One Trick Pony
Nathan Hale
Harry N. Abrams
Fiction, CH Graphic Novel/Sci-Fi
***+ (Okay/Good)
DESCRIPTION: When the Pipers came to Earth, devouring metals and technology, civilization effectively ended overnight. Most humans have reverted to Stone Age existences, but a few - such as the caravan where young Strata and her family live - struggle to find and protect what remains. She, her older brother Augur, and their friend Inby were searching old ruins when they found the hidden chamber with Kleidi, the robot pony which only responds to the girl's commands. Can Kleidi help stop the Pipers, or will Strata's devotion to the metal toy doom her family, the caravan, and humanity's last hope?
REVIEW: Hale presents a visually interesting graphic novel with a nice story setup, yet fills it with characters and situations that feel a little flat even for a children's title. Strata's a decent enough heroine, and Kleidi the pony can be fun, but much of the rest of the cast are too simple or sketchy to add much to the story, making them feel like clutter. (Inby in particular is annoying long past any comic relief could be had from his cluelessness.) Things go from bad to worse as the technology stash that held Kleidi whips the Pipers into a fresh frenzy, yet Strata persists in protecting the pony even when being so near the robot endangers everyone and everything - a bond that ultimately comes into play at the climax as she discovers the purpose behind the alien invasion. At some point, people threatening to smash Kleidi while Strata protests, and Strata riding off recklessly alone to lure away Pipers, becomes borderline repetitive (more than borderline for the smashing threats.) Beyond that, it's a decent story, though the ending feels abrupt. I expect younger readers would enjoy it more.
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