The two books in today's Book Talk Thursday revolve around two robots living in our own world. Finding out how they become more than just robots makes for some intriguing thoughts and considerations. The Wild Robot and Fuzzy both make readers think about a new world that could one day become our own.
The Wild Robot
Peter Brown, author of Creepy Carrots, has ventured into the world of chapter books with The Wild Robot. The story starts out as a ship full of robots crashes into an island during a hurricane. All but one of the robots broke into many people, and that robot arose from her box and ventured out onto the island.
As Roz (short for Rozzum) ventures on the island, the other animals show fear of "the monster" and run away. When an accident occurs, and a lonely goose egg is left alone, Roz feels the need to take the egg and care for it. Unsure what to do when it hatches, she asks for help from the animals on the island. Reluctant at first, the animals come around and help. Roz then becomes Brightbill's mother, and a friend to the animals. The animals teach Roz about life on the island, and Roz teaches them a little something about survival.
As the year goes on, we see how Roz and the animals learn to live together. When Brightbill, leaves for migration and returns, Roz learns that she was meant to work as a robot in a world where robots are doing most of the work. Finally, the robot makers figure out that Roz is on the island and come to retrieve them all. How will Roz and the animals of the island survive?
Fuzzy
Living in Southwest Virginia, I was excited to see the book Fuzzy by Tom Angleberger on the middle school Virginia Readers' Choice list. Though I usually don't read those books, I picked this one up and couldn't put it down. As I was reading it, I noticed some similarities to The Wild Robot. See if you can pick up on them too!
Middle school has proven to be tough, but middle school in the future isn't all it was cut out to be! Vanguard Middle School has become home to the Robot Integration Program (RIP), where government officials are trying to find out what life with robots could be like. They have created a middle school robot student, a ROSSUM known as Fuzzy, who must learn how to be a part of the school. The plan is to have him learn how to use fuzzy logic and think for himself in preparation for a secret mission.
Max loves robots and is intrigued by the new project in the school. She is thrilled when she is asked to help integrate Fuzzy into the school. Throughout the story, she finds herself and Fuzzy getting into more trouble than she deserves. Vice Principal Barbara (a robot) seems to be out to get them all.
In a school with constant testing and grading of credentials, Max and Fuzzy realize that something is amiss with Barbara and must find a way to fix it. They also realize what could potentially happen to Fuzzy in the long run, and they don't want to lose their friendship. With crazy turns around every corner, I couldn't wait to find out more about how they would get out of the mess and survive.
Both books had many similarities that I just couldn't believe! The names, the integration into the real world, and the desires of someone else to keep them as their own. What I loved is the message that we can all find who we really are, no matter what. And we have to love and accept others, even if they are different from us in many ways. Reading The Wild Robot and Fuzzy will help students realize more about those around them in a different way.
Students in both elementary and middle schools can gain so much from these great stories about survival as the different ones. I love how similar they are!
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