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Ecksdot
“It’s TRON meets STRANGER THINGS!” — Nathan Tucker, KWWTB
Nate is a grade-school hero.
Average kid, except that he has nightmares about ghost robots.
Yep, ghost robots. Their faces look human, but their bodies are metal and wires. Their eyes, poisoned by a crawling red virus, stare at him, begging for help.
At first, Nate tries to ignore these creepy dreams. Then while he's wide awake, a ghost robot glares at him from across the playground, making it hard to act normal in front of Ashley—the girl with the ridiculously cute white shoes. When Nate reacts to one of these ghosts, Rudge threatens to beat him up for acting strange. Finally, in the middle of class, another ghost shows up, forcing a conversation. Nate runs, gets cornered, and shouts for a teacher to help, but no one else can see them, so no one else can help him. He's all alone. The ghost vanishes, but Nate goes home feeling disoriented, embarrassed, and scared.
It feels like he’s losing his mind.
Until Danny—the uncoolest kid at school—confirms that the ghost robots are real.
Nate hesitantly teams up with this new sidekick, and a surprising friendship evolves as the mismatched duo work together to solve the mystery:
What exactly are these strange beings, and what dimension did they come from? Why have they crossed into Nate's reality specifically? And can he and Danny find a way to cure the red-eye virus that is slowly turning the ghost robots evil—before they turn on him?
Find out in ECKSDOT, the exciting YA thriller from J Washburn!
* * *
AWARD WINNING NOVEL: In 2014, ECKSDOT won 1st place in the Utah Arts Council Original Writing Competition, largely for its authentic characters and uniquely imaginative world: ECKSDOT is a gritty, modern fantasy where the blacktop bloodies your knees. It’s also an artisan book—written, illustrated, and typeset by the author, a masterpiece handcrafted from beginning to end.
Nate is a grade-school hero.
Average kid, except that he has nightmares about ghost robots.
Yep, ghost robots. Their faces look human, but their bodies are metal and wires. Their eyes, poisoned by a crawling red virus, stare at him, begging for help.
At first, Nate tries to ignore these creepy dreams. Then while he's wide awake, a ghost robot glares at him from across the playground, making it hard to act normal in front of Ashley—the girl with the ridiculously cute white shoes. When Nate reacts to one of these ghosts, Rudge threatens to beat him up for acting strange. Finally, in the middle of class, another ghost shows up, forcing a conversation. Nate runs, gets cornered, and shouts for a teacher to help, but no one else can see them, so no one else can help him. He's all alone. The ghost vanishes, but Nate goes home feeling disoriented, embarrassed, and scared.
It feels like he’s losing his mind.
Until Danny—the uncoolest kid at school—confirms that the ghost robots are real.
Nate hesitantly teams up with this new sidekick, and a surprising friendship evolves as the mismatched duo work together to solve the mystery:
What exactly are these strange beings, and what dimension did they come from? Why have they crossed into Nate's reality specifically? And can he and Danny find a way to cure the red-eye virus that is slowly turning the ghost robots evil—before they turn on him?
Find out in ECKSDOT, the exciting YA thriller from J Washburn!
* * *
AWARD WINNING NOVEL: In 2014, ECKSDOT won 1st place in the Utah Arts Council Original Writing Competition, largely for its authentic characters and uniquely imaginative world: ECKSDOT is a gritty, modern fantasy where the blacktop bloodies your knees. It’s also an artisan book—written, illustrated, and typeset by the author, a masterpiece handcrafted from beginning to end.
- GenresYoung Adult
Unknown Binding
First published May 5, 2013
1 person is currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
J Washburn
23 books29 followersJ Washburn is the author of smart scifi and fantasy novels, including the acclaimed STARCHILD space opera books! He co-hosts the Start Writing podcast. And if you're wondering out his first name, check out
www.jwashburn.com !
www.jwashburn.com !
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 31, 2016
I loved this book. It kept me engaged and excited about the story. I wish it had been around when I was in middle school - it is especially appropriate for the YA audience, being told through the eyes of one, but is still great reading for adults. Buy it, read it!
September 10, 2018
One epic adventure and journey into what could happen, maybe happening, and certainly an interesting and compelling read. I loved it!!!!! With the rise of hi technology comes benefits and disasters not expected and some that are depending on the mindset of the maker. Get your copy today!
March 24, 2014
I really can't remember who told me to read this book. I think someone had posted it on Facebook because their brother or cousin or someone had written it, and something about struggling artists just gets to me, so I thought I would check it out.
For me, it started out poorly. It was confusing and hard to follow. Then I really actually got into it and started to wonder how this other world works and looked forward to reading the end so I could get all my questions answered. Well, the end was a HUGE disappointment. He does not answer any questions. I don't think the author needs to lay it all out especially if he or she is planning on a trilogy or something, but really there was no information given about the other "world" and it was a huge let-down. Throw me a bone or something!
For me, it started out poorly. It was confusing and hard to follow. Then I really actually got into it and started to wonder how this other world works and looked forward to reading the end so I could get all my questions answered. Well, the end was a HUGE disappointment. He does not answer any questions. I don't think the author needs to lay it all out especially if he or she is planning on a trilogy or something, but really there was no information given about the other "world" and it was a huge let-down. Throw me a bone or something!
May 7, 2013
I recommend this book for fans of young adult action-adventure. It's a story of an ordinary boy in an ordinary neighborhood that has an extraordinary adventure. This book was a fun read for me because I could really relate to it; I grew up in similar neighborhood setting and I played the same games as Nate. The supernatural world that Washburn creates is definitely original. I plan to read the next one.
September 14, 2015
I really liked this book! Other than three swear words, I loved pretty much everything! It's a very original story and it is well written.
December 9, 2017
Creative, intriguing, and fun!
You wouldn’t believe the odd path that brought me to this author. Suffice it to say I am glad I took that path. I am looking forward to many more of ‘our’ books. Thank you, J Washburn, for nurturing your curiosity and creativity. We all win!
This is a great G-rated (no profanity, no immoral behavior). This is a great PG-rated book (some bullying and fights).
This is a great PG 13-rated book (death, metaphysical thought processing).
This is a great book (period—unlike J :^)
You wouldn’t believe the odd path that brought me to this author. Suffice it to say I am glad I took that path. I am looking forward to many more of ‘our’ books. Thank you, J Washburn, for nurturing your curiosity and creativity. We all win!
This is a great G-rated (no profanity, no immoral behavior). This is a great PG-rated book (some bullying and fights).
This is a great PG 13-rated book (death, metaphysical thought processing).
This is a great book (period—unlike J :^)
November 12, 2013
Oh my, prepare to take a wild ride…
Ecksdot, pronounced X-dot, is one creative adventure. The main character is a six-grader named Nate, who loves to spend time in his imagination. He dreams about being a superhero and is bored by the mundane routine of school and his new neighbor, Danny, who is uncool and trying to be his friend. “I wanted to be a hero. That’s all I wanted in the whole world. But I was surrounded by stupid every-day sort of stuff. Like school. And friggin Danny.” I was blown away with how Washburn nailed the mind of a six-grader. It was simply fantastic. You will be a kid again, reading this book. I know I was.
Nate develops a love-hate relationship with Danny. Danny loves the pictures Nate draws of robots and likes to pretend with Nate that the robots are real and on a special mission. But at the same time, Danny is kinda weird, and Nate worries about his reputation among the other kids at school.
In alternating chapters, we are made aware of an actual group of invisible, human-like robot beings called “Andbots”. One of the Andbots, Eckdot, wants to make contact with Nate, even though it has never been done before. Humans can’t see or hear Andbots. He believes Nate might be able to help. The Andbots don’t know why they are on earth, or how they got there, but someone, an enemy, is infecting them one by one with a deadly virus. When Nate falls asleep one night, Ecksdot enters the nightmare Nate is having and tries to talk to him, showing him a barn and an object that he will find if he goes to the barn. Nate remembers the robot from the dream and drags a willing Danny to explore a big white barn near his home. Nate realizes the barn is the exact one from his dream, and after some drama from being caught breaking into the barn, they eventually return and get inside, finding the exact object the “robot man” had shown him. Nate’s dreams were becoming reality -“My dream is real.”
The book takes Nate and Danny further and further into discovering the Andbots and the evil they are fighting against. Washburn uses some hand drawn illustrations to enhance the story (think “The Book Thief”). There’s other cool stuff, like how each Andbot got its unique name (ie; Ecksdot, Jeepers). You’ll discover how they are powered by invisible purple crystals that grow on earth, how the red virus infects and spreads in the Andbots, changing them into something dark.
I want to say more, but I simply don’t want to spoil the discovery that comes from reading it. I guess only the next book will explain all the mysteries that we are left with at the end. Mainly, who are the Andbots, what are the Andbots, and where did they come from? And what part will Nate and Danny ultimately play in their future?
Any age will enjoy this book, but middle school boys in particular need to get excited about this one!
Ecksdot, pronounced X-dot, is one creative adventure. The main character is a six-grader named Nate, who loves to spend time in his imagination. He dreams about being a superhero and is bored by the mundane routine of school and his new neighbor, Danny, who is uncool and trying to be his friend. “I wanted to be a hero. That’s all I wanted in the whole world. But I was surrounded by stupid every-day sort of stuff. Like school. And friggin Danny.” I was blown away with how Washburn nailed the mind of a six-grader. It was simply fantastic. You will be a kid again, reading this book. I know I was.
Nate develops a love-hate relationship with Danny. Danny loves the pictures Nate draws of robots and likes to pretend with Nate that the robots are real and on a special mission. But at the same time, Danny is kinda weird, and Nate worries about his reputation among the other kids at school.
In alternating chapters, we are made aware of an actual group of invisible, human-like robot beings called “Andbots”. One of the Andbots, Eckdot, wants to make contact with Nate, even though it has never been done before. Humans can’t see or hear Andbots. He believes Nate might be able to help. The Andbots don’t know why they are on earth, or how they got there, but someone, an enemy, is infecting them one by one with a deadly virus. When Nate falls asleep one night, Ecksdot enters the nightmare Nate is having and tries to talk to him, showing him a barn and an object that he will find if he goes to the barn. Nate remembers the robot from the dream and drags a willing Danny to explore a big white barn near his home. Nate realizes the barn is the exact one from his dream, and after some drama from being caught breaking into the barn, they eventually return and get inside, finding the exact object the “robot man” had shown him. Nate’s dreams were becoming reality -“My dream is real.”
The book takes Nate and Danny further and further into discovering the Andbots and the evil they are fighting against. Washburn uses some hand drawn illustrations to enhance the story (think “The Book Thief”). There’s other cool stuff, like how each Andbot got its unique name (ie; Ecksdot, Jeepers). You’ll discover how they are powered by invisible purple crystals that grow on earth, how the red virus infects and spreads in the Andbots, changing them into something dark.
I want to say more, but I simply don’t want to spoil the discovery that comes from reading it. I guess only the next book will explain all the mysteries that we are left with at the end. Mainly, who are the Andbots, what are the Andbots, and where did they come from? And what part will Nate and Danny ultimately play in their future?
Any age will enjoy this book, but middle school boys in particular need to get excited about this one!
September 19, 2014
Great book!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews