Unique characters, amazing art, and an intensely interesting story! Better than I could have anticipated. I don't know why it took me so long to crack this baby open. My kids are taking turns reading it now.

Terrific graphic novel. Well deserving of winning a YALSA Great Graphic Novels Award and being named to LITA's Notable Science Fiction for Young Adults list.

Last Pick is a graphic novel that centers on twins Sam and Wyatt living in the wake of an alien invasion that left them, along with others whole the aliens decided weren't useful due to age or disability. I really appreciated the exploration of sibling love and embracing each other's difference paired with the alien invasion element--it was great see positive disability rep in a sci fi story. I wasn't a huge fan of the art personally but it did a good job of conveying setting and action. Would recommend as older MG or younger YA readers.

My middle school students loved this graphic novel. They found the graphics to be really well done and enjoyed the story line. Many would use it as a mentor text to create their own graphics.

I’m totally into the young reader/MG trend of kids having to create their own world. Do yourself a favor and catch up on this series now before book 2 comes out!

A fantastic sci-fi graphic novel that helps examine (and reject!) the idea that different is bad or wrong.

This book kept me hooked until the end. I can't wait to read part two!
I loved the representation of autism and diverse characters. The relationship between the twins brought tears to my eyes. We need more books like this.

The aftermath of alien invasion certainly isn't a new idea. I applaud the inclusion of disabled characters, though there's clear othering. I liked the elements of responsibility, the ways these siblings sacrifice or push their own boundaries for one another. THre's an element of exploring what drives us that I appreciated as well.

Aliens have invaded and taken the most desirable humans away. They left the youngest, the oldest, and the undesirables. Sam and Wyatt are twins who were left behind. Samantha is the active and daring one who goes out on raids to gather supplies. Wyatt is brilliant with technology, but struggles to read facial cues and understand social interactions. The twins are best friends and help each other survive. Wyatt is very close to making some of the alien tech work and hopefully find out where their parents were taken, but the local aliens have noticed the twins and are closing in on them.

Walz has created an interesting dystopia featuring atypical heroes for such a story. Wyatt is obviously on the autism spectrum, but he knows his needs and weaknesses well. Sam is bold and tough, but she isn’t disgruntled and hardened by her experiences. She’s loving to her brother and kind to others. She gives away food from their supplies to others who need help, and she does very well in helping Wyatt out of panic attacks and encouraging him in his strengths. They meet some other humans who run the full spectrum from being in league with the aliens or just trying to keep them happy to those who are doing everything they can to resist. The aliens are also interesting. There’s obviously some sort of power struggle going on and a mysterious illness among them that’s still to be explained. I can easily see many middle grade and young adult readers getting hooked on this book and bemoaning the fact that it is so long till the next book comes out. (The main characters are teens so it is likely aimed at the YA crowd, but the plot is "safe" enough for middle graders too.) Hand this to graphic novel fans, science fiction fans, and dystopia fans.

Notes on content [based on ARC]: No language issues. No sexual content. Some gross aliens and it is implied that there were deaths during the alien invasion and possibly during a current explosion but none are shown.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Last Pick is a great addition to Graphic Novels shelves and packs a diversity punch that readers are looking for. I couldn't wait to share this with my students, and now they are all excited to see more than the sneak peak I offered!
Wyatt and Sam are twins that were too young to be taken as slaves when the aliens arrived, but now they are turning 16 and are more trouble than is appreciated. Wyatt is on the spectrum, so he's considered defective by the overlords from space. But his sister Sam knows that Wyatt is the perfect person to defeat these villains, using his creativity and focus to use their own tech against them.

The world didn't end when the aliens invaded and took everyone they deemed "useful": the abled ages 16 to 65. That included Sam and Wyatt's parents, leaving them to fend for themselves. And Sam intends to fight back, even if it means putting everything and everyone she loves in jeopardy.

This is an absolutely amazing graphic novel—and from what I've picked up, it's the first in a trilogy (YES!)—so the epic cliffhanger is going to bring answers.

I haven't read too many books, especially not graphic novels, where one of the main characters is on the autism spectrum. And I loved it. Wyatt was well written, intelligent and what the aliens perceived as his "weaknesses" are going to save humanity. I also loved that there was a lot of other disabled rep in the book as well, along with people of color and the elderly (who were NOT related to the main characters—score!)

Sam is Wyatt's perfect counterpoint, particularly as the twin of a person with disabilities whose life revolves around keeping her brother safe and protected—while trying to get him to realize that he's just as strong as she is.

The storyline is riveting and engaging, and the illustrations are fantastic (the chapter intros are all hilariously different). In addition to the heartwarming moments, there's enough thrills and twists to keep a reluctant reader engaged (while learning empathy! yay!).

I'm looking forward to read on and learn more about the aliens—and how they can be defeated.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

4.5

Thank you to NetGalley, Jason Walz, and First Second Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an amazing start to a riveting dystopian graphic novel trilogy. The art is great and the story features unique characters as well.

This story takes place in a time when aliens have taken over Earth (sounds cliche, right?). But, the aliens take away anyone ages 16-65 who are fit, healthy, or seem a bit too rambunctious, leaving only the "useless" behind. Sam and Wyatt are twins struggling to survive in their new alien-ruled world. Sam is a unique girl, rebellious, and fighting for humanity, as well as trying to keep her brother safe. Wyatt has autism and doesn't quite get social cues. But he's smart and brave, and he might just be the one to turn the tide of this crazy alien invasion!

I absolutely love both of the main characters, but especially Wyatt. I find that there's just not enough novels out there that feature young people with disabilities as strengths (although there are more starting to surface), which is why I really loved this novel. It sends a powerful message that differences are a good thing, and everyone has their own strength in who they are. If we were all the same, what would we ever learn? A great graphic novel that I would recommend to students and friends!

Last Pick by Jason Walz is the first volume of Jason Walz's dystopian graphic novel trilogy. It is currently scheduled for release on October 9 2018. The kids last picked are humanity's last hope. Three years ago, aliens invaded Earth and abducted everyone they deemed useful. The only ones spared were those too young, too old, or too “disabled” to be of value. Living on Earth under the aliens’ harsh authoritarian rule, humanity’s rejects do their best to survive. Their captors never considered them a threat—until now. Twins Sam and Wyatt are ready to chuck their labels and start a revolution. It’s time for the kids last picked to step into the game.

Last Pick is a very well written and drawn graphic novel. Sam and Wyat are a team, the twins only have each other since the aliens took their parents. They are focused on survival, and the hope that Wyatt's skills will help them find their parents. Sam goes out on scavenging trips to find what they need, but she also helps others get food and whatnot along the way. They end up facing bigger challenges as more aliens appear and their actions make the aliens look weak.They need to stay free, find their parents, and help the others that remain with them find and keep hope. Tall order for two newly minted sixteen-year-olds, but they might have the skills, intelligence, and more that they need. I like that the relationship between the twins, and their natures, is shown. I like that while Wyatt is different, and his sister has struggled with that, she has his back and sees his good qualities as greater than her own 'normalcy'. The aliens are also not all the same, or all powerful and evil, I liked the use of one that is more like use in mentality than different. I liked the action, and the introduction and building of the world and characters. I am engaged and still thinking about the world and characters, and eager to see what will happen next. Although, I am not thrilled with the level of cliffhanger.

Last Pick is a great start to a series. My biggest issue with the book is that it left me with too many questions and not enough answers. I wanted some kind of resolution, and felt like ?I was left we a bigger question than the one that started the story.

This post-apocalyptic adventure takes place 3 years after aliens have taken away everyone between the ages of 16-65 as well as the handicapped, leaving behind what they feel are useless individuals. Twins, Sam and Wyatt are fighting back and trying to find out if their parents are still alive and where the people have been taken. Now the twins are on the run from the aliens and finding other survivors that can help them.

The art was great, the cover was eye-catching, and I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I liked the idea that the world has a narrow view of what success looks like and everyone has good attributes and the ability to contribute. A good YA graphic novel series that I will definitely pick up and continue when the next volume comes out.

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 an easy-to-follow sci fi story about alien invasion. The plot focuses on twins - one autistic and one who learns to stand up for her unusual brother, and their somewhat dysfunctional relationship. There is a huge cliffhanger at the end but also a nice one-volume arc.

Story: Aliens invaded Earth and left only the 'useless' - those too old, young, or infirm to be 'useful'. The rest of humanity runs free in the ruins, occasionally given food by the aliens. Samantha and her twin Wyatt are desperately trying to find a means of discovering where their parents were taken. Wyatt is a 'rain man' type of genius and with Sam's daring, they will use their wits and pluck to find an answer.

Last Pick isn't scary; rather, the cartoony villains are rather cute but the story is fairly straightforward. Wyatt and Sam interact with various outliers in towns and cities, working toward finding a way to track down their parents (who, along with all the other adults, were taken in giant 'scoopers' and then transported off planet). Sam is plucky but grounded; Wyatt is easily overwhelmed but focused. The seriousness of the story is offset by the old school 'monsters'.

The plot keeps you engaged throughout as the twins get in and out of scrapes. I do appreciate that they had a clear purpose from the beginning and that they meet all kinds of people in their quest. The art is bright an the aliens feel very "Simpsons'-like in their comic-like appearance. It's not a story that frightens you but at the same time, you do get a sense of danger for the twins.

In all, an interesting read. I'll be curious to see where it goes now after the big cliff-hanger reveal. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

Didn't care much for the cliches or the sometimes wonky anatomy of the characters. The female lead wasn't much of a character, instead just a one-dimensional stereotype. The book didn't keep my interest enough for me to finish it, let alone sign on for two more volumes of this, particularly since the message of "disabled" people having contributions to make is so blatant that I'm pretty sure I know how it all ends already.

Aliens have taken everyone from the ages of 16-64 except for those they have deemed useless, usually children, the elderly, and the disabled. Soon to be 16 year old twins Sam and Wyatt, a genius who has Asperger's, are determined to find out where the aliens have taken their parents. Their actions attract the attention of the aliens. Wow, this is one suspenseful book. Walz does a great job in keeping the readers on the edge of their seats. The suspense of this book is effective because he makes you care about the characters. At the heart of the book is the relationship between Wyatt and his sister Sam. With their parents gone, they are all they have left. They make an amazing team who frustrates the aliens during their outings. While it's simple to say that Wyatt is the brains and Sam is the brawn, their relationship is more complex than that. Through a series of flashbacks which take place before and shortly after the invasion, readers get a look at their relationship with each other and with their parents, as well as a glimpse of the world as it was before the invasion. Along the twins' journey they encounter interesting characters who are trying to survive the post-invasion world. Walz's artwork is clear and does a great job at capturing action as well as capturing the characters' emotions. You experience the characters' feelings as they experience their victories and setbacks. Even the aliens are very emotive and are surprisingly vivid characters. Last Pick being the first of a trilogy ends in a cliffhanger that makes anticipate what happens in the next book.

I haven't read many graphic novels, but the description and cover of this one automatically drew me in. I loved the illustrations and the storyline grabbed my attention from the start. I am anxious to see what happens next in the series!!!

LOVED the twin main characters and the message that everyone has their strengths and things that make them special.

Great middle grade graphic novel. Student will love this series opener about aliens, abductions, and kids taking control!