About This Book
Reach for this book when your child expresses frustration with rigid rules or feels a deep protective instinct toward the natural world. It is a powerful choice for the pre-teen who is beginning to question authority and the 'efficiency' of the modern world at the expense of human connection and nature. In this dystopian vision, a boy named Alan lives in a highly controlled society where the elderly are relocated and wild spaces are slated for destruction by a terrifying, massive robot called Giant. Through Alan's journey to save his grandfather and a strip of wild land, the story explores themes of resilience, the ethics of technology, and the importance of preserving history. It is a sophisticated read for ages 10 to 14, offering a gritty but ultimately empowering look at how one person's courage can challenge a cold, mechanical system. Parents will appreciate how it encourages critical thinking about progress and the value of individual agency.
