed fans may be glad to return to.
A short romp with big tech explosions that sets the stage for sorely needed growth. (cast of characters, art gallery) (Graphic science fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: March 23, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-949518-10-8
Page Count: 136
Publisher: A Wave Blue World
Review Posted Online: Dec. 21, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2021
A fast-paced dip into the possibility of a world without human emotions.
A teenage girl refuses a medical procedure to remove her heart and her emotions.
June lives in a future in which a reclusive Scientist has pioneered a procedure to remove hearts, thus eliminating all “sadness, anxiety, and anger.” The downside is that it numbs pleasurable feelings, too. Most people around June have had the procedure done; for young people, in part because doing so helps them become more focused and successful. Before long, June is the only one among her peers who still has her heart. When her parents decide it’s time for her to have the procedure so she can become more focused in school, June hatches a plan to pretend to go through with it. She also investigates a way to restore her beloved sister’s heart, joining forces with Max, a classmate who’s also researching the Scientist because he has started to feel again despite having had his heart removed. The pair’s journey is somewhat rushed and improbable, as is the resolution they achieve. However, the story’s message feels relevant and relatable to teens, and the artwork effectively sets the scene, with bursts of color popping throughout an otherwise black-and-white landscape, reflecting the monochromatic, heartless reality of June’s world. There are no ethnic or cultural markers in the text; June has paper-white skin and dark hair, and Max has dark skin and curly black hair.
A fast-paced dip into the possibility of a world without human emotions. (Graphic speculative fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: June 13, 2023
ISBN: 9780063116214
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: April 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A warm, sweet, lovely tale of a world readers will want to live in.
In a not-so-distant future where changing one’s physical features is as easy as purchasing nanobot mods, Sunati falls for Austen, a girl who always looks the same.
Since Austen never changes, Sunati admires what she assumes is her bravery and confidence. As Sunati and Austen chat more, Austen bluntly asks Sunati if she only wants to get to know her more because of her medical condition, which prevents her from using mods. As they gradually grow closer, Sunati learns how to interact more respectfully with those who have overactive immune systems as well as to share her feelings more honestly. Austen, in turn, learns to trust Sunati. This beautifully illustrated slice-of-life tale that shows two young women of color getting to know each other and creating a relationship is so warm and charming that readers will hardly notice how much they are learning about how to better interact with folx who are different from themselves and the importance of not making assumptions. The story also successfully weaves in agender, genderfluid, and asexual characters as well as the subjects of parenting and colorism into the natural arc of Sunati and Austen’s developing story. The soft, romantic artwork evokes hazy watercolors. The speech bubbles are predominantly pink and blue, and the varied layout will maintain readers’ interest.
A warm, sweet, lovely tale of a world readers will want to live in. (Graphic romance. 12-18)Pub Date: May 19, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4998-1110-0
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Review Posted Online: March 24, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
PERSPECTIVES
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