Last Pick: Rise Up, the third and final chapter in the Last Pick trilogy, is available now!
Wyatt is now the reluctant leader of the "last picked"―the disabled, the elderly, and those deemed too young to be useful for hard labor by their alien captors. But how can he and his ragtag allies take down an entire alien federation?
Meanwhile, Wyatt's twin sister Sam and her girlfriend Mia are creating chaos all over the galaxy in an attempt to rescue Sam's parents. But even if the family is reunited, can they stay alive long enough to see the end of the alien regime?
Last Pick: Born to Run.
Four years ago, aliens kidnapped most of mankind, leaving behind those they deemed unworthy—the “last picked.”
The future for Sam is bleak and unthinkable. A galaxy away from her twin brother, she is a pawn in the aliens’ bloody civil war. But with her new friend Mia, Sam has found a way to resist her captors and hold onto her humanity.
Back on Earth, Sam’s twin, Wyatt, is leading a resistance of his own. With a ragtag army of the old, the young, and the disabled, he has a plan to bring the fight to his alien captors. But to defeat the aliens, Wyatt may need to befriend one.
"An extraordinary sequel that is thrilling, inclusive, and unforgettable."―Kirkus Review, starred review
“With daring escapes and heroic actions, this installment ratchets up the action with constant threats and higher stakes, but Walz still takes time to deepen his characters . . . A great pick for kids who have outgrown Ben Hatke's Mighty Jack series.” ―Booklist
In this first volume of a dystopian graphic novel trilogy, 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.
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. The universe depends on them.
"A masterful sci-fi tale with relatable characters, skillful worldbuilding, and cinematically designed illustrations that convey his message."―Kirkus Review, starred review
"Strong character development, atmospheric art, villainous aliens, snappy banter, cheerworthy protagonists, and well-executed suspense should give this lots of broad appeal." ―Booklist, starred review
"Messages about valuing all humans (from an author’s note: “Whatever the world sees as ‘different’ is exactly what the world needs”) add meaningful layers to this fast-paced adventure featuring a cast of likable heroes and creepy, memorable aliens." ―Publishers Weekly
Hey teachers and those helping kids with Distance Learning!
This link takes you to a FREE reading guide for Last Pick aligned with the Literacy Common Core Standards for grades six through eight reading and writing, but the activities and questions can be applied to multiple grade levels.
