Cog

I read this as part of my Norton finalist packet.

Cog is a middle grade science fiction novel packed full of heart. Cog is a robot boy with a love of learning. He can tell you everything you'd ever want to know about cheese and platypuses. He's happy living in a house and learning from his caregiver, Gina. But after he dives into traffic to save a dog, he awakens patched-up in the main facility of his corporate maker. Not only is Gina gone, but the other scientists aren't so nice. The solution: bust out (with some friends) and find Gina!

The core of the book gave me solid 1980s movie road trip vibes a la Flight of the Navigator and Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. It's laugh-out-loud funny at several points as the robot boy and his motley crew show more learn a lot about themselves, the company that made them, and their own power to make choices. Plus, it features the best talking car since Knight Rider. This is a book that parents and grandparents will enjoy as much as the kids. show less

Cog is a boy robot who was developed by Gina, a roboticist. He’s lived with Gina, learning new things to develop his cognitive development. As opposed to the typical robot, Cog can feel some emotions and make choices of action although he doesn’t yet fully understand what those emotions are and the consequences of his actions. After he is hit by a truck while trying to rescue a dog, Cog is sent to uniMIND, a robot research company that Gina works for. He no longer lives with Gina and Cog misses her. Nathan of uniMIND is particularly interested in something Cog has, the X module. But Cog is aware enough to know he needs to escape uniMIND and find where Gina went. Along with a motley crew of uniMIND robots—Trashbot, Proto the dog, show more his sister ADA, and Car—Cog embarks on the ultimate bad experience that will grow his cognitive development in unexpected ways. Cog’s literal mind and voice laser-focuses the reader on the theme of learning life lessons, the value of mistakes, and free choice. He and the other robots are inadvertently humorous because of his literal interpretations. show less

A delightful story of an android boy named Cog who learns about the world through bad decision making. He ends up back at the facility that built him and allies himself with other robots (a trash compactor, a dog, and a girl designed as a weapon) to learn free will and to help others of their kind. Highly recommended!

Artificial intelligence? Biomatons? People choosing profits over morality? Biomatons rebelling? Check, check, check, and check. My fourth and fifth grade library patrons are going to love this book! Heck, this librarian loved this book. :-)

This story is about COG who is a robot with artificial intelligence. He was created to look and act like a 12 year old boy. One day he decides to learn from his mistakes and ends up being taken away from his creator. He decides to go find her setting off one of the most exciting and funny chase scenes ever. This would be an excellent addition to any middle grade library.

Funny and adorable. Two thumbs up, would but that I had more thumbs.

"Five robots. One unforgettable journey. Their programming will never be the same."