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tiffani_reads's review against another edition
5.0
This was so good! I sat down to read a bit of this book and ended up finishing the whole book in one sitting.
librarypatronus's review against another edition
5.0
I’m apparently on a kick of robot adventure books - first Tin, then The Last Human and finally this one. This was maybe the best of the bunch, and it’s claim that it’s for The Wild Robot fans was perfect. This was cute and funny, with a sweet and quirky cast of characters.
timnuoa's review against another edition
5.0
What a fresh, unique, and utterly charming book. It handles some seriously heavy stuff with a deft touch, taking on themes of freedom, autonomy, obedience, purpose, and a few other things I don't want to spoil. The pacing is strong, the story is exciting, and it quickly establishes a great group of characters with a really fun dynamic.
The plot gets moved along at several points by some very convenient happenstance, and the book does stray into didactic territory in a handful of spots, but it's so good on balance that I wasn't bothered at all.
This is exactly what I'm looking for from a middle grades book: it has real substance without sacrificing an ounce of fun, tackles big issues in a way that will be both relatable to kids and push their thinking, and made me laugh out loud numerous times.
I'm excited to add it to my (6th grade) classroom shelf, and I'm already trying to think through how to build a unit around reading it aloud. Read it!
The plot gets moved along at several points by some very convenient happenstance, and the book does stray into didactic territory in a handful of spots, but it's so good on balance that I wasn't bothered at all.
This is exactly what I'm looking for from a middle grades book: it has real substance without sacrificing an ounce of fun, tackles big issues in a way that will be both relatable to kids and push their thinking, and made me laugh out loud numerous times.
I'm excited to add it to my (6th grade) classroom shelf, and I'm already trying to think through how to build a unit around reading it aloud. Read it!
nuevecuervos's review against another edition
5.0
Okay first, Greg Van Eekhout is an amazing human and I adore him. Mainly because you may recall that Kid Younger and I read his Voyage of the Dogs together, and that it made such an impact on my child that she insisted on cosplaying as Champion (the lead dog in the story) for Halloween that year. We sent some fanmail to him about it, and he was so excited in his response, that my kid was over the MOON for weeks about it. In his recent virtual signing at my local friendly indie bookstore, Mysterious Galaxy, I requested that my books be signed to my kid, and he DREW A CHAMPION UNDER HIS SIGNATURE FOR HER COPY OF COG. Needless to say, she quite literally screamed and fell over when she saw it. What a guy, my dudes. This child is SO STOKED. Anyway. Thank you, Greg, and we'll be loyal fans for pretty much ever at this point.
Then I stole it and read it first, HA. *cough* I mean, I read it while she was busy with her grandparents, and it wasn't nefarious at all. But! Now I kinda wish we'd read it together. It's less gut-wrenching than Voyage of the Dogs, so I'm not worried :D but it's just so sweetly put together, and such a fantastic little story about robots and roboticists (and a primer on robot autonomy and the rights of sentient beings), and I'm glad to have it. Recommended for your own little robots, but make sure to read over their shoulders, as you too will find it extremely charming.
Then I stole it and read it first, HA. *cough* I mean, I read it while she was busy with her grandparents, and it wasn't nefarious at all. But! Now I kinda wish we'd read it together. It's less gut-wrenching than Voyage of the Dogs, so I'm not worried :D but it's just so sweetly put together, and such a fantastic little story about robots and roboticists (and a primer on robot autonomy and the rights of sentient beings), and I'm glad to have it. Recommended for your own little robots, but make sure to read over their shoulders, as you too will find it extremely charming.
mellyjj's review against another edition
3.0
Heartwarming and goofy, this story about family and finding where you belong was a ton of fun. I never wanted it to end.
geoffreyjen's review against another edition
5.0
There are occasionally books that you run across that are so special you go to sleep at night feeling the world has grown larger because of them. This is one of those books. It is simply written with evocative language and many touches of humour, of the kind that also makes one feel bigger. It is written for what is called Middle Grade, that is, preteens, but like all good writing it may appeal to readers of all ages. Understand, this is not the deepest, most compelling story you'll ever read. In fact, it's rather light in some ways, although there is plenty of action to carry the story forward in ways that make sense, and there are also some important things that are said within its pages. But what this books does, is that it remains with you after you have read it. I also think it is a story that will appeal to the middle graders for whom it is clearly designed, with a lot of playful storytelling that I'm sure will appeal. But this 65-year-old also loved it. Recommended.
artichokesandarmidillos's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
quirkybibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
Cog is a machine built for cognitive development but he looks just like a person. Gina, his caregiver has slowly been teaching him things so he can be independent but Cog gets into an accident. This accident makes it so that he is sent back to the company who created him but they want to take something away from him. Will Cog be able to escape? Who will he meet along the way? What is this company hiding?
This book was such a cute read. I loved all the characters and how real they all felt to me. They all felt human to me rather than robots even car, proto, and trash bot. I wanted to hear more about their lives and couldn't put the book down. I wanted to live in this robot town that they were all from.
I love how Cog interacts with others and how he explains his purpose. I love how he finds he learns by making mistakes and assumes the bigger the mistake the more he'll learn.
I think this is a great book for children grades 2nd to 5th. I think they'll find great joy in the plot and some of the funny scenes that are included throughout. The lessons that are included are great for this age range and teach them that it's okay to be unique and stand out. It shows our differences make us human and those differences help us when working with others.
This book was such a cute read. I loved all the characters and how real they all felt to me. They all felt human to me rather than robots even car, proto, and trash bot. I wanted to hear more about their lives and couldn't put the book down. I wanted to live in this robot town that they were all from.
I love how Cog interacts with others and how he explains his purpose. I love how he finds he learns by making mistakes and assumes the bigger the mistake the more he'll learn.
I think this is a great book for children grades 2nd to 5th. I think they'll find great joy in the plot and some of the funny scenes that are included throughout. The lessons that are included are great for this age range and teach them that it's okay to be unique and stand out. It shows our differences make us human and those differences help us when working with others.
okiecozyreader's review against another edition
4.0
A relatively short middle grade book, Cog is a robot who has a special module that allows him to make choices. He is an advanced robot and realizes he learns from making mistakes, and sometimes he has to make a lot of mistakes to accomplish what he wants to do or learn. He makes a mistake that lands him at his company uniMIND headquarters and realizes much of his freedom is gone.
As he makes friends and tries to fix his problems, he is set on a journey with food, police and many escapes to figure out his greatest problem of teaching uniMIND the value of choice.
Not sure I love the quick ending that didn’t go with the rest of the book, but I love having science fiction options that have interesting lessons and discussion topics.
As he makes friends and tries to fix his problems, he is set on a journey with food, police and many escapes to figure out his greatest problem of teaching uniMIND the value of choice.
Not sure I love the quick ending that didn’t go with the rest of the book, but I love having science fiction options that have interesting lessons and discussion topics.
chrissiemwright's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0