Veda: Assembly Required

by Samuel Teer, Hyeondo Park (Illustrations)

Beneath the factory floor lives an orphaned girl named Veda. Watched over by the diligent Assembly, a robot that works the production line, Veda discovers a unique power--she can speak to machines! Under the tutelage of Assembly, she learns the three laws of the machines. . . But it's the unspoken secret fourth law--avoid the Gremlin, that's piqued young Veda's interest and leads her down a dangerous and compromising path on her journey of self-discovery.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Science Fiction, Childrens, Teen

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 24, 2015

About the author

Samuel Teer was born to a deaf maintenance worker and an immigrant that spoke English as a distant second language. Obviously he became a writer. He was raised outside of St. Louis, MO. He currently lives outside of Denver, CO with his wife Andrea (an educator) and their two dogs Roxie and Olive.

Reviews

[Raina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sophisticated little sci-fi.
Picked it up thinking I might booktalk it to middle schoolers, but decided it was too tricky to follow for a mass audience.

Human girl grows up in a factory, raised by nonhumanoid robots. The dialog between the kid and the machines is rendered in symbols, similar to the Owly comics by Andy Runton... but with much less universal symbols. I figured it out, but it took some brain.

Full color, lots of detail in the illustrations. Creepy little gremlin character takes it a touch out of the sci-fi realm (for purists). I quite liked the originality, all told.

Give it to fans of the Rust books by Royden Lepp or The Supernaturalist: The Graphic Novel.

[D.T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the familial moments between Veda and Assembly and the stark contrast when the Gremlin takes over parenting (in a way). I thought the premise was really unique and interesting and I liked the usage of symbols, but I didn't really care about Veda (I didn't dislike her either) and the ending confused me a bit.
2.5

[Darcy Roar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty cute little book about a girl raised by machines/ a gremlin (not at the same time). There were definitely some times it could have made more sense (the gremlin messes things up in the factory, but is also in charge of the robots sort of?) But all in all it was cute and fun.

[Trinity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some genuinely amazing moments combine with excellent artwork to produce an awesome book. Highly recommended, especially if you enjoyed "Better Off Ted."

[Yuiko · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was alright i liked it

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story about a girl raised by the machines in a factory. Veda is adorable.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably not the greatest, but I really enjoyed it and found the robot language interesting.

[James Calefato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. Great art. A really nice OGN from Dark Horse.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story, something like "The Jungle Book" with machines instead of wolves.

[Dolores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Veda's mother works at a factory. One day, finding herself without childcare, she brings her young daughter to work with her. Not wanting to get in trouble, she hides Veda. Unfortunately, a gremlin gets into the machines and she is killed in an accident, leaving her coworkers unaware of Veda, hidden away in the factory. The machines know and they take on the task of raising her, warning her to watch out for those evil gremlins. Interesting and well done.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

When her mother is killed in a factory accident, Veda ends up living below the factory floor where she is adopted by machines. She learns to speak their language which is portrayed to the reader visually through symbols. Between the artwork and symbols, the machines really do come to life on the page. This is recommended for middle grade fans of sci-fi graphic novels.

[Eli Poteet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am surprised to find myself a fan of this little adventure book. I love sci fi and at first I thought this book would be a shallow collection of previously made up universes. if anything I would've appreciated a little more subtext as to the world outside the factory but if that was intentional, I understand it's purpose.

[Nore · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars in the strictest sense of the word - it was okay. The concept is cute, but it felt very childish, more so than I suspect was intended given what happens in the story and the art style (I know Dark Horse is trying to expand their all-ages comics, I do).

[Genevieve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Both my kids (10 & 7) really liked this and I see the Jungle Book/Graveyard Book influence. Not my fave art and I sometimes had a hard time following what the machines were "saying," but I liked Veda's journey of self-discovery and willfulness. 4th-8th

[Child960801 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little girl is raised in a factory by the machine but an encounter with a gremlin changes everything.

[Vi · Rating 4 out of 5]

adorable. takes a bit.