The Wild Robot meets Restart when Colorado's unluckiest foster kid battles a rogue AI robot at school.

Malcolm Montgomery is the new kid at Shirley Chisholm Charter Middle School. In no time at all, he's been slapped with the weird kid label. Is it because he's a foster kid who's been in nine homes? Or maybe because he burps when he gets nervous...which is often? Malcolm has a plan to finally get adopted by a forever family before it's too late. But then on Visiting Professionals' Day, his school invites Dr. Alphonse Hatch, president of Hatch-ED--one of the fastest-growing artificial intelligence companies in the state--to give a presentation. Dr. Hatch brings his AI-powered robot, and events get set in motion that create...THE INCIDENT.

An irresistible MG novel about the role of AI in schools and in our lives...and what it means to be human.

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Levine Querido
Published: 07/08/2025
ISBN: 9781646145089
Pages: 256
Size: 8.50h x 5.75w x 0.89d

Review Citations: Publishers Weekly 05/12/2025