Fuzzy

June 6, 2016
The newest student at Vanguard Middle School is Fuzzy, a robot developed as part of a government project exploring advanced artificial intelligence. In order to aid with Fuzzy’s integration into the school, which is already under the control of the ultra-strict supercomputer known as Vice Principal Barbara, Maxine “Max” Zelaster is selected to act as his guide and friend. However, Max and Fuzzy face the anti-robot prejudices of those tired of losing their jobs to automation, as well as Barbara’s increasingly tyrannical micromanagement. Complicating matters, the military keeps pushing up Fuzzy’s development timeline, and someone is out to steal his unique code. Angleberger (the Origami Yoda series) and adult SF/fantasy author Dellinger draw a lot of comedy out of Fuzzy’s challenging acclimation to middle school, and seem to have put substantial thought into the complexity of the software that makes him work (Fuzzy shorts out in the cafeteria after trying to listen to 250 kids talking at once). It’s a fast-paced, entertaining romp that also offers a nuanced examination of intelligence, free will, and omnipresent technology. Ages 8–12. Agent: Caryn Wiseman, Andrea Brown Literary.

Starred review from June 15, 2016
Vanguard Middle School's no place for breaking rules; computerized Vice Principal Barbara sees to that.Sixth-grader Maxine "Max" Zelaster and her friends struggle to pass the Federal School Board's nonstop tests in the newly instituted Constant UpGrade program. The kids think they are doing well, but their grades don't reflect their work. Their cumulative scores are dragged even lower by discipline tags and citizenship infractions, all noted by Barbara's all-seeing electronic eyes. Enter Fuzzy, the government's attempt to create a robot that will program itself. Scientists in the Robot Integration Program ask Max to show Fuzzy around because of her interest in robots, but this leads to further trouble for Max at school and at home; Barbara just seems to have it in for her. Fuzzy uncovers irregularities with test scoring and begins to suspect something's wrong with the vice principal, but can he save his new friend Max while evading corporate spies and his creators' plans for his future? Origami Yoda creator Angleberger teams up with science-fiction writer Dellinger for this funny, thrilling, and thought-provoking page-turner. Riffing on some of the same issues as Origami Yoda's second trilogy--individuality and the dangers of standardized testing--the duo have crafted a day-after-tomorrow cautionary tale of friendship with a fuzzy, robotic heart. Provocative issues that never overwhelm storytelling make this a winner. (Science fiction. 8-12)

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August 1, 2016

Gr 5-8-Max is looking forward to starting sixth grade because this year her school is launching a new program, Robot Integration, and Max is excited about meeting the first ever robot student. When she meets Fuzzy, Max quickly befriends him and is assigned to show him the ropes. Not everyone at school is excited about the new student. The assistant principal, an AI computer named Barbara, seems determined to get rid of both Fuzzy and Max. When Fuzzy winds up in a showdown with Barbara, somebot's bound to be reprogrammed. In some ways, this is a typical school story-smart kids, clueless adults, overly tough school administrators, and some bad guys (cyberspies) thrown in for good measure. It's also a futuristic sci-fi novel with a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the evils of standardized testing gone awry. VERDICT An absorbing, fast-paced read and an excellent choice for middle schoolers.-Kathy Kirchoefer, Henderson County Public Library, NC

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2016
Grades 4-7 Angleberger teams up with science fiction writer Dellinger to transport readers to the near future, where middle school still stinks (sorry, kids) but at least has robots. Though students at Vanguard One Middle School are used to seeing mechanized custodians and lunch ladieseven their vice principal is a supercomputerthey are abuzz with curiosity over Fuzzy, their first ever robot student. Max can barely contain her excitement when she is chosen to show Fuzzy the ropes. Equipped with humanlike fuzzy logic, Fuzzy's mission is to learn to navigate the most hostile environment Earth has to offer (middle school). Soon, however, a new mission takes precedent: HelpMax. Convinced that Vice Principal Barbara has gone rogue, Max and Fuzzy put a risky plan into action while trying to keep the robot safe from outside threats. Middle-school drama is ratcheted up as school testing and technology are taken to the extreme. The result is a smart, sci-fi page-turner that will grab kids' imagination and appeal to their conscience and sense of humor. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Angleberger plus robots? If that doesn't equal a best-seller, we don't know what does.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)