The Last 8 by
Laura Pohl
by Simon Walker
Following the path of Clover
Martinez, Laura Pohl introduces us to a world amidst an alien invasion of
Hostemn who are searching for the last Universal, a being of a powerful race
that can use their power to rewrite the universe. Clover Maritnez ends up on
the run evading any Hostemn that show up. She finds a friend in a dog that she
comes across. She battles not only the elements but also battles mental health.
There is talk about depression and suicide attempts. Laura Pohl, including
something real like the main character facing her own mental health adds an
element of reality to the story, especially in light of an alien invasion and
everyone being murdered by the invaders.
Clover finds her way to Area 51 after hearing a radio broadcast by
someone directing everyone to the base.
As we
follow Clover as she begins her journey to Area 51—even from before the
invasion—we find out through her that she doesn’t feel romantic attraction. The
situation around this realization is that she has a friend, Noah, who she ends
up losing in the invasion, but her inner thoughts is about how she never felt
any attraction towards him that people said she should’ve. Clover is great
representation for Aromantics—one who doesn’t feel romantic attraction. She
isn’t portrayed as a robot who can’t feel anything. She’s portrayed as someone
who simply doesn’t feel that form of attraction and yet has love for her family
and for the friends at Area 51 that she ends up making.
The
Last 8 contains not only positive Aromantic representation but also positive
Lesbian representation, both of which are hard to find in media. The Last 8 is well written and draws
the reader in and keeps them reading as it builds suspense up to the final
battle and the escape from Earth.
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