Recently I read an ill-informed "article" (clickbait sort of thing) that ridiculed the use of "naked green women" on the covers of science fiction books. I can't say I recall seeing much of that in my long history of being an SF reader, but in this case it is simply a matter of the cover artist being faithful (as Michael Whelan always is) to the story. In fact, I only knew of this novel because the cover art (or a variation thereof, probably reworked after the publisher was done with it) appeared in Whelan's first monograph.

Earthchild is the story of Reee (two syllables), the last human being alive on Earth. Much of the planet has been overrun by an ocean-like parasite called Indigo, and Reee is protected by her own survival skills and by another mysterious, shape-shifting entity called Emeroo. The rest of humanity left for Mars ages ago, but now they are coming back for the legendary last human on Earth. But Reee doesn't want to be rescued.

This is an unusual and sometimes just plain weird fable that provides an interesting examination of what it means to be civilized. Who is the savage, the girl who runs around naked and lives in harmony with nature, or the advanced culture that makes war and tries to kill everything? ( )

One of the best YA science fiction books. Deserves wider recognition. Every bit as good as the best Heinlein YA books. This book has a wonderful dreamlike quality and Piserchia demonstrates a good understanding of the adolescent mind. ( )

Story of Rhee, the last surviving human on a very hostile earth. ( )