Written in a simple style that would resonate with school children and adults alike, this book follows the journey of Malcolm Montgomery, a seventh grader. Waiting to be adopted, Malcolm is described at the outset as, “If there were a prize for being unlucky, Malcolm would’ve won it.”
Having lived with nine different foster families, Malcolm has a list of items he needs to achieve in order to get adopted by his 13th birthday.
How some of those plans get derailed and altered forms the crux of this engaging book. The main plot takes off when Malcolm’s school invites Dr. Hatch, the head of an intelligence company, to give a presentation during Professionals’ Day. He brings his AI-powered robot FRANCIS (an acronym), and somehow Malcolm finds himself volunteering to work with the machine.
The rest of the chapters follow the human-machine interactions, interspersed heavily with reminisces of Malcolm’s past as a child in foster care and how his teachers and classmates respond to the situation.
“The AI Incident” touches upon various aspects of interpersonal relationships, classroom conundrums and the despair of a child eager to be adopted. Using basic formatting skills, writer J.E. Thomas crafts a powerful book that is deeply moving, offering much food for thought. •
— Reviewed by Sriya Chattopadhyay
“The AI Incident” By J.E. Thomas; Pages: 256; Type: Middle Grade
Format: Hardcover (Trade); Publication: 2025; ISBN: 9781646145089