The Lost Colony, Book Three: Last Rights (v. 3) (Paperback)

~ Grady Klein (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Like some fairy tale take on the Old South, peopled with fantastic characters and lightly leavened with satire, Klein's third Lost Colony volume is a treat from start to finish. On the titular utopian island, where verdant fields are bounded by lushly blooming trees and picturesque mountains that initially obscure the dark past of the humans living there, spoiled princess Birdy isn't sure where to turn with her problems. The loving flashbacks she has of her recently murdered grandfather are challenged by eruptions of truth about his violently racist character, while her stuckup mother appears smitten by the appearance of an old flame, the oleaginous Reverend Swagger. Meanwhile, Birdy, a spoiled and tempestuous tyke, continues to mistreat her one true friend, the ex-slave Louis. Klein's mixture of the real (shades of antebellum Southern racism) and the fantastic (magical rock sprites who inhabit the island and work in mysterious ways), combined with his wondrously bright visuals, make for a heady and occasionally even educational mixture. (Oct.)
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Review

Klein continues his masterful political fantasy The Lost Colony by turning the spotlight on frontier religion’s exploitative powers.  Protagonist Bird, a rambunctious child who is doted on by many former slaves, surviving Indians, and the Chinese immigrant scientist Dr. Wong, has a terrible time this outing.  She is coping with sad memories of her deceased grandfather, struggling to make sense of the newly arrived, insipid, and dangerous preacher Buck Swagger; and fighting with her true friend, Louis.  As ever, the Lost Colony’s environment is filled with surface sweetness and light, not to mention magic rock-bones, cute bugs, and sassy nineteenth-century costumes setting off big hair and soulful eyes.  Readers who enjoy political satire will find this a treat, while graphic novel aficionados who have waited a year for this episode will be delighted to find it continues to pack unexpected punches.  Newcomers to the series will want to begin with volume one, The Snodgrass Conspiracy (2006), to get a grip on Bird’s world.  -- Booklist

 

Like some fairy tale take on the Old South, peopled with fantastic characters and lightly leavened with satire, Klein’s third Lost Colony volume is a treat from start to finish.  On the titular utopian island, where verdant fields are bounded by lushly blooming trees and picturesque mountains that initially obscure the dark past of the humans living there, spoiled princess Birdy isn’t sure where to turn with her problems.  The loving flashbacks she has of her recently murdered grandfather are challenged by the eruption of truth about his violently racist character, while her stuckup mother appears smitten by the appearance of an old flame, the oleaginous Reverend Swagger.  Meanwhile, Birdy, a spoiled and repentant tyke, continues to mistreat her one true friend, the ex-slave Louis.  Klein’s mixture of the real (shades of the antebellum Southern racism) and the fantastic (magical rock sprites who inhabit the island and work in mysterious ways), combined with his wondrously bright visuals, make for a heady and occasionally even educational mixture.  -- Publisher's Weekly

 

In this third installment of a planned ten-book series, Birdy Snodgrass’s life is clearly getting more complicated.  The “lost” island’s location has been betrayed by her own mother, who sends a letter to Buck Swagger, her former lover and minister of dubious repute.  Meanwhile Birdy is trying to come to grips with the death of her grandfather.  Was he truly killed by her former nanny, Patricia, or the rock bugs that seem intent on protecting the island?  As she struggles with questions of whom can she trust, what happens when people die, and what Dr. Wong is truly trying to do in his island laboratory, Birdy’s father sends guards to capture both Patricia and Louis John, much to Birdy’s dismay and confusion. 

Unquestionably there is a lot going on in this series.  Coming in to the third volume without familiarity with the first two is inadvisable.  Klein’s artwork is clever and has depth, while his ongoing tale provides another look at issues of American history, slavery, religion, politics, and corruption.  Besides reading it on its own, it would be an interesting series to pair with Twain’s look at early America or to bring into an AP American History class.  Libraries that have started purchasing this series certainly need to satisfy their readers curiosity as to how the travails of how Birdy are evolving.  -- VOYA

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: First Second; 1st edition (September 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596430990
• ISBN-13: 978-1596430990
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,235,172 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Last Rights...Great Book!, November 29, 2008

By	Tim Lasiuta "Comic Fan 42" (Red Deer, Alberta) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Ahh, what a tangled world Lost Colony is.

There is some deep, dark secret behind the scenes where discrimination runs rampant. Birdy can't play with Louis John because he is a 'nigger' (as A H Snodgrass says) even though both are desperate for friends. Birdy is the adventurous one, traveling with Dr Wong to the mountains as he searches for rock monsters who live in the wild. She encounters Patricia, her nanny, who shot her grampy (who is rumored to have been evil) and discovers facts about her past.

There is maritial infidelity (I'm not telling). There is political ill will. There is fantasy (the Petranimus). And behind the story is a little girl with no sense of correctness, filled with compassion for those around her.

The story of Birdy and a cast of almost a dozen is remarkable in its' artistic integrity. The tumble down style of Klein is charming and it echoes A A Milne's Winnie the Pooh classic books.

Bravo Mr Klein.

[.........]

Tim Lasiuta

5.0 out of 5 stars The Lost Colony, August 9, 2009

By	D. Hatcher - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A fascinating book beautifully put together. The artwork was a real highlight for me and to have such an intriguing tale was a real bonus.