Science Fiction

The Wild Robot / Peter Brown

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The Wild Robot
By: Peter Brown
Genre: Middle Grade, Science Fiction
Number of Pages: 320
Published: April 7, 2020 (1st Published April 5, 2016)
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Dates Read: October 15, 2024 - October 17, 2024
Format: Paperback

When ROZZUM unit 7134 (but you may call her Roz) first opens her eyes she discovers she’s on a remote island and the only robot – she knows she must survive. At first, Roz is disliked by the wildlife because they all think she is a monster and will eat them. But she learns the animal language and doesn’t eat in general, so the animals begin to relax around her. After an accident kills all but one small gosling egg, Roz makes it her mission to raise and protect the duck.

As Roz slowly befriends the animals of the island, the island starts to feel like home. Until one day, when Roz’s mysterious past comes back to get her.

So, has anyone else in the year 2024 picked up this book because of the movie? Usually I read the book before the movie, but I did this one backwards. That being said, the book and the movie are pretty different from one another – same plot, tad bit different storyline.

This is both a simple and a bit of a complex read. The language is definitely aimed at children, but there were also a lot of descriptions of animal violence and death. The writing is written in a way that presents the bit of the morbid side as being the facts of life (if that makes sense). Children understand the world a lot more than adults sometimes give them credit for and this book doesn’t treat children like they’re too young to understand mother nature. That being said, the language is almost simplified in a way that could present as being childish, but the storyline itself is probably better for an older reader – hence it being (younger) middle grade.

The chapters are short and the simple illustrations really add to the read – rather it’s with cuteness overload, or a funny moment also in drawing.

Overall, this is a fun, beautiful book about learning to care for one another, despite differences, and a big shout out to mothers and caregivers everywhere.

Silk / E.B. Roshan

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Silk
By: E.B. Roshan
Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade
Number of Pages: 104
Published: June 7, 2024
Publisher: Roshan Publishing
Dates Read: October 5, 2024
Format: eBook

Farz and his family have harvested Silki’s precious silk, as Silki-charmers for generations. But Silkis, giant, spider-like creatures, can be dangerous and the government has decided they don’t want them around. But even though Farz is ready to try a new life, it doesn’t mean he wants Silkis to disappear forever. What happens when his past and present crash together one day?

I was pulled into the plot of this graphic novel and turned pages as fast as I could. The simplicity of the art style, mixed with straightforward dialogue make it a quick and easy read.

A part of me respects the quickness of the story, but the other part of me wants to know more about this world and not only the Silki-charmers, but everyone else as well as being able to dive into the world building. E.B. Roshan has many layers that are only briefly scratched in this novel. It honestly gives an opening to possibly make this into a series.

This young middle grade graphic novel has a lot of appeal to those who like sci-fi with alien adventures that humans will understand too.

*Thanks to the author for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Infinity Particle / Wendy Xu

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The Infinity Particle
By: Wendy Xu
Genre: Graphic Novel
Number of Pages: 272
Published: August 29, 2029
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Dates Read: October 14, 2023
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Trigger Warnings: Emotional abuse

Clementine Change moves from Earth to Mars for a fresh start and to work her dream job with Dr. Marcella Lin, an AI pioneer. On her first day of work, Clementine meets Kye, Mr. Lin’s personal humanoid AI assistant. Clem has built her own robot – a moth-shaped companion named SENA, so she’s no stranger to artificial intelligence, but there’s something human about Kye. When the two begin working together, sparks begin. But Dr. Lin is enraged by Kye’s growing independence and restricts his freedom. Both Clem and SENA can tell there’s something different with Kye, that he’s possibly more than just your standard AI – but what is Dr. Lin trying to hide?

Firstly, this is all just adorable.

Secondly, when do we get to have our own “Build-A-Friend: Kiddie Robotics Kit”? I would also like to have my own SENA as my best friend. Seeing her expressions always got me to giggle at how cute she was.

The artwork in this novel is beautiful and works really well with the complimentary limited pallet. Everything is clearly seen from panel to panel – even in the darker/evening time panels.

Overall – if you read Mooncakes and loved it, you’ll love this one. You’ll also love it if you like the age-old Sci-Fi question of : when is a being truly a conscious living thing? Also, again, cute and adorable companions.

The Faint of Heart / Kerilynn Wilson

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The Faint of Heart
By: Kerilynn Wilson
Genre: Graphic Novel
Number of Pages: 304
Published: June 13, 2023
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Dates Read: October 3, 2023
Format: eBook / Library Book

Not too long ago, the Scientist discovered that if you removed your heart, you no longer had to deal with sadness, anxiety, or anger. That’s all it took for everyone to line up. Everyone except June – but the pressure and loneliness is getting too much for her.

One day though, June finds a heart in a jar abandoned in an alley. The heart intrigues her and gives her an idea; an idea filled with hope. But the heart also brings her to a classmate, Max, who has a secret of his own.

The art of this novel is of muted colors with splashes of bright colors. It really works well to show what those without their heart look like. Some panels can be a bit much, because so much is happening in them, but it wasn’t enough to stop me from continuing to read it.

I think that those who like Coraline would enjoy this novel, as it gives out those vibes a lot. This story could relate to a lot of people – especially those who feel too much. Because as much as you would love not to feel the dark, that means you can’t feel the light either, and this book really shows that.

This is both a simple read and also a complex read. I feel like a lot of different people could enjoy this, again, especially those who are feeling big emotions that they may not want to be feeling. It let’s them feel seen but also gives the cautionary tale of what could happen if you don’t feel those things anymore.

The Meadows / Stephanie Oakes

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The Meadows
By: Stephanie Oakes
Genre: YA
Number of Pages: 448
Published: September 12, 2023
Publisher: Dial Books
Dates Read: September 5, 2023 - September 10, 2023
Format: ARC / Paperback

Trigger Warnings: conversion therapy, homophobia 

Every youth hopes to get a letter to attend one of the places where only the best and brightest go to be even better and brighter: the Estuary, the Glades, the Meadows…

When Eleanor is accepted to go to the Meadows, it means her escape from the Cove and a hard life by the sea. But, though the Meadows is filled with beautiful and wonderful things, it hoards dark secrets: its purpose is to reform its students from their attractions, to show them that the way of life is only possible through their way. Maybe Eleanor starts to believe, but then she meets Rose, and everything changes.

A year after leaving the Meadows, Eleanor and her friends are on the outside, living back in society – but not everything is as they hoped. Eleanor is an adjudicator, someone who makes sure former students haven’t strayed from the lives they were trained to live. But the past isn’t letting go of Eleanor and as secrets unravel, Eleanor must fight against everything she has been taught to be, especially if she can find the girl that she lost.

I originally was interested in this title when I saw it on BookishFirst because it was being marketed as “a queer, YA Handmaid’s Tale meets Never Let Me Go” and I was all about that. I also love a good dystopian novel so this was really right up my alley.

That being said, I absolutely loved and devoured this novel over the course of the weekend when I didn’t have the interruption of work. The world building is intriguing and the “perfect” society is everything but (aren’t they all). The characters were also complex and engrossing – even the ones I wasn’t the biggest fans of, I still wanted them to succeed.

I absolutely recommend this book to those not only those who love dystopian novels, but those who want a page turning science fiction with queer characters.

*Thank you Dial Books and BookishFirst for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

In the Lives of Puppets / T.J. Klune

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In the Lives of Puppets
By: T.J. Klune
Genre: Fantasy
Number of Pages: 420
Published: April 25, 2023
Publisher: Tor Books
Dates Read: May 10, 2023 - May 21, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook / Library Book / Hardcover

Three robots – fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine named Nurse Ratched, and a small anxiety-filled vacuum named Rambo live with human Victor Lawson in the houses they’ve built into the branches of the trees in a forest – hidden and safe.

When Victor, Nurse Ratched, and Rambo find and repair an android with the label “HAP”, they learn of the dark past Gio and their new friend share. After getting back online, Hap unwittingly alerts robots from their past life to their current whereabouts and they capture and take Gio back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams.

Together, the makeshift family must journey across the country to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming.

Another amazing, beautiful, and touching found family novel from TJ Klune. I wrote down so many quotes from this novel (mostly from Nurse Ratched). I read over 100+ books a year and rarely do they make me actually cry – this one succeeded and therefore, it received 5 stars from me. And, like every year a new TJ Klune book comes out, this will be hard to beat for my choice of book of the year.

This is another book that, though it’s listed as SciFi/Fantasy, I can see so many people enjoying this. It does deal with Victor being the last human on Earth and the complications of loving those with an extremely complicated past, but it’s still a soft, found family read for me.

In the Lives of Puppets has an unforgettable cast of characters and the writing of Klune will make you care about an assembled group of robots and their human companion in a way I didn’t think would be possible.

I love this book and will be so highly recommending this to any and all for years to come.

*Thank you Tor Books and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review