Runaway Robot

Product Information

But wouldn't mind having it in my classroom library for children who are particularly interested in robots. Himself a recipient of an artificial arm, he ends up discovering a hidden robot on the shelves, also missing a leg. Since his accident, Alfie doesn’t much like being at his new special school, which is training him to use his new prosthetic hand. Runaway Robot is a funny and heartwarming adventure about two best friends helping put themselves back together, from the award-winning Frank Cottrell-Boyce, illustrated by Steven Lenton.

Runaway Robot by Frank Cottrell Boyce | Goodreads

As our world gets closer and closer to a more automated future it is a timely novel for discussion of serious topics of artificial intelligence and science and what makes us human. This book is published by Macmillan Children’s Books UK, which is distributed by Macmillan US, my employer, so I got the book for free.The robot–named Eric–can’t seem to tell Alfie about where he came from, but he makes a mean cup of tea and rescuing Eric gives Alfie purpose. It’s full of wild coincidences and a confusing mess of ideas that makes it hard to decide what it’s really about.

Runaway Robot | BookTrust

It was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2008 and the inaugural Roald Dahl Funny Prize.Filled to the brim with Frank Cottrell-Boyce's trademark humour, this book had an excellent protagonist who drove the plot along throughout. I read and loved some of Frank Cottrell Boyce's books as a child and I'm so pleased that I enjoyed this one just as much. For me that made the story feel more real and added to the warmth I felt about this compelling tale. In this slightly futuristic England with little self-driving robots delivering pizza, Alfie learns that he can’t do everything by himself, and it’s okay to need help.