The Wild Robot

I must admit, this is one of the first times. I watched the movie before reading the book. It's not a movie I expected to enjoy. Typically, I'm not a huge fan of animated fare for the younger set. My wife usually has the duty of watching animated movies with our younger son. However, I agreed to watch this one with them because he had read The Wild Robot from front to back in record time to earn himself a ticket to the film. When he asked me to attend, how could I refuse?

Let me be upfront. The film… show more.

I am fascinated by stories of robots evolving into sentient beings. For a change, in this one, the robots do not rise up to destroy their masters. Instead, we are invited into a funny, tender, and exciting tale about a robot who finds herself castaway on a wilderness island and must learn what her purpose is and how to survive. As she and the animals who live there grow closer and closer together, she begins to find a home in the wilderness. A rich story that works on many levels at once. It is a tale about the interdependence of… show more.

A robot named Roz opens her eyes for the first time to discover she’s all alone on a remote island. She soon learns that the only way to survive is by befriending the wild animals who live there, but they’ve never seen a robot before, and it’s no easy task. 

Written in short, sweet chapters that read almost like picture books, this book has a soothing rhythm, yet doesn’t shy away from addressing the harsher elements of life in the wilderness. It’s funny, honest, heartwarming, and thought-provoking: all my favorite things in a book for young readers! 

There are so few AI-themed sci-fi novels for kids, especially ones that don’t rely on cheap stereotypes. This one, with the charming displaced robot Roz, delivers both heart and entertainment as Roz befriends the animals of a human-uninhabited island. Like most AI-themed books, The Wild Robot explores themes of personhood and identity, while also touching on environmental themes and subtle critiques of capitalism.

I am often intrigued by how much I care about the robot characters in books and movies yet they are machines without the capacity for emotions. Robots in stories seem to surpass humans’ morals because they’ve been programmed for a purpose without regard to their own safety, often resulting in “selfless” acts, being that of love or coding. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown explores these complexities and more including what it means to be a human, a mother, and even a family.