The Red Maze

March 15, 2019
In their continuing quest to kindle the giant beacons that will save their worlds from eco-catastrophe, sand dancer Oona Lee and friends travel to Moon Yatta, an industrialized superpower that is being taken over by a corrupt demagogue.Following the pattern of earlier episodes, Oona, An Tzu, and Jax Amboy travel to another distinctive world inhabited by a polychrome array of residents both humanoid and far otherwise. Though significant portions of the information-filled endpapers are covered by jacket flaps, the interior panels depict fully realized settings ranging from inner-city neighborhoods to remote desert, and they lay out a complex tapestry of local practices, politics, and values...many of which come into play as election day approaches. One candidate in particular, tycoon Stan Moon (eerily depicted as a white human above the waist, a writhing tangle of tentacles below), whips up fears of both foreigners and a reviled minority group of shape-changers. To accomplish her mission Oona must penetrate the well-defended jungle of power stations that have grown up to feed off the beacon while staying out of Moon's clutches. Oona, with her bright blue skin and joyful dancing, again lights up the pages as new allies, some with conflicts or agendas of their own, join the notably diverse cast on the way to a tense, explosive climax.More dazzling exploits in an exotic (though in this case somehow familiar) locale. (appendix of sample and fan art) (Graphic science fiction. 10-13)

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April 15, 2019
Grades 4-7 Oona, An Tzu, and Jax Amboy, now in their third adventure, have landed on Moon Yatta to light the red beacon. Stories of Moon Yatta's bounty and promise have reached every corner of their universe, but when they arrive, they find something very different: corporations have tapped the planet's beacon as a power source, Moon Yatta's people are forced to inhibit their infamous shapeshifting abilities, and greed runs rampant among Moon Yatta's most powerful people. Yes, the Mimic is here, too, but so is a notorious sand dancer, Zelle, who helps Oona develop her skills. As in other series entries, sumptuous colors, intricate shapes, and pleasantly varied character designs make for an engrossing visual experience. Though this volume has enough moving parts that some plot points don't get as much breathing room, the creators do a great job of tying up some loose threads while leaving others tantalizingly hanging. Nicely paced and with moving character growth, this installment, bearing an unsettling resemblance to our own current political climate, carries the sci-fi quest along compellingly.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)