Simple. Relatable. Human. Robot?
You, like me, have probably seen the many amazing reviews for the just released The Wild Robot movie, based on The Wild Robot book by Peter Brown. While I haven’t seen the movie, I just finished the book and if you are wondering what the story is about and whether the book is worth checking out, keep reading.
Roz the robot (ROZZUM unit 7134) is storm-tossed in her crate onto a deserted island. She is awakened by otters and her programming kicks in, propelling her to learn and survive. She camouflages herself to hide from bear cubs, climbs trees, and speaks to the animals.
Around Chapter 20 (only page 40—short chapters, thankfully, because the start of the story was a bit slow), Roz accidentally causes a rockslide, killing all but one egg in a family of geese. Roz decides to take care of the egg and here the story really takes off.
She must work with the animals to raise the little gosling. We see her making shelter and a garden, teaching the gosling how to fly, and interacting with the different inhabitants. She’s playing house, which both 8-12 year old girls and boys will probably enjoy. Eventually, as the gosling goes south for the winter, Roz must find a new purpose—helping the animals and eventually protecting her friends by fighting off the robots that come to collect this defective robot.
While I’m not sure what themes the film pulled from this book or what the author intended, to me, humanity’s very purpose is the question at the heart of this story. What should I do with my life? What is the difference between surviving and living? And because I’m a Christian, the story led me to ask: what is the purpose God has designed me for? These are deep questions that could yield some rich conversations between chapters or over the dinner table.
Some considerations before reading: I think kids will love imagining a robot protagonist in the “wild”. Roz becomes a mom and is “playing house”, which is relatable. The fight scene at the end of the book adds excitement and drama for a sequel. And who doesn’t love talking animals?
This book did start slow, which may turn off reluctant readers, but the short chapters should help with engagement. Some readers might be disturbed to hear of the goose family being crushed in the rockslide, the gosling being teased because his mother was different, or see Roz and the other robots who come to collect her fighting with guns at the end of the book (including a picture of one of the bad robots with a hole through its body from being shot).
Bottom Line: The Wild Robot is a quiet book that could be a quick read or encourage deeper thought. The characters and adventures will appeal to kids, but some readers could be turned off by the slow start or the “wildness” of the circle of life. The second book is called The Wild Robot Escapes, and I haven’t read it yet. But I do plan on taking my family to the movie!
I had the same thoughts about the book being slow burn at times, but I agree the short chapters and tons of illustrations can help capture the attention of readers who want something more consistently faced paced.
I like the messages you pointed out. The book provides lots of great springboards for good conversations for children who are old enough to have them. For example, this book does a great job of gently introducing the idea of death and our own mortality, as well as adoption as Roz the robot takes in the little gosling after the death of its family.
I love that thought of “gently” introducing death, etc. So true. And I did not think about how it introduces the concept of adoption. That’s a great point.