Robot Island

by Cary Fagan

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, and 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?

Genres: Middle Grade, Friendship, Fiction, Fantasy, Audiobook, Science Fiction, Childrens

280 pages, Hardcover

Published October 14, 2025

About the author

Cary Fagan has written numerous books for children, including What Are You Doing, Benny?, Little Blue Chair and Mr. Zinger's Hat, which was awarded the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award and the IODE Jean Throop Award. He has also won the Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People for his body of work. Cary was born and raised in Toronto, where he continues to live with his family.

Reviews

[Tracey Schauf King · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC: we were able to the audio version of this story. My children 8 and 10 adored this book. It was something that kept us all completely engaged during our roadtrip!

[Engel Dreizehn · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC COPY...Thought it was timeless complete with an evil family member, a kind protagonist, his circle of friends and allies plus...one magical place lost to time.

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

🐉🤖Space dragons, middle-school chaos, and lonely robots: My brain is officially on an emotional roller coaster, and I loved every second!

Reading The Last Dragon on Mars, Honestly Elliott, and Robot Island back to back felt like I’d been dropped into three totally different worlds: one full of space dragons, one full of messy middle-school feelings, and one full of lonely robots waiting to wake up. Somehow, each story scratched a completely different itch in my readerly heart, and I absolutely loved the weird little emotional roller coaster it created.

First stop: Mars. And not the shiny, NASA-poster Mars oh no. Scott Reintgen gives us the rusted, cursed, storm-ravaged version where kids like Lunar Jones keep their heads down and their hopes lower. I was so invested in Lunar’s gritty salvage runs, the old legends of dragons in the stars, and the desperate sense that Mars itself is trying to spit humanity back out. And when Lunar discovers what’s hidden underground? I practically screamed. Dragons. On. Mars. I would like to formally thank the author for this gift.

Then I crash-landed back on Earth into Honestly Elliott, and suddenly the biggest threat wasn’t planetary extinction but Elliott’s spiraling ADHD, crumbling confidence, and a school project that could either save or end him. Honestly? Pun absolutely intended! Elliott’s chaotic brain, his love of cooking, his fear of disappointing his dad all of it made me want to wrap him in a giant apron and feed him cookies. Watching him team up with Maribel, who’s also figuring out her place in the world, felt like watching two puzzle pieces click into place. Messy? Yes. Heartwarming? Extra yes.

Finally, I rowed my way into Robot Island, and the vibe shifted again mysterious, slightly eerie, and weirdly tender. Poor Willis! Living with his terrible uncle, trying to outrun trouble, and then stumbling across a forgotten 1950s robot town that feels equal parts magical and melancholy. Add in a lonely widow, stolen books, and robots waiting to power back on, and suddenly I was emotionally compromised for the third time in one day. I kept whispering, “Please be friendly robots, please be friendly robots” like that would influence the outcome.

Put together, these three books reminded me that adventure doesn’t have to look the same. Sometimes it’s flying across galaxies on the back of a dragon. Sometimes it’s learning to speak up for yourself. Sometimes it’s finding a family in the most unlikely possibly mechanical places.

⚡️Thank you Tundra Books, Cary Fagan, Bloomsbury Children's Books, Gillian McDunn, Aladdin, and Scott Reintgen for sharing these books with me!

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly a terrific sci-fi look at family-the worst of them, wonderful ones, and finally-found ones!

Twelve year old Willis’ parents were killed when he was only 4 and since then has lived with a bachelor, book-selling, cranky uncle he never met before the lawyer handed him off to live in a loveless home filled with dusty and relatively worthless titles, completing endless odd jobs and never being allowed to spend time with the only two friends he has-Harrison and Galaxi. One of the jobs assigned to him is to read to an elderly woman after school daily and just about the time Willis realizes that he is actually enjoying the reading and Mrs Shorthouse’s company, Uncle Tod manipulates him into stealing valuable first editions from her husband’s extensive library. In an effort to flee from his thieving for at least a few hours, Willis goes exploring and finds Mr Shorthouse’s experimental town worked by robots but abandoned by its residents and seeks refuge in one of the homes. The attention he receives from a robot there is a direct contrast to coldness of his Uncle’s disregard. As Willis experiences the first genuine care he can remember, Uncle Tod frantically searches for him to gain possession of the last stolen first edition and friends Harrison, Galaxi and a few new friends made while reading to Mrs Shorthouse also try to find him. Throughout the search, various family structures are revealed and the need of both robots and people to feel needed, productive and loved woven throughout everyone’s story.

Fagan’s Robot Island is filled with characters that evoke strong feelings and their diversity will certainly allow readers to make real connection to at least one of them. Willis may live a sad life, but he does not come across as weak or pitiful and all will be rooting for him to find his happily ever after. Shorthouse’s robots are rudimentary if compared to today’s engineering and AI possibilities, but with author Fagan’s attention, they come across as capable and somehow possessing bits of human emotion such as caring, a sense of justice and the pleasure in play.

Great choice for those who enjoy reading science fiction, a bit of friend drama and books encompassing the hope for love and family.

Target audience: grades 5-7 (relatively low page count makes this a winner for all types of readers)
Profanity: none
Violence: some chase scenes and Willis is not well cared for but neglect only, no detailed abuse
Sexual content: none
Representation: physical descriptions are sparse, leaving race pretty unspecified except in the case of Korean-American Harrison Choi;
LBGTQ+: Galaxi asks Harrison to be her boyfriend but he says that as a fifth grader, he just wants to think about friendships and if truth be told, is not sure if he likes girls or boys but really wants to decide all that later.

Thanks for the print arc, Penguin Random House/Tundra Books.

[Amanda (spooky.octopus.reads) Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

🤖𝙍𝙤𝙗𝙤𝙩 𝙄𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 // 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘍𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘯⁣
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Twelve year old Willis has lived with his cold (evil villian’esque) uncle Tod in his rundown house full of old books for as long as he can remember. Willis is a good kid- does well in school and has a couple of close friends, Harrison and Galaxi, whom his uncle doesn’t really allow him to hang out with. Instead, his uncle essentially just demands that Willis begin a new after school job of sorts reading to a wealthy, elderly widow, Mrs. Shorthouse. She had an impressive collection of rare classic books, including very valuable first editions. Uncle Tod, being the conniving individual that he is, orders Willis to begin stealing the books, one by one, from Mrs. Shorthouse (*cue the maniacal laughter and hand wringing*). Willis actually likes reading to Mrs. Shorthouse and morally wrestles with this directive, but ultimately caves to his uncles’s wishes, which you can imagine leads to big trouble for Willis.⁣
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Oh yeah- and the robots…so on his way home one day, Willis finds a rowboat at the waterfront and rows out to a small island in the bay. He discovers an abandoned 1950s town (talk about vibes 🧑‍🍳💋) full of “vintage” robots. Naturally, curiosity takes over when he finds a power station and he flips the big switch. The entire town comes to life…the town that was once run entirely by the robots! ⁣
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So combine the magic of “Robot Island” and the conundrum Willis has now found himself in while working with Mrs. Shorthouse, and we have a heartwarming and absorbing story. I did really enjoy the story and would have loved some more time spent on the island. I thought the 1950s time capsule was just fun! ⁣
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Yes, as hinted at in a few places, there are some similarities to 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘙𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘵, although I thought that Roz was a much more likeable robot who really tugged at my heartstrings. The Nathan and Elsie robots in this one just seemed very mechanical and sterile- very robotic, whereas it seemed as if Roz developed a mechanicalized form of humanity. So yes, there are similarities, buuut- they just aren’t the same. ⁣
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🖤🖤🖤💕/5⁣ (rounded up for GR)
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*Thank you to @librofm for this ALC copy! #gifted #librofminfluencer

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

For most of his life, twelve-year-old Willis has lived in the cluttered bookstore owned by his Uncle Tod–his only living relative. Though relatively unappreciated at home, Willis has two close friends at school and does his best to be a good student. One day, Willis is instructed to begin reading to an elderly widow in town–a woman who happens to have a library filled with valuable books. But when Uncle Tod forces Willis to begin stealing the woman’s books, everything in Willis's life begins to shift, and he must ultimately determine where his true loyalties lie. This contemplative middle grade novel blends recognizable themes of isolation and self-discovery with a clever science-fiction setting. Told primarily from Willis's point of view in the first person, the novel presents the story in a way that helps readers better comprehend Willis’s unique circumstances. Brief chapters and occasional visual inclusions help to propel the narrative, and authentic interpersonal relationships make the story feel real to young readers. Though the novel requires some foundation to be laid before the heart of the plot appears, the narrative is compelling enough in its increasing dramatic tension to keep readers engaged. Friendship, trust, and the strength of one’s moral compass are strong themes in this book, and readers of all ages will come away from the narrative with a more multifaceted understanding of the complexities of the world. This is a thoughtful addition to library collections for confident middle grade readers.

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free advanced copy of this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

Robot Island is a fun middle grade mystery story with a scifi twist. Willis has lived with his horrible Uncle since his parents died in an accident. His Uncle runs a failing book store and gets Willis a job reading to a rich older widow Mrs. Shorthouse after school. Soon Willis realized his Uncle got him this job so he can start stealing rare and expensive books from her that he can sell for thousands of dollars. In the meantime Willis learns about Robot Island, which is a place Mrs. Shorthouse’s husband created years ago that was eventually abandoned. It is literally an island run by robots, but they are old school 1950s models that only have knowledge of the world up until the mid-1950s. When Willis is caught stealing the books for his Uncle he escapes to Robot Island and turns on the electricity. That’s when the robots come to life and start taking care of Willis. With the help of his human and robot friends he eventually clears his name. I think middle grade kids would really like this story. The best parts are when Willis turns Robot Island back on and the robots start taking care of him. I wish we got more insight about Robot Island and how it came about. It would be interesting to have a second book that follows up with the future of Robot Island.

[YSBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willis has little time for recreation or his two best friends, Harrison and Galaxi. Unlike his peers, he is forbidden from having friends visit, attending sleepovers, or participating in typical middle-school activities. Instead, his uncle Tod, expects him to earn his keep by working after school, cooking, cleaning, and managing the book shop. To make matters worse, Willis hates reading – until he is forced to read to Mrs. Shorthouse. Compelled to follow his uncle’s commands, he makes a series of poor choices that ultimately lead to a life-changing discovery, a complete town run by robots. The main character is well-written and relatable for middle schoolers, who will sympathize with his plight and wince at every bad decision Willis makes. Readers will become absorbed in the story and struggle to put it down as Fagan makes the domino effect of consequences feel authentic and compelling. Themes of friendship and obedience to one’s caregiver resonate throughout the novel and Fagan’s dynamic pacing will keep readers invested until the final page. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Bobi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to LibraryThing and Tundra Books for this ARC.

Twelve-year-old Willis lives with his cold Uncle Tod. Uncle Tod essentially hires him out to do various jobs, this time to read to a rich widow, Mrs. Shorthouse. Willis really likes Mrs. Shorthouse and enjoys reading with her, but Uncle Tod wants Willis to steal some her valuable books. One day, on his way home, Willis rows out to the island in the bay. He discovers an abandoned town with everything from the 1950’s, including square-headed robots. Continuing his explorations, Willis finds the power station and flips a big switch. This sparks an adventure for Willis, and somehow, this is related to Mrs. Shorthouse.

This is a very enjoyable middle grade book about friendship. I will add this to my middle school classroom library. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fun, adventurous stories, no matter what age. (Adults can read middle grade too!)

I have seen some reviews claiming this is a "rip off" of the Wild Robot. I disagree. The author may have been inspired by that story, but this book stands on its own feet. Read it!

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Willis has lived with his uncle for many years, ever since his parents died in a car accident. Willis's Uncle Todd is not a very caring person, though; in fact, he hires Willis out for all kinds of after school jobs to supplement the almost nonexistent income from his bookstore filled with moldering paperbacks. Willis has two very good friends from school despite his lack of free time, though, so life is okay. One day, Uncle Todd hires Willis out for no pay to an elderly but very wealthy old lady; he is to be her after school reading companion. Then the unthinkable happens--Uncle Todd directs Willis to break the law and Willis does, but he can't take the guilt so he runs away to a long-forgotten and neglected social experiment--Robot Island. The story of how Willis navigates his family relationship and friendships as well as trying to do his best to be honest and trustworthy is an engaging and readable tale of growing up and taking responsibility. I had a lot of fun reading about Willis's adventures, especially with robots caught in a time warp.

[Liz Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An overall enjoyable read that will resonate with younger middle grade readers. Although not a fast paced book, the plot moves along steadily and has enough happening to keep readers engaged. Honestly Robot Island is a place I would like to visit!

I took away a star because I was disappointed by the execution of the side plot of one of the characters questioning whether he might be gay - it felt incredibly inauthentic. It did not fit in with the rest of the story at all and felt very much like a late addition to the story by an editor who felt the need to “check boxes”. It was done in such a jarring way that it did not make any sense at all and it pulled me out of the story. I love own voice books and diverse representation in books for all ages but unfortunately this was neither of those things.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a promising storyline but falls flat in execution. An island of robots that has been hidden away for decades? That's seriously cool. Additionally, all of the references to classic literature make this a great book for us bibliophiles.

What's not cool however is the way the author switches first person narratives halfway through the book. It was confusing, and seemed super strange since the first 130+pages were from the main character's POV.

Another not-cool thing was the inclusion of one character's thoughts on whether or not he might be gay. It was very blatant and mentioned several times when the POV was on this character. This really shouldn't be included in a juvenile book, and it doesn't even play into the main plot at all.

[Beth Mendelsohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Tundra Books and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Twelve-year-old Willis was orphaned at a young age and lives with his cold Uncle Tod. His uncle doesn’t let him do any things a twelve-year old would enjoy, including hanging out with his best friends Harrison and Galaxi. Tod presented Willis with an opportunity to read to a rich, old widow, Mrs. Shorthouse. Uncle Tod had an ulterior motive in mind for Willis but Willis actually enjoyed reading the classic books to her. One day, on his way home, Willis goes down to the waterfront and finds an old rowboat and rows out to the island in the bay. He discovers an abandoned town with everything from the 1950’s, including old robots. Continuing his explorations, Willis finds the power station and flips a big switch. What happens next changes everything for Willis.

This was an enjoyable story seemingly inspired by The Wild Robot. Chapters are relatively short and the story moves quickly. Some things to me seemed a bit far-fetched but I am not the target audience. I would recommend this book for grades 4 – 6.
#RobotIsland #NetGalley

[Dave Suiter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willis is a great kid, overburdened by responsibilities that kids just shouldn’t have. So, when his wicked uncle tricks him into stealing priceless books, Willis needs to run and what better place to go than Robot Island where he won’t have a care in the world. But giving up all responsibility leads to some self-discovery for Willis that helps him come to terms with taking control of his life. Cary Fagan’s “Robot Island” is a treasure and a book that should be enjoyed by all generations.

[Justin Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok story with some interesting parts. The moving to different characters perspective 1/3rd of the way into the story makes the side characters not as interesting. The bring up of Harrison's sexual preference brought nothing to the story and was pretty pointless. Felt like fluff for an already slow moving plot.

[Bruce Jacobs]

Dickens-like story of an orphan lost in the world. Asked by his guardian to steal from the rich widow that he's befriended, he escapes to Robot Island and learns important lessons of loyalty and friendship.

Read as an adult, there are chunks that I could not relate to and found it difficult to accept. From the perspective of the target audience, these are probably easily overlooked.

[Heather Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful story of adventure and found family.

[Lux · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, it can be read on so many levels.
A heart-warming adventure that makes you think about values like honesty, care, friendship.

[Zack M · Rating 5 out of 5]

slow in the beginging then very very good.

[Flynn Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book with an evil uncle, loyal friends and an island full of robots! Almost as good as Harry Potter! It’s amazing, and I want a sequel!