Review by New York Times Review
EARLY ON IN "5 Worlds: The Sand Warrior," a politician from the rapidly overheating planet of Mon Domani implores delegates from four neighboring civilizations to set aside their differences and work to save their dying worlds. "The time for yours and mine is over," he says. "Coming together is our only hope." But his (not at all relevant to the real world) call for unity goes unheeded, and a few pages later, war breaks out - on top of all the looming natural disasters. It's a bang-zoom start to a series that promises to be epic in both the classical and internet senses of the word. And the devastation is depicted with cinematic beauty by the art team of Bouma, Rockefeller and Sun, whose every panel could pass for an animation cel. As you might suspect from the opening - or from the three diverse hero kids on the cover - teamwork will indeed be needed to save the day. Fortunately, the Siegel brothers have given us some very likable characters: Oona Lee, a trainee Sand Dancer (think Jedis who would kick butt at sand castle-building contests); An Tzu, a Dickensian street waif who's part plant; and Jax Amboy, the David Beckham of Starball, whose celebrity status makes even enemy soldiers go fanboy on him. Making this threesome even more intriguing is that each hides a deep secret that will completely change the way new friends see them. The title "5 Worlds" implies that this is a capital-S Saga, heavy on the mythologybuilding, and that's no false promise. As in Star Wars, Harry Potter or Avatar: The Last Airbender (probably the most analogous series), there are so many side characters, mysterious subplots and allusions to pre-book history that readers accustomed to simpler narratives might end up with a case of whiplash. But those who love to fully submerge themselves in the geography, politics and folklore of fantasy worlds will likely be preordering Book 2 before they've even turned the last page. The fantasy world of Scott Westerfeld's "Spill Zone" is decidedly smaller in scope - in fact, it's confined to the college town of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. And teamwork is not on the menu for our foul-mouthed, rulesbe- damned, loner heroine, Addison Merritt. Sure, elements from a super-creepy, Lovecraftian dimension may have leaked into her world, enveloping her hometown, consuming her parents and psychologically scarring her little sister, but Addison's not going to let that stop her from making a solid living. Even if that means busting through military roadblocks to sneak into the forbidden "spill zone" and take illegal photos of the horrors within - photos that sell for big bucks on the black market. Addison can come offas cold and harsh, especially to people who try to help her, but her character is far more nuanced than the typical tough-as-nails antihero - as evidenced by some of the heart-tugging scenes between her and her now mute, emotionally detached sister. Readers will have no problem rooting for Addison - and fearing for her. The publisher's recommendation that the book is for "teen readers" should not be taken lightly. Not simply because of the frequent profanity, but because the book is genuinely scary. (Without naming names, there might have been at least one fully grown book reviewer who had nightmares after reading it.) The eeriness quotient is thanks in no small part to Alex Puvilland's gorgeously grotesque depictions of the Spill Zone's otherworldly denizens, including warped wolves, glow-eyed rats and floating corpses (lovingly referred to as "meat puppets"). As frightening as "Spill Zone" can be, though, its greatest asset is its muscletensing suspense. Reading it feels like binge-watching a great cable series, complete with the same feeling of despair you get when you finish the final episode and realize you've got a long time to wait for the next season. AIMED AT A YOUNGER READER, Nathan Hale's "One Trick Pony" is a self-contained story. But while beautifully concise, it still manages to squeeze in loads of suspense, chills (though nothing too nightmare-inducing), action and entertaining character dynamics - all within a refreshingly original take on post-apocalyptic hellscapes. Here we see humanity devolved into a preindustrial society after an invasion by giant arthropod aliens that eat technology - along with any earthlings that get between them and the mainframe they plan to have for lunch. The heroes of this dystopia are a small caravan of people who live on the run, moving from ruin to ruin, carrying with them all the books, movies, computer drives and gadgets they could save along the way - i.e., all that remains of human culture. Hale - a double threat as both author and illustrator - uses a captivating art style here, depicting the story only in shades of gray and yellow, which adds to the arid, barren feel of this depleted Earth. The plot centers on a group of young friends who are plunged into danger when they are accidentally separated from the caravan. While lost, fearless Strata, her pragmatic brother, Auger, and their brawny pal, Inby (who is written wonderfully against type as a comically whinging naysayer), discover a still-functioning robotic horse. The boys are immediately worried that this rather large piece of tech will draw the metal-sniffing aliens to them - and they're right - but Strata can't shake the feeling that this golden pony has an importance they can't yet fathom. So the three begin the long, dangerous search through an alien-heavy hot zone to find their constantly roaming mobile village. On the way, they'll forge an uneasy alliance with a fugitive cattle rustler, become unhappy targets of a territorial barbarian tribe, and have plenty of nail-bitingly close encounters with the insectoid invaders. It all builds to a gripping climax that - as any good sci-ficlimax does - puts the fate of humanity in the balance. It all wraps up rather nicely, but that doesn't mean readers won't want to see more of these characters. Or that Hale wouldn't oblige. CHRISTOPHER HEALY is the author of the Hero's Guide trilogy for middle-grade readers.
Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [April 24, 2019]
Review by Booklist Review
On a ravaged future earth, technology-hungry aliens called pipers scour the planet for salvage, leaving behind a landscape riddled with spherical gouges, as if earth was suddenly Swiss cheese. One cadre of humans is trying to preserve the earth's culture by scavenging for any remaining technology, but it's dangerous work, especially when three kids Strata, Auger, and Inby stumble on a hidden cavern packed with untouched robots, including a beautiful mechanical horse. Strata's determined to bring the horse back to their caravan, but their discovery catches the attention of a horde of pipers, and their journey home gets a lot more complicated. Hale imbues his latest with pathos, action, and perfectly timed moments of comedy, but it's the imaginative landscape, spot-on visual pacing, and confident line work that make this adventure tale really zing. The pipers are a particular treat they're elaborate, insectoid creatures with menacing, globular features and pendulous tendrils, ready to grab and annihilate anything they touch. Though it's over a bit too neatly, the suspenseful chase plot and lively characters will entrance plenty of readers.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Earth has been conquered; families traveling in caravans preserve civilization's digital archives while avoiding bioparasites called pipers that slurp up robots and other metals. Strata, Auger, and Inby, three young nomads, stumble on a cache of robots; the best prize is Kleidi, a working robotic horse. The robots call forth a lethal swarm of pipers, but Strata won't abandon Kleidi. Auger and Inby make it home with the help of Pick, a self-possessed girl from outside the caravan, and Strata and Kleidi take on the pipers, then confront their pompous overlords. Hale (the Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales series) pours imaginative detail and intensity into the ruins of the destroyed world, the icky details of the pipers, and his human characters. He draws in grayscale with yellow highlights, giving all things robotic and metallic a particular glow. The dialogue is distinctive, too: "You eat pigs, do you not?" one of Earth's overlords asks Strata. "Have you taken the time to converse with a pig-a small pig-as we are conversing with you now?" Hale gives his post-apocalyptic scenario special sauce, and readers will hope for more. Ages 8-12. Agency: Shannon Associates. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-In a futuristic world where hostile aliens eat and destroy all technology, three young people are out searching for machinery to salvage. They succeed when they find a cache of robots, including a robot pony, which sets off a wild chase and confrontation with bands of roaming humans, aliens, and more. Set in a land that blends Stone Age elements and highly advanced technology, this graphic novel adventure features the same mix of humor and derring-do that makes Hale's "Hazardous Tales" so popular. The artwork is in black-and-white, with shades and pops of yellow. While many aspects of the book (for instance, aliens who use bubbles as weapons) might seem cartoony, the illustrations of this epic fantasy are sophisticated, and Hale's world-building is detailed. The violence is free of gore, making this a safer choice for younger readers. VERDICT A great option for fantasy and adventure fans.-Elizabeth Nicolai, Anchorage Public Library, AK © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
In this future-set graphic novel, Earth has been invaded by a hostile alien species. Drones known as pipers ruthlessly harvest technology, metals, and other resources, decimating civilization and forcing most humans to band together in marauding clans for survival. Strata and her family are part of the Caravan, a moving town whose inhabitants (including sentient robots) are committed to preserving computers and data--possibly all thats left of thousands of years of human culture. This gripping science-fiction saga plays out in expertly paced and varied comic panels rendered in black, white, and gray with effective yellow accents. The story centers on Strata and her fierce, unwavering devotion to a robot horse she excavates on a salvage expedition with her brother and a friend. Her discovery sets off a terrifying chain of events that ultimately threatens not only Strata and horse Kleidi but also Stratas family, the Caravans electronic cultural relics, and humanitys very existence. With an engaging, racially diverse cast, this high-stakes epic adventure should have wide appeal: the fast-moving plot features a brave and principled heroine battling a hostile alien enemy in a bleak dystopian landscape. Hale shepherds this complex narrative with the same sure hand as his graphic novel series of real stories from history (Nathan Hales Hazardous Tales: One Dead Spy, rev. 9/12, and sequels), showing that hes equally at home in a speculative future as he is in the past. kitty flynn (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In the future, the extraterrestrial Pipers devour electrical devices while threatening human lives and forcing them to regress to pre-electrical technology. Strata, her brother, Auger, and his wisecracking friend, Inby, find a sleeping robot pony named Kleidi buried in sand one day while exploring some ruins. Waking Kleidi, however, triggers activity and attracts numerous unwanted encounters with the Pipers, huge and terrifying tentacled beings; fleeing, they become lost. While on the run, the group meets a young woman, Pick, from a different tribe, which is hiding from "ferals," or bandits and outlaws. Together they go on a quest in search of the Caravanthe trio's mobile home, which houses the remaining digital archives: robots, literature, music, movies, along with all memory of previous human civilizations. Serving as a leitmotif throughout the story is the tale of the "Pied Piper of Hamelin": the children, in this future, are represented by technology; as Pick explains, "they are stealing our future." Hale generously offers texture and intricate details in his panelsoften zooming in and out and back inwhile offering balance with illustrations rendered in black, white, and gray with yellow accents. In this future, humans are divided into clans but do not maintain present-day racial distinctions; all the main characters appear to be children of color. Hale blends adventure, aliens, an apocalyptic future, and folklore into an easy-to-read stand-alone. (Graphic science fiction. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
