Top Ten: Beyond the Farthest Precinct (Top 10)
Grade 5–9—In a post-9/11 world filled with security checks and the constant threat of new forms of terror, Precinct 10, an elite police corps, keeps watch in Neopolis. This volume opens with the officers enjoying a picnic with their family and friends. Their outing is cut short when a terrifying specter appears in the sky. It most resembles a semi-robotic Skeletor (of the He-Man series) and fills the citizens of Neopolis with horror. The specter convinces the mayor that the tenure of the much-respected Captain Traynor has ended and appoints Major Cindercott, a man/robot who burns sulfur for fuel. The officers of the department react badly to the replacement of their beloved captain and to the restrictions applied by his successor—no vacation or sick leave and check-ins every 15 minutes. With discontent in Precinct 10, the continued appearance of the specter, and a new robot drug that connects its users with a higher power, the city is at its most vulnerable. The illustrations are of high quality, especially considering the mixture of robots, superheroes, and humans (look for a few familiar pop-culture faces among the "extras" throughout the story). The colors are crisp and clear and give Neopolis an air of darkness and despair. With its mix of species, superpowers, and political leanings,Farthest Precinctmakes a solid addition to collections that include titles in the "X-Men" series.—Sarah Krygier, Solano County Library, Fairfield, CACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.