Fuzzy

Title: Fuzzy

Author: Tom Angleberger [Website][Twitter] and Paul Dellinger [Facebook]

Publisher: Amulet Books

ISBN: 9781419721229

Length: 254 pages

Obtained: ARC received at BEA

Why this book?:

I selected it at the time because my nephew, while still younger than the targeted 8-12 range (he's 5 and a preschooler) was obsessed with robots for years.  So robots automatically draw my attention.  Too bad I didn't know his new obsession would be flytraps because I could have picked up an ARC for Inspector Flytrap by Tom Angleberger and his wife Cece Bell.  Oh, well.  Now I'll be checking that out from the library.  Anyway...

Comments:

I found it very easy to quickly become engaged by this book.  I started it when I should have been getting some sleep at around midnight and finished it a couple hours later that same night (or should I say morning?).

Max and Fuzzy are both very likable.  I was also intrigued by the futuristic setting, horrified by the robot nightmare come true Vice Principle Barbara, and incredibly annoyed at Max's parents.  Why wouldn't they actually listen to her instead of assuming the reports they received from the school were always in the right?  The injustice of them never even questioning the reports (nor waiting for an actual answer on those occasions that they did question) bothered me greatly that.

When I went to write this post up and realized this is a sci-fi book, I was surprised.  I don't have anything against scifi books, really, but I tend to gravitate toward fantasy and magic over futuristic science.

I look forward to reading more by these authors.  I know I have some catching up to do.

Expiration Day

Title: Expiration Day

Author: William Campbell Powell [Website][Macmillan]

Publisher: Tor Teen

ISBN: 9780765338280

Length: 330 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I saw it on Wowbrary and thought it sounded interesting.

Comments:

I guess I'll start with some odds and ends notes.  Such as:
~ This story is told in diary format.
~ It is a great example of the "is the narrator reliable?" question.
~ It's a sci-fi, futuristic, dystopian type YA book.
~ And it isn't set all that far in the future - only about 35-40 years - but much has changed.

I really liked Tania and was quickly caught up in her world as her experiences vary between the usual teen/coming-of-age situations (crushes and what does she want to accomplish in her life?) to the more moral/ethical/theoretical/etc. that came of the growing ratio of robots to flesh-and-blood people.

Themes such as: discrimination, censorship, and personal choice vs. societal need all play a role in the story.  And so many question come up, like:

 - What rights do robots have?
 - Should robot children be educated?
 - Should they be able to live beyond their designed purpose and of their choice?
 - How should you treat robots?
 - Are robots people?
 - What role does creativity play in humanity?
 - Are robots thoughts and feelings unique and original or are they manufactured and mimicry?
 - What role should your government play in your life?
 - Is keeping the peace an acceptable reason for deceiving yourself and others?

and so many more.

With all those questions I found myself continually analyzing my own thoughts both during and after reading the book.  It was one of those books that can just be hard to shut down even once it's over.  But it wasn't just a book to make you think.  Emotions are involved, too.  Because I was certainly crying through parts.  And most definitely held in a place of suspense and anxiety through others.

I had a bit of trouble with what happened to Tania's friend Siân.  But I can't say much about that without giving away too much.  The only other thing that bothered me was the "Finale."  I got the purpose of it, but it went too far and too fast.  But that was the last 2 1/2 pages and easily forgotten amidst all the questions brought up before that.  Anyway, I really enjoyed the book.

Added Bonus:

They've made a "Teknoid Generator" that you can play with.  Just be warned, the personality traits don't make any difference in the look.

Interview:

A video of author Cory Doctorow speaking with William Cambell Powell, largely, though not entirely, about this book and YA books.  (Some of it is a little spoilerish in nature, but not drastically.)...

 

Vader's Little Princess

Title: Vader's Little Princess

Author: Jeffrey Brown

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Series: Vader's Children, Bk 2

ISBN: 9781452118697

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I've read Darth Vader and Son, and I was curious.

Comments:

So my memory of  Darth Vader and Son is cloudy, but I think this time I was more in tune with the jokes.  Some parts were funny.  Some were eh.

I read this one to the kids (cuz they asked).  I prefaced the reading by saying it wasn't really a kids book.  It was for grown ups.  I meant they wouldn't get the jokes (especially since they are still young, 5 and under and so many of these jokes are teen level).  My eldest nephew (the 5 yo) flipped through while I was reading another book.  When I was reading this one and got to a page with Leia skimpily clad, he quickly told me to turn the page - that was a "grown up" part.  I could totally see my sister (his mother) in him.  As a kid, she used to stand in front of the TV whenever commercials with bikinis or bras, etc. came on.

Anyway, it's worth checking out.  I suppose especially if you are a huge Star Wars or Jeffrey Brown fan.

Darth Vader and Son

Title: Darth Vader and Son

Author: Jeffrey Brown

Publisher: Chronicle Books

ISBN: 9781452106557

 Pages: Unnumbered ... Somewhere between 59-64

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

A collection of pictures illustrating the father-son relationship, Star Wars version. I think perhaps the most amusing for me was the following:

Need I say more?