Weekend Pick for May 3, 2024

Weekend Pick for May 3, 2024

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Welcome our June contributor, Erinn Bentley. She is a professor of English education at Columbus State University in Georgia. In addition to mentoring pre-service teachers and graduate students, she enjoys leading study abroad programs around the world. 

The Last Girl on Earth by Alexandra Blogier
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Erinn Bentley

​Lately I have been interested in sci-fi YA literature, but I’ll be honest – I don’t have the patience as a reader to invest in the complex world (or otherworld) building that this genre typically embraces. To my joy, I stumbled upon this gem of a novel, The Last Girl on Earth. Set in the near future on planet Earth, which has been overtaken by the alien race of Abdoloreans, this novel offers a familiar setting and even the aliens appear human (with the exception of possessing a few special abilities). I was initially drawn to this novel due to its realistic (in a sci-fi way) setting and characters. I remained enthralled due to its poignant portrayal of one girl’s journey in discovering her true self.

This novel focuses on Li, who was adopted by her human-sympathizing father sixteen years ago when the Abdoloreans destroyed the human race and took control of Earth. Li has been carefully raised to blend into this world of aliens and is now competing among her peers for her place as part of the Abdolorean Armed Forces. This miliary training is especially grueling for Li, as she grapples with its physical challenges and internally struggles to hide her human emotions and vulnerabilities. Adding to this fraught situation, Li becomes romantically involved with an Abdolorean cadet, putting herself and her family at risk of exposing her secret identity. ​Li’s conflicting worlds ultimately collide, pushing her to make tough decisions affecting those she loves.

Alexandra Blogier

Unlike other sci-fi YA novels that are filled with creepy aliens, intergalactic warfare, and non-stop action, The Last Girl on Earth is a quiet contemplation on universal themes such the boundaries of love and friendship, betrayal vs. loyalty, and conformity vs. individualism. While set in the future, this novel’s themes are relatable and relevant to today’s adolescent readers. I thoroughly enjoyed this thoughtful and thought-provoking story that challenges readers to consider what it means to be “human.”