by Peter Brown
Published
September 3, 2024
Pages
320 pages
Language
English
Publisher
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Kindle
$7.99
Hardcover
$11.21
Paperback
$8.99
Audiobook
$0.00
Audio CD
Not found
Soon to be a DreamWorks movie, coming to theaters 9/27/24! This #1 New York Times bestselling illustrated middle grade novel from a Caldecott Honor winner tells an extraordinary story full of action and thought-provoking questions as a robot learns to survive—and live—in the wilderness. Includes 8 pages of full color stills from the DreamWorks movie!
Can a robot survive in the wilderness? When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is all 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.
When a cargo ship sinks and leaves a single robot washed ashore on a remote, wild island, Roz the robot begins an unexpected journey of discovery and survival. Surrounded by untamed nature and wary inhabitants, Roz is faced with a world she was never programmed for. But as her curiosity and determination take over, Roz learns the crucial art of adaptation in a captivating balance between technology and natural instinct.
Her story unfolds into an adventurous exploration of life, belonging, and what it truly means to be alive.
Adaptation and resilience in unfamiliar environments are crucial for survival. Friendship can transcend differences fostering unity and understanding. Discovery and curiosity pave the way for self-realization and growth.
Roz awakes to an unfamiliar world with no memory of her past or purpose, only the ticking of time and the rustling of trees. She understands that to survive, she must become part of the island, learning from her surroundings and its inhabitants. As Roz navigates this rugged territory, she observes and adapts, mimicking the behaviors of the island's creatures to communicate and connect.
An unexpected encounter with a vulnerable gosling marks the beginning of her transformation. With a nurturing instinct, Roz becomes a mother, finding new purpose and identity. This relationship with the gosling, and eventually other animals, forms a unique family as Roz helps the island's creatures face their struggles and hardships.
As each season unfolds, Roz's journey is filled with challenges that test her innovation and empathy, teaching her and the creatures around her the importance of cooperation. Through these interactions, Roz discovers that life is not defined by circuitry or mechanics but by connection and community. Though Roz comes from an artificial world, the profound lessons of survival, compassion, and kinship create an authentic bond with the island, offering insight into the complexities of life.
Through compelling storytelling, this tale opens a conversation about identity and the essence of existence. The threat of Roz's origin catching up with her looms in the background, pushing readers to the edge of their seats as they root for her newfound family. Roz's evolution highlights profound themes of acceptance, and the impact of technology on nature, sparking thought-provoking discussions.
This book combines a unique blend of nature and robotics capturing the imagination with a heartwarming tale of synergy between the artificial and the natural world Its rich narrative is filled with vivid descriptions featuring a remote island setting alive with diverse creatures creating a vibrant backdrop for the robot's transformation The story's universal themes of family friendship and survival help readers connect on a deeper emotional level making it an unforgettable journey for readers of all ages.
0316581097
978-0316581097
5.25 x 0.81 x 7.6 inches
9.6 ounces
Based on 11071 ratings
I read this book to my 4th grade class because the movie is coming out in the fall, and I wanted them exposed to the book first. I wasn't that excited to read it to them, but I was pleasantly surprised. This is a delightful story with many great points of conversation for kids. I highly recommend.
I bought this book for my six year-old grandnephew. I always read the books that I buy my grandniece and two grandnephews. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’ve already told the six year-old that there are two additional books in the series and that I’m going to buy them for him and me. I think the takeaway from this book is that just because you’re a robot, doesn’t mean you don’t have a heart. Roz has a huge heart. Also, Roz goes out of her way to fit in. She analyzes what approaches have worked for her and which have failed. She learns the language of every animal she encounters. She ends up being beloved on the island. That’s a very powerful lesson for all of us. It’s contrasted very effectively with a group of robots who come to the island. Whether you “believe” in robots or not, it’s a great read.
My grandson read this book last year in school. When we saw the previews of the movie, he got super excited! He told me the book was soooo good and that I had to read it before we watched the movie. So, I did. He was right. This was a good book with an original idea and plot line. It really made me think. Can a robot really learn and grow and develop strong friendships? Can a robot love others? There were so many lessons to be learned in this story - lessons about acceptance, friendship, family, helping others, and self-sacrifice. It did end on a bit of a cliff hanger, so I guess I’ll need to read the sequel to find out what happens. I am now officially ready to go see the movie with my grandson!
Quick chapters chock full of meaning and adventure. Thought provoking.
A review from my 10 year old: This book is about a robot named Roz, short for Rozzum, a robot that was supposed to be transported to a factory but the ship was sadly sunken and she was washed up on a island. She had to learn to survive in a place that a robot would never be in. And she finds many different techniques to do so. The robot goes on many exciting adventures and gets lots of friends that you might not expect including her own adopted son who happens to be a duck named Brightbill whose family was crushed by an avalanche. She was living a happy life until her creators find out where she is and don't like that she is living in the forest. I think this book is about the interaction between nature and technology. On his blog Peter Brown wrote, “Back in 2008, while working on a picture book called The Curious Garden… I loved imagining scenes of nature living in surprising places. And that got me thinking about scenes of unnatural things living in surprising places” ([...]). The robot is a piece of technology but she can learn to live in the wild which makes me think that one of the meanings of this book is that people today can still stop pollution and destruction of the natural world. I also think that the author was trying to tell the readers that no matter who you are you can do anything. The robot was having trouble in the forest at first but she started to learn and get better by watching animals. I also think that the book is about not giving up. Even after all the animals were scared of her Roz kept trying to be friendly and finally became friends with all the animals. One amazing thing about this book is the artwork witch makes sense because Peter Brown was an artist before he was a writer. Another thing that I liked about this book is that it makes me feel sad but gave me hope that things will get better. The third thing that makes this book unique is that it has very creative ideas. In one of the scenes in the book Roz loses her foot to a bear and then cant walk. And then she asked the beavers to make her a new one out of wood. That is one of the many creative scenes in the book. This book was very good in my opinion. It was one of my favorite books I've ever read and i would very much recommend it. This book is creative, well written, and interesting. I think that it is a great book and think its definitely worth reading. I don't want to give away the ending but is very dramatic and emotional. Roz has to draw on all of her friendships and skills she has learned from them to survive.
I was inspired to read this book after my children enthusiastically devoured it in school, eager for the upcoming movie adaptation. I found it to be a masterpiece tailored perfectly for its intended age range. The narrative is engaging and uniquely told from the perspective of a robot and narrator, sparking fascinating discussions about anthropomorphism. While, as an adult reader, I encountered some pacing issues that caused me to stall halfway through, I recognize that this book is not intended for my demographic. My initial assessment remains unchanged: this is an excellent book for young readers, encouraging critical thinking and conversation. I highly recommend it for its ability to captivate and inspire kids! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I read this book over a few weeks with my first and second grade sons. Wow! It blew me away. Very original and thoughtful. Especially relevant given the recent advances in AI technology. I highly recommend this treasure of children's literature.
Epic. Relatable. Moving plot which is written beautifully. Simply, a must read.