ROBOT ISLAND
BY CARY FAGAN | PUBLICATION: OCTOBER 14, 2025TUNDRA BOOKS | GENRE: MIDDLE-GRADE
RATING: ★★★★
“Robot Island is more than a whimsical adventure—it’s a celebration of books, friendship, and the families we create for ourselves.”
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Forced into stealing valuable books from a rich widow, Willis takes refuge on an abandoned island populated by robots in this new middle-grade novel by acclaimed writer Cary Fagan. For fans of The Wild Robot.
It isn’t bad enough that Willis has to live with his cold uncle Tod in a dusty old house of used books. He can’t even spend time with his friends Harrison and Galaxi because of the nasty after-school jobs his uncle makes him take on. But then his uncle asks him to visit an old widow lady in the mansion on the hill.
To his surprise, Willis likes Mrs. Shorthouse and even the books they read together (Little Women, Great Expectations). Meanwhile, taking a rowboat ride, Willis discovers an abandoned town from the 1950s populated by square-headed robots. What is the connection between Mrs. Shorthouse and Robot Island? What will happen after the police find out that Willis has been stealing rare books from the mansion? And when Willis turns on the electricity and the robots of Robot Island come to life, will they turn out to be friends or enemies?
It isn’t bad enough that Willis has to live with his cold uncle Tod in a dusty old house of used books. He can’t even spend time with his friends Harrison and Galaxi because of the nasty after-school jobs his uncle makes him take on. But then his uncle asks him to visit an old widow lady in the mansion on the hill.
To his surprise, Willis likes Mrs. Shorthouse and even the books they read together (Little Women, Great Expectations). Meanwhile, taking a rowboat ride, Willis discovers an abandoned town from the 1950s populated by square-headed robots. What is the connection between Mrs. Shorthouse and Robot Island? What will happen after the police find out that Willis has been stealing rare books from the mansion? And when Willis turns on the electricity and the robots of Robot Island come to life, will they turn out to be friends or enemies?
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"Books, Robots, and the Families We Choose"
Cary Fagan’s Robot Island is a middle-grade adventure that blends whimsy with heart, asking what it means to belong, and reminding us that families can be found in the most unexpected places.
Willis lives under the stern watch of his uncle Tod, surrounded by dusty shelves of used books and weighed down by endless chores. When Tod sends him to visit Mrs. Shorthouse, a wealthy widow in her hilltop mansion, Willis unexpectedly discovers both companionship and the joy of reading classics like Little Women and Great Expectations. But his uncle’s schemes force Willis into stealing rare books, setting off a chain of events that lead him to a mysterious abandoned town from the 1950s—Robot Island. When Willis awakens its square-headed inhabitants, he must face questions of loyalty, friendship, and belonging.
As fantastic as an island of robots sounds, Cary Fagan’s novel is more compelling than its premise suggests. Robot Island is, at its heart, a book for book lovers—especially young readers who recognize the thrill of discovering that stories can change them. It captures that first spark of falling in love with reading, and the way books can become companions in difficult times.
The “found family” trope is woven beautifully into the narrative. Mrs. Shorthouse, the robots, and Willis’s circle of friends remind us that family can be chosen and built through kindness. The friendship arc is particularly moving, even when Willis tries to push Harrison, Galaxi, and Daphne away, they refuse to abandon him. Their loyalty and courage shine, offering a model of empathy and resilience.
Fagan’s storytelling radiates warmth. Though the novel nods to modern technology, it ultimately celebrates human connection, kindness, and the timeless comfort of books. It’s a heartwarming middle-grade adventure that will inspire readers to treasure both their friendships and their stories.
Robot Island is more than a whimsical adventure—it’s a celebration of books, friendship, and the families we create for ourselves. Cary Fagan has crafted a tale that will resonate with young readers and remind adults of the moment they first fell in love with stories.
Cary Fagan’s Robot Island is a middle-grade adventure that blends whimsy with heart, asking what it means to belong, and reminding us that families can be found in the most unexpected places.
Willis lives under the stern watch of his uncle Tod, surrounded by dusty shelves of used books and weighed down by endless chores. When Tod sends him to visit Mrs. Shorthouse, a wealthy widow in her hilltop mansion, Willis unexpectedly discovers both companionship and the joy of reading classics like Little Women and Great Expectations. But his uncle’s schemes force Willis into stealing rare books, setting off a chain of events that lead him to a mysterious abandoned town from the 1950s—Robot Island. When Willis awakens its square-headed inhabitants, he must face questions of loyalty, friendship, and belonging.
As fantastic as an island of robots sounds, Cary Fagan’s novel is more compelling than its premise suggests. Robot Island is, at its heart, a book for book lovers—especially young readers who recognize the thrill of discovering that stories can change them. It captures that first spark of falling in love with reading, and the way books can become companions in difficult times.
The “found family” trope is woven beautifully into the narrative. Mrs. Shorthouse, the robots, and Willis’s circle of friends remind us that family can be chosen and built through kindness. The friendship arc is particularly moving, even when Willis tries to push Harrison, Galaxi, and Daphne away, they refuse to abandon him. Their loyalty and courage shine, offering a model of empathy and resilience.
Fagan’s storytelling radiates warmth. Though the novel nods to modern technology, it ultimately celebrates human connection, kindness, and the timeless comfort of books. It’s a heartwarming middle-grade adventure that will inspire readers to treasure both their friendships and their stories.
Robot Island is more than a whimsical adventure—it’s a celebration of books, friendship, and the families we create for ourselves. Cary Fagan has crafted a tale that will resonate with young readers and remind adults of the moment they first fell in love with stories.
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About the Author:
CARY FAGAN's kids' books include Robot Island; Hans Christian Andersen Lives Next Door; Water, Water (winner of the Vine National Canadian Jewish Book Award); The Collected Works of Gretchen Oyster; the Kaspar Snit novels; and the Wolfie and Fly chapter book series. He is also the author of many picture books, including Mr. Zinger's Hat (Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award winner), Little Blue Chair, and Bear Wants to Sing. Cary has received the Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People for his body of work. He lives in Toronto, Canada.
Photo by Josh Levine
Photo by Josh Levine
*Penguin Random House provided the ARC
in exchange for this unbiased review.
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in exchange for this unbiased review.
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