Author(s): Peter Brown

Fantasy, Magic and Science Fiction

Wall-E meets Hatchet in this New York Times bestselling illustrated middle grade novel from Caldecott Honor winner Peter Brown Can a robot survive in the wilderness? When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is--but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a violent storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island's unwelcoming animal inhabitants. As Roz slowly befriends the animals, the island starts to feel like home--until, one day, the robot's mysterious past comes back to haunt her.   From bestselling and award-winning author and illustrator Peter Brown comes a heartwarming and action-packed novel about what happens when nature and technology collide.

Kathleen's review - Isaac Asimov did it first, of course - giving robots sentience. And those of us who are Star Trek fans (The Next Generation, in this case) love Data and his learning to be 'more human'. There are many others too, but to my mind the ones I've quoted are the best.

Then there's this book. Peter Brown has several published picture books and now is writing this delightful series about Roz. Playing otters accidentally press her Activate button so programmed with a lot of information and the ability to learn, she sets out to discover her purpose.

Roz has no feelings, but she understands that the wildlife on the island all have their own needs and ways of being together. She learns to communicate the way animals do. She's motivated by the Do No Harm principle, and when her carelessness causes harm she undertakes to take care of an orphaned gosling. And thus her learning increases exponentially.

A fabulous book for all ages.