  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 01/01/2017 Gr 3–6—In a futuristic world where hostile aliens eat and destroy all technology, three young people are out searching for machinery to salvage. They succeed when they find a cache of robots, including a robot pony, which sets off a wild chase and confrontation with bands of roaming humans, aliens, and more. Set in a land that blends Stone Age elements and highly advanced technology, this graphic novel adventure features the same mix of humor and derring-do that makes Hale's "Hazardous Tales" so popular. The artwork is in black-and-white, with shades and pops of yellow. While many aspects of the book (for instance, aliens who use bubbles as weapons) might seem cartoony, the illustrations of this epic fantasy are sophisticated, and Hale's world-building is detailed. The violence is free of gore, making this a safer choice for younger readers. VERDICT A great option for fantasy and adventure fans.—Elizabeth Nicolai, Anchorage Public Library, AK - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 01/01/2017 On a ravaged future earth, technology-hungry aliens called pipers scour the planet for salvage, leaving behind a landscape riddled with spherical gouges, as if earth was suddenly Swiss cheese. One cadre of humans is trying to preserve the earth’s culture by scavenging for any remaining technology, but it’s dangerous work, especially when three kids—Strata, Auger, and Inby—stumble on a hidden cavern packed with untouched robots, including a beautiful mechanical horse. Strata’s determined to bring the horse back to their caravan, but their discovery catches the attention of a horde of pipers, and their journey home gets a lot more complicated. Hale imbues his latest with pathos, action, and perfectly timed moments of comedy, but it’s the imaginative landscape, spot-on visual pacing, and confident line work that make this adventure tale really zing. The pipers are a particular treat—they’re elaborate, insectoid creatures with menacing, globular features and pendulous tendrils, ready to grab and annihilate anything they touch. Though it’s over a bit too neatly, the suspenseful chase plot and lively characters will entrance plenty of readers. - Copyright 2017 Booklist. Loading...
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