The Last Girl on Earth

October 1, 2017
Only her father and sister know Li's secret, one that could get her killed: she's human.Doomed by wars and climate change, Earth's dying habitat attracted extraterrestrial visitors, Abdoloreans, who--unable to prevent the human population from self-destructing--ended their misery and remained. Opposed to that policy, Li's Abdolorean father rescued and raised her with his younger daughter, Zo. Through his efforts, Li's not only passed, but exceled among her Abdolorean peers, who consider her one of them. (It hasn't been easy--unlike theirs, her gills are shams; she can't breathe under water.) As Assessment approaches, Li and her classmates compete for positions in the Abdolorean military, into which all are conscripted. As infantry, squadron, and a few, elite officers, they'll serve seven-year terms on alien planets. A strong contender for officer, Li's also buoyed by her intoxicating romance with Ryn, a recent off-planet arrival. Should Ryn learn her secret, Li (though not her father) trusts him to keep it. But unlike Ryn, their classmate/competitor Braxon, who's been dating Zo, resents Li's success, and his growing animosity threatens to derail her future. Without breaking new ground, this debut unfolds smoothly. Appealing, if familiar, tropes, character types, and plot devices align with the straightforward style and vocabulary to make this a strong pick for reluctant readers.This easy-reading sci-fi outing should appeal to fans of Suzanne Weyn and Lisa M. Stasse. (Science fiction. 13-16)

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November 1, 2017

Gr 7 Up-Humanity is gone and instead an alien race, the Abdoloreans, inhabits Earth. Li lives with her father and sister, and only they know her secret-Li is human. She has been trained by her adoptive father from an early age to not only blend in with the intelligent and strong Abdoloreans but also to be among the highest ranking in her class. She does not question the fact that Earth was supposedly saved when the Abdoloreans took over her planet 16 years ago, and if her true identity stays hidden, she too can travel to other planets. With tests and training missions, and a budding romance with Ryn, a new transfer student, Li's life of simply trying to survive becomes more complicated and the threat of exposure higher than ever. This is an engaging science fiction novel with an interesting premise. As the narrative progresses, Li realizes that by secretly working harder than everyone else, her classmates, including her best friend, assume that her top marks and athleticism come naturally to her; they do not see the mental and physical toll it takes. Li, a biracial human teen, blends in easily with her Abdolorean peers, with the exception of having to wear fake gills. Not enough information is shared about Abdolorean culture to know if their humanlike appearance is real or a form they use on Earth. VERDICT Fast-paced and accessible, this debut is recommended for most young adult collections.-Marissa Lieberman, East Orange Public Library, NJ

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