Reyes Rico, Rodrigo. Last Boy Above Ground, The. Rodrigo Reyes Rico, Illus. Lerner/Graphic Universe, 09/2026. 212pp. Graphic. PLB $31.99. 978-1-7284-9302-2. Paper $17.99. 979-8-7656-7137-5. GRADES 4–7. ADDITIONAL.
Elias and Anna live very different lives in Mexico City, a place hit hard by a dangerous pollution cloud that sent everyone to live underground – or face strange and deadly mutations that affect everyone else on the surface. They meet after Ana escapes the belowground city and runs into Elias, who is unaffected and lives alone in the abandoned aboveground city. Readers soon discover what life is now like both above and below ground, what happened to cause the interesting animal mutations, and what life might now be like for all. Digital, color illustrations depict the action, the pollution clouds, the mutations, and the evil corporate scientist who’s behind much of the mess. An interesting take on environmental pollution, being scared of others, and the need to get along instead of fighting.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library