We love a sci-fi based story in the Book Whisperer household, sadly we don't come across enough of them so there's much joy when we find one, especially one as enthralling as Troofriend by Kirsty Applebaum.
Straight away you are drawn into the story, as you meet a Troofriend sitting cross-legged in the factory, surveying her surroundings with an almost human-like interest, just before she is switched off. You realise that this can be no ordinary android and thus the journey begins.
if you watched the series Humans on TV then this will feel wonderfully familiar, but in a more kid friendly format. We follow the relationship between Sarah and the gift she never wanted - her Troofriend Ivy. Troofriends are designed to be childlike companions for human children. But unlike human friends they don't bully, harm, lie, or envy. Or DO they..... The story, when told from Ivy's viewpoint is touching in it's childlike view of things, and you find yourself liking her, but also fearing for her future as she makes decisions without consequences, almost as a toddler would.
The book makes us think about what humanity is. If a machine can feel something akin to human emotions should it then be in charge of it's own destiny, have it's own rights? What happens when the machines that we create become a part of our lives, connected to us emotionally - do they remain a machine? Ivy is at times not treated well in the story, and can be silenced and left vulnerable at the flick of a switch, which can feel uncomfortable once you start to view her as a sentient being.
Both myself and my 10yo son read the book and absolutely loved it. From a Librarian's viewpoint its short chapters and alternating typefaces and viewpoints make it easily accessible to the more reluctant readers, and each chapter draws you into the next - you literally cant put it down as you need to know whats on the next page!
As an adult reader I found myself contemplating deep thoughts about what makes us human, and where we should draw the line in terms of intelligent life creation, whereas my son mostly enjoyed it for the excellent and thrilling story that it is. When chatting to him about it afterwards though he did comment: 'I'm glad that Ivy found someone to love her' and 'I don't think they should make these kinds of robots in the future - it's not a natural friendship where you share experiences, fight and make up', so clearly the book made him think on a deeper level to some degree too.
Fans of Sci-Fi fiction will not be disappointed, Troofriend is a beautifully written story of friendship, that draws you in and leaves you craving for more!
Troofriend by Kirsty Applebaum, Illustrations and cover by Sam Kalda. Published by Nosy Crow Ltd