The Last 8

December 15, 2018
"Welcome to Area 51. Home to the Last Teenagers on Earth."After aliens invade Earth and wipe out humanity, Clover Martinez's world becomes an unrelenting nightmare. Six months pass following the fateful invasion. Evading the occasional alien patrol, Clover wanders the barren landscape until she discovers fellow teen survivors at the infamous Area 51. Dubbing themselves the Last Teenagers on Earth, the motley, racially diverse group hole up at the base, led by their protective leader, Violet. With concise chapters and unadorned language, Pohl's debut favors spectacle over depth and succeeds in providing enough intrigue to carry readers from page to page. At the novel's center is Clover, an aromantic Mexican-American girl who prefers logic over emotion. With some difficulty, Clover convinces the reluctant group to fight back against the extraterrestrial menace. But when she unearths a spaceship hidden behind the walls of Area 51 and the group manages to capture one of the aliens, Clover starts to unravel secrets and lies that are threatening to tear down her life all over again. Surprises come in waves even though the novel's not entirely unpredictable (at least until the curious ending). The aliens--a hodgepodge of metallic limbs and humanlike features--unnerve but don't leave much of an impression.A sci-fi romp with ample intergalactic twists to keep readers satisfied. (Science fiction. 14-18)

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March 1, 2019

Gr 9 Up-Clover Martinez is flying her grandfather's small plane, reveling in the freedom of the skies, hurrying late to the science fair. Then, her grandfather and most of humanity are gone, blown to dust by millions of invading aliens. But somehow, despite several close encounters, Clover survives. Driving along deserted highways in yet another "borrowed" car, Clover finally hears something other than static on the radio. Someone is broadcasting tunes and clues about where some survivors are holed up. Clover finds them at Area 51. She discovers that the group wants to stay in hiding. Clover, however, wants to fight back, and the site has just what she needs. When she discovers a bona fide spaceship hidden behind a false wall, she begins to wonder whom she can trust. An extravaganza of nonstop action, with several surprising twists, this will have readers clamoring for more. VERDICT Get this for sci-fi lovers, but especially for devotees of Rick Yancey's "The 5th Wave" trilogy or Pittacus Lore's "Lorien Legacies" series.-Gretchen Crowley, formerly at Alexandria City Public Libraries, VA

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2019
Grades 10-1 The world has just ended, and Clover Martinez is barely managing to survive. She believes she's the only person left on a now alien-infested planet, until a radio message promises the existence of more survivors. What Clover finds are seven teenagers?the last on Earth?holed up at Area 51, doing their best to ignore the apocalypse. It's up to Clover to convince them that there's more to life than survival so they can fight back against the alien invaders and reclaim their home. As they plan their counterattack, they find themselves chipping away at secrets hidden deep within their safe haven that may possibly reveal the key to victory. This debut is, at times, both joyful and heartbreaking, though it could have been improved by closer attention to plot detail. Pohl's characters are tough, funny, and brave as they manage to persevere despite the debilitating weight of grief, a level of emotion that is perhaps better suited to older readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)