Status
Available
Genres
Publication
Harry N. Abrams (2016), 272 pages
Description
When Max (Maxine Zealster) befriends her new robot classmate Fuzzy, she helps him navigate Vanguard Middle School and together they reveal the truth behind the Robot Integration Program.
User reviews
LibraryThing member All_Hail_Grimlock
An interesting children's book on robots and AI
8:40 pm 26 November 2016
Fuzzy - Tom Angleberger, Paul Dellinger
This is interesting for a couple different reasons, but I'm going to be general before I get detailed. The writing was engaging but not complex. The best example of this done well, and my
And while this book doesn't delve into the complex ideas at the level that Asimov does, this is appropriate. He's writing for a much younger audience who would miss or be disturbed by many of Asimov's messages.
Fuzzy is a robot housing a program that should be self-serving: it learns on its own and is able to create code and programs on its own and for itself. However, it should also be able to use fuzzy logic, thus his name. Fuzzy logic isn't something the military, or anyone, knows how to program so they decide to send their robot to middle school to learn to engage with the students and learn fuzzy logic through them. And this is one reason it's not a full five stars: the logic here is, well, fuzzy. While the military hides through a grant to the school - and the proposition that it wants to integrate robots at students in the school - there's very little to hold this together. The higher ups get furious when Fuzzy is almost stolen. And while him going off on his own seems more dangerous than him being in school, he could easily be damaged at the school. Not to mention this seems like a really easy way to leak the secret of his origin since there are so many snoopy kids around.
But I soon forgot about this, until it kept getting brought up. I would get annoyed at those scenes, then enjoy the others.
See, Fuzzy meets Max, a girl who's into technology, especially the advanced kind. He enjoys her company: she's smart and kind and accepts him at the beginning, even when others do not. I also enjoyed Max, and she introduced an interesting subplot. See the vice principal at her school is an AI herself. Barbara controls most everything at the school and she seems to enjoy tormenting certain students, Max included. It becomes so glaringly obvious that Fuzzy notices, and is determined to help Max. There's even a high priority program that he codes specifically for that purpose. Just to make it even more obvious in case no one gets it, yeah, it's called HelpMax.
It's when these two storylines get more intertwined that things get more interesting, although I can't really explain how or why without spoiling this book. Let's just say that along the way what's human and what's right and what's sentient get examined, more closely than I expected. And yes, it's not the full exploration of a four hundred page adult novel. I, however, expected something basic for children. Something that wouldn't terrify them like a robopocalypse would. And yet this manages to get in enough depth and complexity to entertain an adult like me, yet nothing scary or dark enough to frighten children.
It was pretty beautiful to watch. Not only that, I enjoyed both Fuzzy and Max as main characters, as well as pretty much all the side characters. I expected to be bored when we went alone with Max to her home, but I was just more and more fascinated.
However, there were a couple funky writing places, and oh so many logic flaws and plot holes. Despite this, I'd be more than happy to read a sequel: this was a lot of fun.
science fiction Juvie read in 2016
8:40 pm 26 November 2016
Fuzzy - Tom Angleberger, Paul Dellinger
This is interesting for a couple different reasons, but I'm going to be general before I get detailed. The writing was engaging but not complex. The best example of this done well, and my
Show More
go-to example, is Isaac Asimov: the writing was simple but beautiful, engaging, and belied the complex ideas behind this. This also makes both this book and Asimov's pleasantly quick reads. There is no stumbling blocks of convoluted sentences and this is especially encouraging to see in a children's book. It makes it more entrancing for children who are reluctant readers. And while this book doesn't delve into the complex ideas at the level that Asimov does, this is appropriate. He's writing for a much younger audience who would miss or be disturbed by many of Asimov's messages.
Fuzzy is a robot housing a program that should be self-serving: it learns on its own and is able to create code and programs on its own and for itself. However, it should also be able to use fuzzy logic, thus his name. Fuzzy logic isn't something the military, or anyone, knows how to program so they decide to send their robot to middle school to learn to engage with the students and learn fuzzy logic through them. And this is one reason it's not a full five stars: the logic here is, well, fuzzy. While the military hides through a grant to the school - and the proposition that it wants to integrate robots at students in the school - there's very little to hold this together. The higher ups get furious when Fuzzy is almost stolen. And while him going off on his own seems more dangerous than him being in school, he could easily be damaged at the school. Not to mention this seems like a really easy way to leak the secret of his origin since there are so many snoopy kids around.
But I soon forgot about this, until it kept getting brought up. I would get annoyed at those scenes, then enjoy the others.
See, Fuzzy meets Max, a girl who's into technology, especially the advanced kind. He enjoys her company: she's smart and kind and accepts him at the beginning, even when others do not. I also enjoyed Max, and she introduced an interesting subplot. See the vice principal at her school is an AI herself. Barbara controls most everything at the school and she seems to enjoy tormenting certain students, Max included. It becomes so glaringly obvious that Fuzzy notices, and is determined to help Max. There's even a high priority program that he codes specifically for that purpose. Just to make it even more obvious in case no one gets it, yeah, it's called HelpMax.
It's when these two storylines get more intertwined that things get more interesting, although I can't really explain how or why without spoiling this book. Let's just say that along the way what's human and what's right and what's sentient get examined, more closely than I expected. And yes, it's not the full exploration of a four hundred page adult novel. I, however, expected something basic for children. Something that wouldn't terrify them like a robopocalypse would. And yet this manages to get in enough depth and complexity to entertain an adult like me, yet nothing scary or dark enough to frighten children.
It was pretty beautiful to watch. Not only that, I enjoyed both Fuzzy and Max as main characters, as well as pretty much all the side characters. I expected to be bored when we went alone with Max to her home, but I was just more and more fascinated.
However, there were a couple funky writing places, and oh so many logic flaws and plot holes. Despite this, I'd be more than happy to read a sequel: this was a lot of fun.
science fiction Juvie read in 2016
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LibraryThing member theWallflower
It's... all right. It's perfectly average. There are no groundbreaking ideas, no new techniques. It's aimed at a younger age group than YA (Percy Jackson, Underland Chronicles, et al). There's nothing controversial or gaspworthy inside. It's less about the robot and more about everything
There are some plot threads that taper off into nothingness, as if there were already sequels planned, which make me disgusted. I hate when marketers plan a series before anyone's seen it. The robot doesn't act much like a robot (I say that about every robot book, don't I?). There was a perfectly serviceable opportunity to present some interesting STEM topics here, like "what IS fuzzy logic?" "how does/could AI work?" WWW: Wake is a book that better explores these ideas, and I had no inclination to continue that series (too metaphysical).
I know I'm complaining more than praising, but the things that the book does right are basic and safe. Harmless. I could really only recommend this book if you've got nothing else that's flipping your cookie at the moment.
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surrounding him. Like the AI that runs the school being super Big Brother. It's kind of like 1984 meets Double Dare.There are some plot threads that taper off into nothingness, as if there were already sequels planned, which make me disgusted. I hate when marketers plan a series before anyone's seen it. The robot doesn't act much like a robot (I say that about every robot book, don't I?). There was a perfectly serviceable opportunity to present some interesting STEM topics here, like "what IS fuzzy logic?" "how does/could AI work?" WWW: Wake is a book that better explores these ideas, and I had no inclination to continue that series (too metaphysical).
I know I'm complaining more than praising, but the things that the book does right are basic and safe. Harmless. I could really only recommend this book if you've got nothing else that's flipping your cookie at the moment.
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LibraryThing member DonnaMarieMerritt
Cute story! Just the right mix of adventure and futuristic AI and middle school action. My 4th/5th graders are going to love finding this in the new book section of our library!
LibraryThing member ashewert
This book is a fictional story about a robot student named Fuzzy who attends Vanguard Middle School. In this clever middle school adventure, Fuzzy is being trained to act like a regular student through the robot integration program!
As you can imagine, being a robot and trying to walk through
Max and Fuzzy have to learn that sometimes you can’t always listen to authority and you have to do what you think is right! Fuzzy is SOOOO intelligent that he is able to program himself. When he finds out that his new friend Max is in need of help, he creates a program code HelpMax do whatever he can to prevent her from getting kicked out of middle school, even if that means destroying himself in the process!
I enjoyed reading this book and feel that the characters are relatable. Who wouldn't want to have a robot friend at school? Even if it may not always be easy! I found it very interesting how technologically advanced this book was in terms of even the operations of the school. It's interesting to think about what it would be like working in a school like this sometime in the future!
As you can imagine, being a robot and trying to walk through
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crowded hallways would be a pretty big challenge. That is until Fuzzy’s team of technicians enlists of the help of Maxine “Max” Zelaster to help! Max is always getting in trouble with BARBARA, the schools digital evaluation system. She is eager to help her new robot classmate with learning how to survive seventh grade, but Max keeps earning demerits every time she tries to assist him. Max wants to help her robotic buddy, but she doesn't want to be expelled or get yelled at by her parents in the process.Max and Fuzzy have to learn that sometimes you can’t always listen to authority and you have to do what you think is right! Fuzzy is SOOOO intelligent that he is able to program himself. When he finds out that his new friend Max is in need of help, he creates a program code HelpMax do whatever he can to prevent her from getting kicked out of middle school, even if that means destroying himself in the process!
I enjoyed reading this book and feel that the characters are relatable. Who wouldn't want to have a robot friend at school? Even if it may not always be easy! I found it very interesting how technologically advanced this book was in terms of even the operations of the school. It's interesting to think about what it would be like working in a school like this sometime in the future!
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LibraryThing member DianaNewman1617
Fuzzy was a fun engaging read that middle schoolers would enjoy. I loved this futuristic plot of artificial intelligence pretty much taking over Max & Fuzzy's school. Fuzzy is in fact a robot that can think for itself, and learn for itself. Barbara is the school's "monitor" that monitors everything
I can see myself using a coding unit for this book. It would be a fun interactive activity with technology and we could recreate a scene from the book that kids have to navigate through (like how Fuzzy need to navigate the hallways full of kids) or a different part of the book.
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and gives the students and teachers performance grades based on how they do things. She even grades them on washing their hands, and they are only allowed to improve their scores as time goes on otherwise it is not acceptable. Barbara wants to intervene with Fuzzy and she begins giving demerits to Max every time she gets in the way. Barbara begins to alter Max's scores and ultimately tries to get Max kicked out of school. This is a great novel about technology that while a lot of it is convenient and beneficial to society, sometimes it is important to think for yourself and do things the way you know is right. I can see myself using a coding unit for this book. It would be a fun interactive activity with technology and we could recreate a scene from the book that kids have to navigate through (like how Fuzzy need to navigate the hallways full of kids) or a different part of the book.
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LibraryThing member jennybeast
Fast read, nice exploration of humanity intersecting with artificial intelligence, in both good and bad ways. Funny. Middle school/ 7th grade protagonist Maxine (Max) has been judged problematic by her automated school, which is working on getting her removed. Fortunately, Max is fascinated and
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friendly with the visiting robot student, Fuzzy, who quickly becomes an ally in surviving middle school. For any kid who feels unfairly targeted by school discipline and wants to see someone getting their own back. Show Less
Awards
Young Hoosier Book Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2019)
Sasquatch Book Award (Nominee — 2019)
William Allen White Children's Book Award (Nominee — Grades 6-8 — 2019)
Nutmeg Book Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2020)
Virginia Readers' Choice (Nominee — Middle School — 2019)
Kids' Book Choice Awards (Finalist — 2017)
Rhode Island Middle School Book Award (Nominee — 2019)
Children's Favorites Awards (Selection — 2017)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
272 p.; 5.5 inches
ISBN
1419721224 / 9781419721229