Scan barcode
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
I started this thinking I wouldn't enjoy it, but in the end, I thoroughly loved the story and characters. Great 'world-building' and will hopefully capture the imagination of its target market.
In a middle school in the future, where the assistant principal is a computer, online tests are weekly and reprimands given out for any small infraction, Max (Maxine) is struggling to stay afloat when she is asked to help out with a government project - a robot student starting at her school needs a human guide. She's known for her abilities - will she help?
Fuzzy may look a little strange (a bewigged robot?!), but he's a VERY fast learner. Max starts to teach him about human ways, but he's already spotting patterns that show all is not right in the school - just why is such a bright student like Max failing and on the way to being transferred?
And just what is Fuzzy doing at the school?
This took only a couple of hours to read. It moves along quickly, with humour and lots of techno-talk, a good friendship group of students, a very easy-to-hate assistant principal, and a mystery to solve.
Max and Fuzzy are the best-characterised of the students, and I really enjoyed the 'self-realisation' arc as Fuzzy becomes more and more human.
Lots of short chapters and plenty to interest a reluctant reader, this should be popular with 9-13 year olds.
With thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
In a middle school in the future, where the assistant principal is a computer, online tests are weekly and reprimands given out for any small infraction, Max (Maxine) is struggling to stay afloat when she is asked to help out with a government project - a robot student starting at her school needs a human guide. She's known for her abilities - will she help?
Fuzzy may look a little strange (a bewigged robot?!), but he's a VERY fast learner. Max starts to teach him about human ways, but he's already spotting patterns that show all is not right in the school - just why is such a bright student like Max failing and on the way to being transferred?
And just what is Fuzzy doing at the school?
This took only a couple of hours to read. It moves along quickly, with humour and lots of techno-talk, a good friendship group of students, a very easy-to-hate assistant principal, and a mystery to solve.
Max and Fuzzy are the best-characterised of the students, and I really enjoyed the 'self-realisation' arc as Fuzzy becomes more and more human.
Lots of short chapters and plenty to interest a reluctant reader, this should be popular with 9-13 year olds.
With thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
thewallflower00's review against another edition
2.0
It's... all right. It's perfectly average. There are no groundbreaking ideas, no new techniques. It's aimed at a younger age group than YA (Percy Jackson, Underland Chronicles, et al). There's nothing controversial or gaspworthy inside. It's less about the robot and more about everything surrounding him. Like the AI that runs the school being super Big Brother. It's kind of like 1984 meets Double Dare.
There are some plot threads that taper off into nothingness, as if there were already sequels planned, which make me disgusted. I hate when marketers plan a series before anyone's seen it. The robot doesn't act much like a robot (I say that about every robot book, don't I?). There was a perfectly serviceable opportunity to present some interesting STEM topics here, like "what IS fuzzy logic?" "how does/could AI work?" WWW: Wake is a book that better explores these ideas, and I had no inclination to continue that series (too metaphysical).
I know I'm complaining more than praising, but the things that the book does right are basic and safe. Harmless. I could really only recommend this book if you've got nothing else that's flipping your cookie at the moment.
There are some plot threads that taper off into nothingness, as if there were already sequels planned, which make me disgusted. I hate when marketers plan a series before anyone's seen it. The robot doesn't act much like a robot (I say that about every robot book, don't I?). There was a perfectly serviceable opportunity to present some interesting STEM topics here, like "what IS fuzzy logic?" "how does/could AI work?" WWW: Wake is a book that better explores these ideas, and I had no inclination to continue that series (too metaphysical).
I know I'm complaining more than praising, but the things that the book does right are basic and safe. Harmless. I could really only recommend this book if you've got nothing else that's flipping your cookie at the moment.
redtenaj's review against another edition
5.0
My kids are fans of Tom Angleberger's other books, so it's no big surprise that this was also very popular in our house. They voted it "his best work so far" and "11 out of 10."
In addition to the fun story, I liked how the layout of the book helped reinforce the tech-theme: chapters that are numbered 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3, for example, marking changes in the story's setting. Some information is printed in the book as if copied-and-pasted from robotic source code, but is translated so that it's still reader-friendly.
The characters are developed appropriately for the audience, and the plot is paced well. Several times we had to read 'just one more chapter' (or more) to avoid stopping at a cliffhanger. The premise of the book is very creative, as is its execution. We were thrilled to receive it as part of a Goodreads giveaway, and we were thrilled again when we enjoyed it so much.
In addition to the fun story, I liked how the layout of the book helped reinforce the tech-theme: chapters that are numbered 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3, for example, marking changes in the story's setting. Some information is printed in the book as if copied-and-pasted from robotic source code, but is translated so that it's still reader-friendly.
The characters are developed appropriately for the audience, and the plot is paced well. Several times we had to read 'just one more chapter' (or more) to avoid stopping at a cliffhanger. The premise of the book is very creative, as is its execution. We were thrilled to receive it as part of a Goodreads giveaway, and we were thrilled again when we enjoyed it so much.
brandypainter's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
Fuzzy is the latest offering from Tom Angleberger (author of the Origami Yoda series) and was cowritten by Paul Dellinger. It is a humorous school story that is full of intrigue, humor, and robots.
Fifty years in the future schools are controlled by a strict Federal School Board. The students take tests every week to prove that they are "upgrading" well enough. In one school Max (Maxine) is having a rough time. Her test scores are falling even though she studies hard and knows the answers. The computer vice-principal known as Barbara is also constantly giving her discipline tags. But Max has something to be excited about because her school is about to get the first robot to be integrated with humans. The handlers of "Fuzzy" choose Max as the robot's guide and soon the robot and the girl are connecting. When Fuzzy figures out that Barbara has developed a mind of her own and is changing students' test scores. Fuzzy, Max, and their other friends have to try to save their school and each other.
Max and Fuzzy are a great friendship team. This delves into the idea of AI and what happens when a computer can think for itself and make crucial decisions without human input. It is a concept that has been explored in science fiction for decades (several such books get a mention in here), but is definitely trending in both MG and YA more in the last couple of years. Fuzzy, being an Angleberger novel, takes a humorous look at this. Max is a smart girl, but she doesn't always want to perform inside the box created for her by the school system, testing, and the tyrannical AI Barbara. The kids desperately want to be kids but are constantly being told to get back in line and worry about their tests. Max tries her best but doesn't always succeed. Barbara sees her as a wild card and fixates on her for this reason. Max is full of curiosity about her world and just wants to know more. She does a great job with Fuzzy-anticipating his problems, leading him around, and helping him acclimate. In return Fuzzy learns from her how to think like a human. He begins to make his own decisions and color outside the lines himself. He even begins to have a spectacularly spot-on middle school attitude problem complete with snark. They are a brilliant team.
There is a lot about Fuzzy that is reminiscent of a Disney Channel movie. The adults are all a little over top and stereotypical. Their antics are a lot beyond the realm of the realistic, and of course, the kids are the ones to save the day in the end. They see things the grown ups do not. There are mustache twirling yet incompetent type villains in a van trying to get to Fuzzy. It's the sort of story kids eat up like candy. Added to this is a lot of humor and a fast-paced story full of action that will keep kids reading.
Underneath all of this, the authors have a commentary about the state of eduction and focus on testing going on that is fascinating. I don't think this is something just adults in education or concerned parents will get. The kids are going to fully get this to. I've had so many kids talk to me about how worn out they are on all the testing they do. I think they will appreciate this. They will like seeing that there is someone else out there who gets that. The fact that the villainous face of the testing system is Dolores Umbridge in AI form will make this even more entertaining for them.
This is a must have for kids who like humorous school stories.
Fuzzy is the latest offering from Tom Angleberger (author of the Origami Yoda series) and was cowritten by Paul Dellinger. It is a humorous school story that is full of intrigue, humor, and robots.
Fifty years in the future schools are controlled by a strict Federal School Board. The students take tests every week to prove that they are "upgrading" well enough. In one school Max (Maxine) is having a rough time. Her test scores are falling even though she studies hard and knows the answers. The computer vice-principal known as Barbara is also constantly giving her discipline tags. But Max has something to be excited about because her school is about to get the first robot to be integrated with humans. The handlers of "Fuzzy" choose Max as the robot's guide and soon the robot and the girl are connecting. When Fuzzy figures out that Barbara has developed a mind of her own and is changing students' test scores. Fuzzy, Max, and their other friends have to try to save their school and each other.
Max and Fuzzy are a great friendship team. This delves into the idea of AI and what happens when a computer can think for itself and make crucial decisions without human input. It is a concept that has been explored in science fiction for decades (several such books get a mention in here), but is definitely trending in both MG and YA more in the last couple of years. Fuzzy, being an Angleberger novel, takes a humorous look at this. Max is a smart girl, but she doesn't always want to perform inside the box created for her by the school system, testing, and the tyrannical AI Barbara. The kids desperately want to be kids but are constantly being told to get back in line and worry about their tests. Max tries her best but doesn't always succeed. Barbara sees her as a wild card and fixates on her for this reason. Max is full of curiosity about her world and just wants to know more. She does a great job with Fuzzy-anticipating his problems, leading him around, and helping him acclimate. In return Fuzzy learns from her how to think like a human. He begins to make his own decisions and color outside the lines himself. He even begins to have a spectacularly spot-on middle school attitude problem complete with snark. They are a brilliant team.
There is a lot about Fuzzy that is reminiscent of a Disney Channel movie. The adults are all a little over top and stereotypical. Their antics are a lot beyond the realm of the realistic, and of course, the kids are the ones to save the day in the end. They see things the grown ups do not. There are mustache twirling yet incompetent type villains in a van trying to get to Fuzzy. It's the sort of story kids eat up like candy. Added to this is a lot of humor and a fast-paced story full of action that will keep kids reading.
Underneath all of this, the authors have a commentary about the state of eduction and focus on testing going on that is fascinating. I don't think this is something just adults in education or concerned parents will get. The kids are going to fully get this to. I've had so many kids talk to me about how worn out they are on all the testing they do. I think they will appreciate this. They will like seeing that there is someone else out there who gets that. The fact that the villainous face of the testing system is Dolores Umbridge in AI form will make this even more entertaining for them.
This is a must have for kids who like humorous school stories.
calypsogilstrap's review against another edition
4.0
Awesome read for all your young middle schoolers. Loved the science fiction reality. Very middle school matrix, 1984 ish!
listen_learn's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good sci-fi. About a robot with "fuzzy logic", i.e. the ability to think for itself, learn, and break rules, who is sent to a middle school to develop it's capabilities. The school has a vice principal, named Barbra, that's a computer connected to the school building, and is extremely testing centered. Friendships are formed, rules are broken, but for good reason, and the kids discover the adults may have missed some really important factors about Barbra. Ensuing mayhem and hijinks are amusing and touching, though there were a few curse words and one kiss that the story could ahve done without.
marenscassette's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0