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The Second Life of Snap
Twelve-year-old Zuzu Santos doesn’t want a robot. She and her best friends, otherwise known as “the Valleycats,” would rather explore Bright Valley on their own. But then Zuzu meets Snap, a know-it-all guardian robot with a limited battery life and an abundance of hope.
Bright Valley Subsidized Camp #5 is not a perfect place to live. It’s dusty, there are no trees to provide respite from the beating sun, the trailers are falling apart, and the water supply is heavily rationed. But to twelve-year-old Zuzu Santos and her three best friends, Bright Valley is home.
When Zuzu’s dad loses his job at Lockwood, the corporation that controls everything from rations to education, he isn’t given money or food or water as severance, but a dated, first-generation robot. They do not provide a working charging station. Zuzu names the robot Snap, and he soon becomes part of the Bright Valley family. But Snap’s battery is dwindling every day, and though Snap is prepared for his inevitable reset, Zuzu isn’t. She would do whatever it takes to keep Snap alive. The problem is, Snap would do the same for Zuzu and her friends, no matter the cost.
Bright Valley Subsidized Camp #5 is not a perfect place to live. It’s dusty, there are no trees to provide respite from the beating sun, the trailers are falling apart, and the water supply is heavily rationed. But to twelve-year-old Zuzu Santos and her three best friends, Bright Valley is home.
When Zuzu’s dad loses his job at Lockwood, the corporation that controls everything from rations to education, he isn’t given money or food or water as severance, but a dated, first-generation robot. They do not provide a working charging station. Zuzu names the robot Snap, and he soon becomes part of the Bright Valley family. But Snap’s battery is dwindling every day, and though Snap is prepared for his inevitable reset, Zuzu isn’t. She would do whatever it takes to keep Snap alive. The problem is, Snap would do the same for Zuzu and her friends, no matter the cost.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published May 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews
May 28, 2026
Here's the thing, I think I enjoy when Erin Entrada Kelly writes realistic fiction. I seem to struggle a little bit more when she dives into genre fiction i.e. horror, sci-fi. This has an interesting premise, but falters a little in execution.
What Worked: The author's note for this book provides great insight to better understanding why Kelly decided to write this book. It tackles complex themes like grief, conservation, capitalism the use of A.I. and more. It's timely and does an excellent job paralleling the various conversations about the ethical and/or non-ethical use of A.I. Utilizing this book as a broad introduction to current issues will work in certain classrooms. Young readers will find the characters and the dystopian background fascinating.
What Didn't Work: As many readers stated before me, this book does not live up to the emotional impact expected from the author's note. I thought that my read of this would pull on my heartstrings, but I had a pretty mediocre reaction. The pacing is slow and tedious which leads to the book feeling both boring and uneventful. Honestly, this is a case of intention versus impact. Though the current events feel well represented, tying these events to the characters and plot faltered leading to a flat story.
Overall, I am pretty disappointed about this read. I expected a little more from this based on the premise.
What Worked: The author's note for this book provides great insight to better understanding why Kelly decided to write this book. It tackles complex themes like grief, conservation, capitalism the use of A.I. and more. It's timely and does an excellent job paralleling the various conversations about the ethical and/or non-ethical use of A.I. Utilizing this book as a broad introduction to current issues will work in certain classrooms. Young readers will find the characters and the dystopian background fascinating.
What Didn't Work: As many readers stated before me, this book does not live up to the emotional impact expected from the author's note. I thought that my read of this would pull on my heartstrings, but I had a pretty mediocre reaction. The pacing is slow and tedious which leads to the book feeling both boring and uneventful. Honestly, this is a case of intention versus impact. Though the current events feel well represented, tying these events to the characters and plot faltered leading to a flat story.
Overall, I am pretty disappointed about this read. I expected a little more from this based on the premise.
April 18, 2026
Review of arc from NetGalley
It is not very often that I come across a book that I consider basically perfect, but when I do that book lingers in my mind for a long time. The Second Life of Snap is one such book. I rarely read dystopian books, no matter the age group. But I have a soft spot for robots, so I decided to give this a chance and what I found was a beautifully written, heartwarming story about love, friendship, and the importance of helping each other in order to survive and thrive.
While the book has a difficult setting with the characters dealing with things like poverty, classism, climate change, the dangers of AI, loss, and government-enforced censorship, the author deals with these subjects in a gentle, realistic way that doesn’t scare children but also does not talk down to them.
Zuzu, Snap, and their friend group are all relatable, interesting characters who it is easy to become fond of and the setting is vivid without overwhelming the reader with too many details. I read this book in one sitting. It was a short, easy read with no moments where I felt like it was too slow. The end is a mix of bittersweet and hopeful.
I think my favorite thing about this book, besides Snap, whom I loved, is that it is a story the author wrote to comfort herself in a difficult time in her life. Stories have existed for as long as people have and for me that’s one of the main purposes of them; something to give us hope and help us keep going even when it’s hard.
I hope others love this book as much as I did. It was the first and only book I’ve read by Erin Entrada Kelly so I can’t wait to remedy that.
It is not very often that I come across a book that I consider basically perfect, but when I do that book lingers in my mind for a long time. The Second Life of Snap is one such book. I rarely read dystopian books, no matter the age group. But I have a soft spot for robots, so I decided to give this a chance and what I found was a beautifully written, heartwarming story about love, friendship, and the importance of helping each other in order to survive and thrive.
While the book has a difficult setting with the characters dealing with things like poverty, classism, climate change, the dangers of AI, loss, and government-enforced censorship, the author deals with these subjects in a gentle, realistic way that doesn’t scare children but also does not talk down to them.
Zuzu, Snap, and their friend group are all relatable, interesting characters who it is easy to become fond of and the setting is vivid without overwhelming the reader with too many details. I read this book in one sitting. It was a short, easy read with no moments where I felt like it was too slow. The end is a mix of bittersweet and hopeful.
I think my favorite thing about this book, besides Snap, whom I loved, is that it is a story the author wrote to comfort herself in a difficult time in her life. Stories have existed for as long as people have and for me that’s one of the main purposes of them; something to give us hope and help us keep going even when it’s hard.
I hope others love this book as much as I did. It was the first and only book I’ve read by Erin Entrada Kelly so I can’t wait to remedy that.
January 30, 2026
I would like to thank HarperCollins Publishers and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to preview The Second Life of Snap by Erin Entrada Kelly in exchange for my sincere review. This story felt like a warm hug on a snowy January day. I wish SNAP could be my guardian robot. This story would be perfect for fans of Wall E and The Wild Robot!
This story follows Zuzu and her friends as they experience a hard life on the outskirts of a more developed community. As they navigate their lives, this is a story of survival and friendship. Set in the future, robots are everywhere and are being used to control society.
Skeptical at first, Zuzu discovers a true friend in a robot named SNAP.
I would recommend this story to younger readers (upper elementary to sixth grade). It was a quick read and the characters were relatable. I was so engulfed in the story, however I was hoping for a longer, more developed ending.
Can’t wait to share this story with my students!
This story follows Zuzu and her friends as they experience a hard life on the outskirts of a more developed community. As they navigate their lives, this is a story of survival and friendship. Set in the future, robots are everywhere and are being used to control society.
Skeptical at first, Zuzu discovers a true friend in a robot named SNAP.
I would recommend this story to younger readers (upper elementary to sixth grade). It was a quick read and the characters were relatable. I was so engulfed in the story, however I was hoping for a longer, more developed ending.
Can’t wait to share this story with my students!
May 26, 2026
In a dystopian west Texas desert, climate change and capitalism have decimated Bright Valley. Zuzu's mom, like so many of the valley dwellers, has died of a dust-induced lung disease. Zuzu's dad is laid off from his job at Lockwood, a Big Tech company that has monopolized the industry. As a severance package, he's gifted an outdated guardian robot with no way to charge it. Twelve-year-old Zuzu is too old for a robot babysitter -- and she's wary to trust a robot when she's sure that the robots are the cause of civilization's downfall. But Snap's loyalty and heart show that he belongs in the community, too.
This was reminiscent of a more mature Wild Robot. I appreciated the theme of community in this book.
There were some complex themes in this book that felt so relevant. I'm reading this in May 2026, when politicians and billionaires are signing off to build massive data centers, destroying our environment and accelerating the reach of artificial intelligence which is replacing so many entry level jobs. I admire a middle grade book for seeking to address such weighty concerns.
This was reminiscent of a more mature Wild Robot. I appreciated the theme of community in this book.
There were some complex themes in this book that felt so relevant. I'm reading this in May 2026, when politicians and billionaires are signing off to build massive data centers, destroying our environment and accelerating the reach of artificial intelligence which is replacing so many entry level jobs. I admire a middle grade book for seeking to address such weighty concerns.
June 8, 2026
now I wanna watch The Iron Giant
July 14, 2026
For such a short little book it sure made me feel a whole heck of a lot. 🥹 Snap and Zuzu (and all the other ValleyCats’)’s stories speak on all kinds of things I think about in the here and now: how we treat each other, what it looks like when a government works to divide rather than bring together, the use of AI, the devotion of parents to their children, and what to do with the finite time we have to live.
July 6, 2026
Oh, I adored this.
May 19, 2026
2.5 rounded to a 3 for GR
I have mixed feelings about this book. The writing is fine. The characters are sweet. The book as a whole is weird. It's essentially what you'd get if you mixed The Wild Robot with Out of the Dust. It's WAAAAAAAY too short and it doesn't seem to really have things to say.
Zuzu is a child who lives in a camp (what we would call a trailer park). Her mother died of what we are told was a preventable disease and her father is struggling to maintain their meager life. Her friends are all in the same boat. And the entire thing is caused by the corporation that owns the land they live on (which is on the outskirts of what is essentially a company-town). It's clear that the company has the means to make life better for the people living outside of it's company town. It is also clear that the reason Zuzu and her friends live in a barren wasteland is BECAUSE of the company using up resources and hoarding. This is only acknowledged by one character who is later treated as being in the wrong because this ONE robot is "good".
"Do you understand what Lockwood is doing? They pushed us into a wasteland and built themselves a shelterbelt with a storm wall. They spread all the camps apart so we can't communicate. They took away our health care. They don't pay a living wage but expect us to be grateful for their scraps. They ration our food and water. We don't even have emergency services or a basic hospital." (Ch. 22)
But NONE of the book explores how to make life better. How to hold the company accountable for what they've done to the citizens. The quote doesn't mention this, but they also have drones patrolling to keep them from speaking in anything but fluent English, which is racist and controlling. They don't even seem particularly angry at the company, but at the robots the company made, which seems odd when they own EVERYTHING. The existence of an evil entity without any resolution to that problem is odd to me.
The rules of how the robot works also aren't consistent. When the battery dies, they aren't supposed to remember anything. And yet, the robot remembers specific employees that he shouldn't even be certain are still employed, the code to a door that could've been changed, the security cycle that again...could've been changed, and what is contained in the room. How does he know how much time has passed? How does he know this information is up to date? But the plot HINGES on this all being accurate.
I'm really uncomfortable with a book that glorifies robots meant to take jobs from people while highlighting the suffering of Zuzu and her loved ones because of the company that creates them with zero accountability for the harm caused in a climate where we are seeing attempts to do the same in real life. Snap is a likable character, but this should be a warning tale, not a sweet friendship tale. The world Zuzu lives in shouldn't be one anyone is okay with and the fact this is getting some Newbery buzz is wild to me. I, once again, believe this is based on name recognition and not the merits of the book. It doesn't say anything. It doesn't show changes being made. It's entirely too short to even TRY to do so. It just...exists.
I have mixed feelings about this book. The writing is fine. The characters are sweet. The book as a whole is weird. It's essentially what you'd get if you mixed The Wild Robot with Out of the Dust. It's WAAAAAAAY too short and it doesn't seem to really have things to say.
Zuzu is a child who lives in a camp (what we would call a trailer park). Her mother died of what we are told was a preventable disease and her father is struggling to maintain their meager life. Her friends are all in the same boat. And the entire thing is caused by the corporation that owns the land they live on (which is on the outskirts of what is essentially a company-town). It's clear that the company has the means to make life better for the people living outside of it's company town. It is also clear that the reason Zuzu and her friends live in a barren wasteland is BECAUSE of the company using up resources and hoarding. This is only acknowledged by one character who is later treated as being in the wrong because this ONE robot is "good".
"Do you understand what Lockwood is doing? They pushed us into a wasteland and built themselves a shelterbelt with a storm wall. They spread all the camps apart so we can't communicate. They took away our health care. They don't pay a living wage but expect us to be grateful for their scraps. They ration our food and water. We don't even have emergency services or a basic hospital." (Ch. 22)
But NONE of the book explores how to make life better. How to hold the company accountable for what they've done to the citizens. The quote doesn't mention this, but they also have drones patrolling to keep them from speaking in anything but fluent English, which is racist and controlling. They don't even seem particularly angry at the company, but at the robots the company made, which seems odd when they own EVERYTHING. The existence of an evil entity without any resolution to that problem is odd to me.
The rules of how the robot works also aren't consistent. When the battery dies, they aren't supposed to remember anything. And yet, the robot remembers specific employees that he shouldn't even be certain are still employed, the code to a door that could've been changed, the security cycle that again...could've been changed, and what is contained in the room. How does he know how much time has passed? How does he know this information is up to date? But the plot HINGES on this all being accurate.
I'm really uncomfortable with a book that glorifies robots meant to take jobs from people while highlighting the suffering of Zuzu and her loved ones because of the company that creates them with zero accountability for the harm caused in a climate where we are seeing attempts to do the same in real life. Snap is a likable character, but this should be a warning tale, not a sweet friendship tale. The world Zuzu lives in shouldn't be one anyone is okay with and the fact this is getting some Newbery buzz is wild to me. I, once again, believe this is based on name recognition and not the merits of the book. It doesn't say anything. It doesn't show changes being made. It's entirely too short to even TRY to do so. It just...exists.
June 15, 2026
It was fine. The bones for a powerful commentary and moving story were there, but it felt underdeveloped and ideologically confused. The environmental and class commentary was interesting, but I was left wanting more in so many ways. I wanted more information on the relationships between the dusties' settlements, the underground rebellion against Lockwood, and the interplay between dusties and bounties. I wanted to know more about Zuzu's family history, the technology governing their schooling, the other Valleycats' backstories, and so much more. I understand the constraints of a middle grades book, but to introduce so many promising threads without weaving an artful tapestry just seems like a waste of string.
The story implies that the exponential growth of tech led to the massive disparity in resources and cultural capital between the sects, but these implications deserve greater narrative significance. The climactic dust storm highlights not only the desertification Lockwood has caused but the medical negligence that they enact upon the working-class people they've pushed into the wasteland. But this plays a backseat to Snap's "death," which in and of itself feels rushed and anticlimactic.
The socially conscious themes are not only underdeveloped, they are confusing. Snap, through Elias's engineering, becomes quasi-human. He seeks out human experiences like taste or feeling, aligns himself with the Valleycats, and eschews his corporate parents. Jailbroken, the reader finds the good in Snap. But what does that mean? If Lockwood is a stand-in for the AI companies that are causing environmental destruction, job loss, and the dehumanization of human forums, are we to think that AI, like Snap, can be heroic and quasi-human, too? Should we believe there is a hidden conscience in the exploitative and destructive technology that companies like Lockwood are profiting off of?
The story was sweetly sentimental, and Snap was affable, despite the questionable ideological foundations of his character, but there was just so much left behind. If the story was 100 pages longer, I think Kelly could've had the chance to build up some of those narrative and thematic elements that had so much promise. Not bad, but disappointing. If you're looking for something similar in adult fiction, check out In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune.
The story implies that the exponential growth of tech led to the massive disparity in resources and cultural capital between the sects, but these implications deserve greater narrative significance. The climactic dust storm highlights not only the desertification Lockwood has caused but the medical negligence that they enact upon the working-class people they've pushed into the wasteland. But this plays a backseat to Snap's "death," which in and of itself feels rushed and anticlimactic.
The socially conscious themes are not only underdeveloped, they are confusing. Snap, through Elias's engineering, becomes quasi-human. He seeks out human experiences like taste or feeling, aligns himself with the Valleycats, and eschews his corporate parents. Jailbroken, the reader finds the good in Snap. But what does that mean? If Lockwood is a stand-in for the AI companies that are causing environmental destruction, job loss, and the dehumanization of human forums, are we to think that AI, like Snap, can be heroic and quasi-human, too? Should we believe there is a hidden conscience in the exploitative and destructive technology that companies like Lockwood are profiting off of?
The story was sweetly sentimental, and Snap was affable, despite the questionable ideological foundations of his character, but there was just so much left behind. If the story was 100 pages longer, I think Kelly could've had the chance to build up some of those narrative and thematic elements that had so much promise. Not bad, but disappointing. If you're looking for something similar in adult fiction, check out In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune.
July 15, 2026
Calling it now: this will be in my students' top three for Mock Newbery this year. I do feel like Erin Entrada Kelly should maybe give other people a turn to write excellent award-winning middle grade fiction, but what are you gonna do? When you're good, you're good. And she's one of the greats.
There is so much story and so much heart packed into the 164 pages of SNAP. Short novels can easily end up feeling like an incomplete sketch, but done well, they're a favorite format for me. (See MAGNOLIA WU UNFOLDS IT ALL by Chanel Miller, my favorite kid lit novel of 2024.) I think of Kelly as a long-form girlie, and even found her latest Newbery winner a tad bloated, but she truly proves her craft in SNAP. She is so masterful at telegraphing emotion and humor that characters are all fully realized and quickly beloved, so deft with her pacing that the plot clicks along while still giving the world-building and existential questions plenty of room to breathe.
I will admit that I had my doubts when there were 20 pages left and we hadn't hit anything resembling a climax, especially because I could tell one was building. How was she going to pull this off?! By tearing through plot and ripping out heartstrings like a friendly robot determined to help its buddies escape peril at great personal cost, that's how! I was sobbing, y'all. Both from the emotional impact, and the skill and giftedness it takes to tell a story so well.
But I'm just a grown-up. Will kids like it? I've been wrong before, but one of the ways I assess "kid appeal" is whether I start imagining how I would read the book out loud to students -- and how they would react. There were parts of SNAP where I could picture everyone erupting with laughter. Parts where it would be so quiet you could hear a pin drop. And parts where several of us would have tears tracking down our cheeks, the rest with faces full of astonishment and awe. That's how I know this is a winner. I can't wait to get it into kids' hands and talk about it with them!!
There is so much story and so much heart packed into the 164 pages of SNAP. Short novels can easily end up feeling like an incomplete sketch, but done well, they're a favorite format for me. (See MAGNOLIA WU UNFOLDS IT ALL by Chanel Miller, my favorite kid lit novel of 2024.) I think of Kelly as a long-form girlie, and even found her latest Newbery winner a tad bloated, but she truly proves her craft in SNAP. She is so masterful at telegraphing emotion and humor that characters are all fully realized and quickly beloved, so deft with her pacing that the plot clicks along while still giving the world-building and existential questions plenty of room to breathe.
I will admit that I had my doubts when there were 20 pages left and we hadn't hit anything resembling a climax, especially because I could tell one was building. How was she going to pull this off?! By tearing through plot and ripping out heartstrings like a friendly robot determined to help its buddies escape peril at great personal cost, that's how! I was sobbing, y'all. Both from the emotional impact, and the skill and giftedness it takes to tell a story so well.
But I'm just a grown-up. Will kids like it? I've been wrong before, but one of the ways I assess "kid appeal" is whether I start imagining how I would read the book out loud to students -- and how they would react. There were parts of SNAP where I could picture everyone erupting with laughter. Parts where it would be so quiet you could hear a pin drop. And parts where several of us would have tears tracking down our cheeks, the rest with faces full of astonishment and awe. That's how I know this is a winner. I can't wait to get it into kids' hands and talk about it with them!!
August 15, 2026
Very good introduction to the concept of dystopic fiction for middle graders. I often find that knowledge around ideas behind a dystopia can be either taken for granted or overplayed in this age range, but I think this author has had an excellent (and light) touch, drawing the reader in rather than slamming them over the head or treating them like idiots.
I liked the AI good/evil and sentient/programmed interplay as well - nothing was concrete, which is pretty much where we're at in the world at large today!
CW: bullying
Middle Grade
Ages 10-12
I liked the AI good/evil and sentient/programmed interplay as well - nothing was concrete, which is pretty much where we're at in the world at large today!
CW: bullying
Middle Grade
Ages 10-12
May 26, 2026
This was just ok for me. With the authors note at the beginning I thought I was in for an emotional story...and I don't think I will remember this book tomorrow. It just made zero impact on me...everything was fine but maybe this just wasn't for me.
August 9, 2026
Great idea, but it ended kind of abruptly!
September 21, 2026
I really wanted to give this 5 stars but I really wanted more so was left unsatisfied, but I loved it!!!
August 7, 2026
Both an anti-AI story and a loveable robot story, whose setting is a world in crisis in many ways. Life has gone to hell, the climate is a mess, and large corporations are even more greedy than now, with the not wealthy living on the margins, and not well.
Into the life of young Zuzu Santos, one of those whose family and friends live on the margins, enters a robot, whom she dubs Snap. Initially, she hates it, thanks to all the anti-AI and anti-robot rhetoric that surrounds her, but Snap proves to be a gentle and kindly guardian of the girl. Its battery is also damaged, and gradually, its power reserve depletes till it can no longer function. But in the process, it helps Zuzu and her family and friends, and Zuzu becomes terribly fond of him. The story ends partly in tragedy, but also a wiser Zuzu.
I loved Snap, who was probably my favourite part of this dystopian, bittersweet story.
Into the life of young Zuzu Santos, one of those whose family and friends live on the margins, enters a robot, whom she dubs Snap. Initially, she hates it, thanks to all the anti-AI and anti-robot rhetoric that surrounds her, but Snap proves to be a gentle and kindly guardian of the girl. Its battery is also damaged, and gradually, its power reserve depletes till it can no longer function. But in the process, it helps Zuzu and her family and friends, and Zuzu becomes terribly fond of him. The story ends partly in tragedy, but also a wiser Zuzu.
I loved Snap, who was probably my favourite part of this dystopian, bittersweet story.
August 21, 2026
Quick, emotional, only 3 stars because I wanted more, the ending was too abrupt and felt incomplete to me.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Richie’s Picks: THE SECOND LIFE OF SNAP by Erin Entrada Kelly, HarperCollins/Greenwillow, May 2026, 176p., ISBN: 978-0-06-348595-2
“‘What function does it serve?’
Beany paused and cleared his throat. ‘Well…’
It was never a good sign when Beany paused and cleared his throat.
‘This is a guardian robot.’
Zuzu groaned. She stomped her foot, even though she knew it was immature. She couldn’t help it, though. She’d heard about guardian robots at school, and she was too old for a babysitter, robot or otherwise.
‘Seriously, Dad? If you were going to bring home a robot, you could’ve brought home one of the cool ones.’
Beany unlatched the box and pressed a button in the palm of the robot’s hand. In seconds, its mechanical eyes slid open.
Zuzu stepped back.
The robot looked strange standing there. It was silver, shining, and new. Bright Valley was dusty, brown, and shriveled. Once upon a time, it had been a lush, green national park, but those days were long gone. The relentless dust storms and rising temperatures had taken care of that.
‘Hello,’ the robot said. It stepped forward and focused on Zuzu. ‘You are SUSANNAH S., SCHOOLGIRL, LOWER WORKING CLASS.’ It turned to Beany. ‘And you are DAVID S., FORMER SECURITY PERSONNEL AT LOCKWOOD CORPORATION, LOWER WORKING CLASS.’
Zuzu raised an eyebrow, annoyed. ‘No one calls me Suzannah. Everyone calls me Zuzu.’
‘Why are you called Zuzu?’ the robot said.
‘Because I just am.’ She hated the robot already. He was so…robot-like. Stupid boring voice. Stupid mechanical body. ‘Also, no one calls my dad David. Everyone calls him Beany.’
The robot looked at Beany.
‘Why are you called Beany?’
‘Because he just is,’ Zuzu said.
There was an explanation, of course. When Zuzu was a little girl, she had often called her father a ‘big meanie” when she had tantrums. Somehow it became Beany. That was it. But she wouldn’t explain herself to a robot, of all things.
‘I will call you SUZANNAH and DAVID, as per my CPU,’ the robot said. ‘I am a FIRST GENERATION SECURE NETWORK ANDROID PROCESSOR. I am programmed to be a guardian. I can also assist with household chores, homework, and education.’ It studied Zuzu. ‘Are you my charge?’
‘Your what?’
‘A guardian typically has a charge. This is the person for whom they are responsible.’
‘No,’ said Zuzu.
‘Yes,’ said Beany.
‘I will assume yes, as my CPU tells me it is common for children to LIE,’ the robot said.
‘Well, my CPS tells me it’s common for robots to end up in a trash heap,’ Zuzu said.”
Thanks to the programming assistance of Zuzu Santos' tech-savvy schoolmate Elias, Snap (Secure Network Android Processor) the robot becomes more human-like in its thoughts and behavior, and becomes far more closely connected with Zuzu, who initially rejects the human-and-machine connection in which she finds herself.
THE SECOND LIFE OF SNAP is set in a harsh, future world, where climate change has brought about an ever-growing disparity between the wealthy and the poor. Here, there are “Bounties” (the rich and privileged folk) living in lush, resource- and technology-rich areas, while Zuzu and the other “Dusties” are an underclass living in isolated small groups, in beat-up old tin trailers, amidst harsh, climate-afflicted, desert-like environments of the future. The whole scene is governed by a corporation that has taken over.
Given the exceedingly quick transition here in San Francisco—where it seems that every fourth or fifth car you encounter on the road these days is driverless—I’m thoroughly primed for a similar, near-future society with robots underfoot. The story here begins with Zuzu’s dad losing his job to machines.
We are already seeing the beginning of what eventually could well become a tidal wave of human job losses at the hands of machines, as the reach of AI becomes clearer and is thoroughly exploited. This will surely affect the young readers who will embrace this wonderful tween-and-her-robot tale.
Finally, THE SECOND LIFE OF SNAP does not necessarily discuss, but thoroughly and impressively depicts the utter loss of any sense of human privacy. Have you noticed the many machines that film you these days, in the supermarket and elsewhere? They could well be part of a network tracking you, tracking everyone. So when that robot walks up to you…
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
“‘What function does it serve?’
Beany paused and cleared his throat. ‘Well…’
It was never a good sign when Beany paused and cleared his throat.
‘This is a guardian robot.’
Zuzu groaned. She stomped her foot, even though she knew it was immature. She couldn’t help it, though. She’d heard about guardian robots at school, and she was too old for a babysitter, robot or otherwise.
‘Seriously, Dad? If you were going to bring home a robot, you could’ve brought home one of the cool ones.’
Beany unlatched the box and pressed a button in the palm of the robot’s hand. In seconds, its mechanical eyes slid open.
Zuzu stepped back.
The robot looked strange standing there. It was silver, shining, and new. Bright Valley was dusty, brown, and shriveled. Once upon a time, it had been a lush, green national park, but those days were long gone. The relentless dust storms and rising temperatures had taken care of that.
‘Hello,’ the robot said. It stepped forward and focused on Zuzu. ‘You are SUSANNAH S., SCHOOLGIRL, LOWER WORKING CLASS.’ It turned to Beany. ‘And you are DAVID S., FORMER SECURITY PERSONNEL AT LOCKWOOD CORPORATION, LOWER WORKING CLASS.’
Zuzu raised an eyebrow, annoyed. ‘No one calls me Suzannah. Everyone calls me Zuzu.’
‘Why are you called Zuzu?’ the robot said.
‘Because I just am.’ She hated the robot already. He was so…robot-like. Stupid boring voice. Stupid mechanical body. ‘Also, no one calls my dad David. Everyone calls him Beany.’
The robot looked at Beany.
‘Why are you called Beany?’
‘Because he just is,’ Zuzu said.
There was an explanation, of course. When Zuzu was a little girl, she had often called her father a ‘big meanie” when she had tantrums. Somehow it became Beany. That was it. But she wouldn’t explain herself to a robot, of all things.
‘I will call you SUZANNAH and DAVID, as per my CPU,’ the robot said. ‘I am a FIRST GENERATION SECURE NETWORK ANDROID PROCESSOR. I am programmed to be a guardian. I can also assist with household chores, homework, and education.’ It studied Zuzu. ‘Are you my charge?’
‘Your what?’
‘A guardian typically has a charge. This is the person for whom they are responsible.’
‘No,’ said Zuzu.
‘Yes,’ said Beany.
‘I will assume yes, as my CPU tells me it is common for children to LIE,’ the robot said.
‘Well, my CPS tells me it’s common for robots to end up in a trash heap,’ Zuzu said.”
Thanks to the programming assistance of Zuzu Santos' tech-savvy schoolmate Elias, Snap (Secure Network Android Processor) the robot becomes more human-like in its thoughts and behavior, and becomes far more closely connected with Zuzu, who initially rejects the human-and-machine connection in which she finds herself.
THE SECOND LIFE OF SNAP is set in a harsh, future world, where climate change has brought about an ever-growing disparity between the wealthy and the poor. Here, there are “Bounties” (the rich and privileged folk) living in lush, resource- and technology-rich areas, while Zuzu and the other “Dusties” are an underclass living in isolated small groups, in beat-up old tin trailers, amidst harsh, climate-afflicted, desert-like environments of the future. The whole scene is governed by a corporation that has taken over.
Given the exceedingly quick transition here in San Francisco—where it seems that every fourth or fifth car you encounter on the road these days is driverless—I’m thoroughly primed for a similar, near-future society with robots underfoot. The story here begins with Zuzu’s dad losing his job to machines.
We are already seeing the beginning of what eventually could well become a tidal wave of human job losses at the hands of machines, as the reach of AI becomes clearer and is thoroughly exploited. This will surely affect the young readers who will embrace this wonderful tween-and-her-robot tale.
Finally, THE SECOND LIFE OF SNAP does not necessarily discuss, but thoroughly and impressively depicts the utter loss of any sense of human privacy. Have you noticed the many machines that film you these days, in the supermarket and elsewhere? They could well be part of a network tracking you, tracking everyone. So when that robot walks up to you…
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Zuzu Santos lives in Subsidized Camp Five in a trailer. Her father works at Lockwood Associates in security, but has just lost his job. As severance, he is given a Secure Network Android Processor robot, known as Snap. He thinks that the robot will be a good way to keep track of Zuzu while he's looking for a job, but Zuzu doesn't trust anything that comes from "bounties" who live in protected areas, have technology, and are generally better off than those living in the Barrens are. Zuzu is used to hanging out with the other children in her small neighborhood that they call Bright Valley. Elias, Laiken, and Ant (the "Valleycats") all go to school with her, and like their teacher, Ms. Dagney, who isn't as fond of Lockwood Associates as she should be. Zuzu warms to Snap when he does household chores for her, and when Elias syncs his tablet with the robot, Snap seems to change some of the robot's functions. Snap now makes choices, and can lie. He is helpful to the children, detecting an old bike chain in a nearby lake that is useful to Elias, who is trying to build a bike. There is a farmer's market that the children go to, but it is a dangerous place. Elias takes a water filter that he has made and tries to sell it, but Grady, a child from the Driftwood community, steals the battery from it and breaks it. Dr. Li, who works with Ms. Dagney, still buys it from the children, and even buys fruit from Mabel for them. When Laiken's mother is ailing, the children borrow bikes from Nora and Costello from Sandtown and travel to Driftwood to try to get the battery back from Grady. Driftwood is even more fun down than Bright Valley, and Big Jim says the kids can have the battery only if he keeps a bike. Since Snap has been collateral for the bike, Zuzu has to trade information to Nora and Costello in order to keep Snap, who has become her friend. All through the story, we have known that Snap's charger is broken, and once his battery wears down, he will revert to factory settings. After a storm tears through Bright Valley, everyone survives, but the last scene shows that Zuzu was not able to keep Snap, although he does get a new battery and owner.
Strengths: It is well within the realm of possibility that a technology company could take over the world, and that marginalized communities will suffer the effects of climate change and be housed in undesirable places in mobile homes, so the setting is quite true to life. The children in Bright Valley come from an array of backgrounds; Zuzu is Filipina, Elias is Mexican, Laiken is Black, and Ant is white. It's also likely that well to do communities will use a lot of technology. The salvage yard was interesting; in a dystopia, I imagine that the large landfills will be excavated, because judging from things I see thrown out, there has got to be a lot of very usable items there. Snap is a nice robot, which is a relief, since there are a lot of fictional robots who want to kill people. This is definitely a heart print book that merits a discussion about what it means to be human.
Weaknesses: There are so many dystopian books. The world is horrible right now. It would be nice to see science fiction that depicted the world being a better place because children stepped up and made a difference.
What I really think: Readers who found the dystopian worlds in Cartaya's The Last Beekeeper or Perry's Scavengers intriguing will find Bright Valley interesting, as will those who enjoyed the robots in Rodriguez and Ortega's The Girl and the Robot or Warga's A Rover's Story. I am always confounded by people who become emotionally attached to robots that are not the Jetson's maid, Rosie. To me, it is akin to becoming attached to my microwave or vacuum cleaner, but I know that other people are different.
Zuzu Santos lives in Subsidized Camp Five in a trailer. Her father works at Lockwood Associates in security, but has just lost his job. As severance, he is given a Secure Network Android Processor robot, known as Snap. He thinks that the robot will be a good way to keep track of Zuzu while he's looking for a job, but Zuzu doesn't trust anything that comes from "bounties" who live in protected areas, have technology, and are generally better off than those living in the Barrens are. Zuzu is used to hanging out with the other children in her small neighborhood that they call Bright Valley. Elias, Laiken, and Ant (the "Valleycats") all go to school with her, and like their teacher, Ms. Dagney, who isn't as fond of Lockwood Associates as she should be. Zuzu warms to Snap when he does household chores for her, and when Elias syncs his tablet with the robot, Snap seems to change some of the robot's functions. Snap now makes choices, and can lie. He is helpful to the children, detecting an old bike chain in a nearby lake that is useful to Elias, who is trying to build a bike. There is a farmer's market that the children go to, but it is a dangerous place. Elias takes a water filter that he has made and tries to sell it, but Grady, a child from the Driftwood community, steals the battery from it and breaks it. Dr. Li, who works with Ms. Dagney, still buys it from the children, and even buys fruit from Mabel for them. When Laiken's mother is ailing, the children borrow bikes from Nora and Costello from Sandtown and travel to Driftwood to try to get the battery back from Grady. Driftwood is even more fun down than Bright Valley, and Big Jim says the kids can have the battery only if he keeps a bike. Since Snap has been collateral for the bike, Zuzu has to trade information to Nora and Costello in order to keep Snap, who has become her friend. All through the story, we have known that Snap's charger is broken, and once his battery wears down, he will revert to factory settings. After a storm tears through Bright Valley, everyone survives, but the last scene shows that Zuzu was not able to keep Snap, although he does get a new battery and owner.
Strengths: It is well within the realm of possibility that a technology company could take over the world, and that marginalized communities will suffer the effects of climate change and be housed in undesirable places in mobile homes, so the setting is quite true to life. The children in Bright Valley come from an array of backgrounds; Zuzu is Filipina, Elias is Mexican, Laiken is Black, and Ant is white. It's also likely that well to do communities will use a lot of technology. The salvage yard was interesting; in a dystopia, I imagine that the large landfills will be excavated, because judging from things I see thrown out, there has got to be a lot of very usable items there. Snap is a nice robot, which is a relief, since there are a lot of fictional robots who want to kill people. This is definitely a heart print book that merits a discussion about what it means to be human.
Weaknesses: There are so many dystopian books. The world is horrible right now. It would be nice to see science fiction that depicted the world being a better place because children stepped up and made a difference.
What I really think: Readers who found the dystopian worlds in Cartaya's The Last Beekeeper or Perry's Scavengers intriguing will find Bright Valley interesting, as will those who enjoyed the robots in Rodriguez and Ortega's The Girl and the Robot or Warga's A Rover's Story. I am always confounded by people who become emotionally attached to robots that are not the Jetson's maid, Rosie. To me, it is akin to becoming attached to my microwave or vacuum cleaner, but I know that other people are different.
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March 28, 2026Read more on Chill and read
I usually enjoy reading juvenile and middle grade fiction and this one was no exception! I can’t wait for it to be published on May 12th, so you can all have access to it and enjoy the story!
The Second Life of Snap is about a world not so far in the future, where AI has become part of everyday life, where the environment has become toxic, where water is not easy to access, where the rich have become richer and more powerful and where the poor are scraping by.
Zuzu Santos is a twelve-year-old girl who lives with her father. She doesn’t like robots, just like her teacher doesn’t like robots. And that makes sense, because all robots do is record everything they see or hear and report back to the company that created them, Lockwood. Lockwood is a corporation that controls pretty much everything. From jobs, to food, to water and any kind of supplies are needed for survival. Zuzu and her best friends, otherwise known as “the Valleycats”, are used to exploring Bright Valley on their own, even if that can be dangerous at times. So, when Zuzu brings along a robot, Snap, they are not really happy about it.
Snap is brought home by Zuzu’s father. It is a farewell gift from Lockwood when he is fired. He may not have been given any money, food or water, but at least, he knows that having Snap as a guardian for Zulu, she will benefit from it. The robot can be a great tutor for his daughter and will keep her safe. At least for as long as its battery lives! But Zuzu and the Valleycats make Snap one of their own, when they connect to the robot’s motherboard. From that day on, Snap would do anything for Zuzu and the Valleycats, just like Zuzu would do anything for Snap!
This was such a lovely and heartwarming story! It is about second chances, embracing diversity and finding friends in unexpected places. The children were really skeptical at the beginning, but when Elias connects his tablet to Snap and somehow that changes Snap’s personality completely, they are more than welcoming the robot. Especially when Snap acts are a true Valleycat!
In less than 200 pages, the author manages to describe how awful the world has become and how difficult life is for anyone that doesn’t have the means. Without making it too hard for children to read, she brings forward all things that could happen in the future, and how life could become in such a dystopian but rather realistic environment.
Another main theme in the book is about the technological evolution. Everyone is supporting it, thinking that it would improve our quality of life, it would lead to a better and healthier future and so on. However, Lockwood here shows clearly the other side of technology. How it can also be used to control the masses and limit freedom. And that’s a great example and reason to encourage children to have a mind of their own, to question anything doesn’t seem fair to them, to express their disagreement and doubts, and not take everything for granted!
Thank you to Edelweiss & Greenwillow Books for an advance copy of this book. The views expressed are my personal and honest opinion.
I usually enjoy reading juvenile and middle grade fiction and this one was no exception! I can’t wait for it to be published on May 12th, so you can all have access to it and enjoy the story!
The Second Life of Snap is about a world not so far in the future, where AI has become part of everyday life, where the environment has become toxic, where water is not easy to access, where the rich have become richer and more powerful and where the poor are scraping by.
Zuzu Santos is a twelve-year-old girl who lives with her father. She doesn’t like robots, just like her teacher doesn’t like robots. And that makes sense, because all robots do is record everything they see or hear and report back to the company that created them, Lockwood. Lockwood is a corporation that controls pretty much everything. From jobs, to food, to water and any kind of supplies are needed for survival. Zuzu and her best friends, otherwise known as “the Valleycats”, are used to exploring Bright Valley on their own, even if that can be dangerous at times. So, when Zuzu brings along a robot, Snap, they are not really happy about it.
Snap is brought home by Zuzu’s father. It is a farewell gift from Lockwood when he is fired. He may not have been given any money, food or water, but at least, he knows that having Snap as a guardian for Zulu, she will benefit from it. The robot can be a great tutor for his daughter and will keep her safe. At least for as long as its battery lives! But Zuzu and the Valleycats make Snap one of their own, when they connect to the robot’s motherboard. From that day on, Snap would do anything for Zuzu and the Valleycats, just like Zuzu would do anything for Snap!
This was such a lovely and heartwarming story! It is about second chances, embracing diversity and finding friends in unexpected places. The children were really skeptical at the beginning, but when Elias connects his tablet to Snap and somehow that changes Snap’s personality completely, they are more than welcoming the robot. Especially when Snap acts are a true Valleycat!
In less than 200 pages, the author manages to describe how awful the world has become and how difficult life is for anyone that doesn’t have the means. Without making it too hard for children to read, she brings forward all things that could happen in the future, and how life could become in such a dystopian but rather realistic environment.
Another main theme in the book is about the technological evolution. Everyone is supporting it, thinking that it would improve our quality of life, it would lead to a better and healthier future and so on. However, Lockwood here shows clearly the other side of technology. How it can also be used to control the masses and limit freedom. And that’s a great example and reason to encourage children to have a mind of their own, to question anything doesn’t seem fair to them, to express their disagreement and doubts, and not take everything for granted!
Thank you to Edelweiss & Greenwillow Books for an advance copy of this book. The views expressed are my personal and honest opinion.
June 2, 2026
I'm a big Erin Entrada Kelly fan, but this one just doesn't work for me.
Twelve-year-old Zuzu Santos (Filipino) and her three best friends live in trailers in Subsidized Camp Five in Barren, Texas. Zuzu’s dad takes a Lockwood Associate Bus, driven by robot, to nearby wealthy and climate change-protected Bountiful, Texas, where he works. But on the morning this story opens, Zuzu’s dad has been fired from his security job (many jobs are being replaced by robots).
Rather than severance, he is given a robot—a Secure Network Android Processor, or SNAP—as a “parting gift.” To Zuzu’s dismay, it is to serve as a guardian, keeping Zuzu company and out of trouble during the day. The robot puts a damper on that day’s activities, following Zuzu around as she hangs with her friends: Laiken (Black), Ant (white), and Elias (Mexican). They call themselves the Valleycats. (One of their favorite pastimes is visiting the salvage yard, where they find things they can sell, trade, or otherwise use.)
That night, when Zuzu tries to charge the robot, she discovers that the charger is broken. When its battery runs out, she figures they can break it down and sell it for parts. The next day, Elias hooks up his cobbled-together computer to the robot, which seems to reset it. Suddenly, it’s not so robotlike. It can lie. It’s friendly and has empathy. It’s sort of childlike in its emotion and excitability. In short, it’s much more pleasant to have around, and it’s helpful, too.
When Elias tries to sell a water filter at the farmers market, the battery is stolen by a kid named Grady, who lives in nearby Driftwood. To get the battery back, the kids borrow bikes from Nora and Costello, older kids who live in Sandtown but are often at the salvage yard. Zuzu gives them Snap as collateral. But when a teenager named Big Jim takes a bike from them, they lose Snap to Nora and Costello. To get him back, Snap gives Nora and Costello info about how to get into a Secure Supplies Facility at Lockwood, where they keep communication devices—something that could be used to connect nearby communities and improve their circumstances. Zuzu gets Snap back, but of course, his battery has been running down all this time. He has just enough life left in him to come to the rescue when a major dust storm hits; he saves Elias, who is trapped under debris, and then his battery dies.
This main narrative is bookended by two chapters; in the first, the robot is woken up for his second life. The workers discover that his charger is broken, but they put him into his box anyway, making it “someone else’s problem.” In the final chapter, Snap (now restored to factory settings) is experiencing his third life. At the farmers market, Zuzu spots him and interacts with him, but of course, he doesn’t recognize her.
I thought this book was fine. Honestly, I found it kind of boring—there’s not much tension or anything very exciting happening. I would’ve liked some more development of this dystopia, which is bleak and depressing. I didn’t really feel anything towards Snap. I didn’t find him particularly lovable or sympathetic or well developed, so the ending didn’t really tug at my heartstrings. I thought it was pretty unbelievable that his programming would be completely overridden by a 12-year-old simply attaching a tablet he’d pieced together. There were also a lot of characters, and I sometimes had trouble keeping them straight.
Twelve-year-old Zuzu Santos (Filipino) and her three best friends live in trailers in Subsidized Camp Five in Barren, Texas. Zuzu’s dad takes a Lockwood Associate Bus, driven by robot, to nearby wealthy and climate change-protected Bountiful, Texas, where he works. But on the morning this story opens, Zuzu’s dad has been fired from his security job (many jobs are being replaced by robots).
Rather than severance, he is given a robot—a Secure Network Android Processor, or SNAP—as a “parting gift.” To Zuzu’s dismay, it is to serve as a guardian, keeping Zuzu company and out of trouble during the day. The robot puts a damper on that day’s activities, following Zuzu around as she hangs with her friends: Laiken (Black), Ant (white), and Elias (Mexican). They call themselves the Valleycats. (One of their favorite pastimes is visiting the salvage yard, where they find things they can sell, trade, or otherwise use.)
That night, when Zuzu tries to charge the robot, she discovers that the charger is broken. When its battery runs out, she figures they can break it down and sell it for parts. The next day, Elias hooks up his cobbled-together computer to the robot, which seems to reset it. Suddenly, it’s not so robotlike. It can lie. It’s friendly and has empathy. It’s sort of childlike in its emotion and excitability. In short, it’s much more pleasant to have around, and it’s helpful, too.
When Elias tries to sell a water filter at the farmers market, the battery is stolen by a kid named Grady, who lives in nearby Driftwood. To get the battery back, the kids borrow bikes from Nora and Costello, older kids who live in Sandtown but are often at the salvage yard. Zuzu gives them Snap as collateral. But when a teenager named Big Jim takes a bike from them, they lose Snap to Nora and Costello. To get him back, Snap gives Nora and Costello info about how to get into a Secure Supplies Facility at Lockwood, where they keep communication devices—something that could be used to connect nearby communities and improve their circumstances. Zuzu gets Snap back, but of course, his battery has been running down all this time. He has just enough life left in him to come to the rescue when a major dust storm hits; he saves Elias, who is trapped under debris, and then his battery dies.
This main narrative is bookended by two chapters; in the first, the robot is woken up for his second life. The workers discover that his charger is broken, but they put him into his box anyway, making it “someone else’s problem.” In the final chapter, Snap (now restored to factory settings) is experiencing his third life. At the farmers market, Zuzu spots him and interacts with him, but of course, he doesn’t recognize her.
I thought this book was fine. Honestly, I found it kind of boring—there’s not much tension or anything very exciting happening. I would’ve liked some more development of this dystopia, which is bleak and depressing. I didn’t really feel anything towards Snap. I didn’t find him particularly lovable or sympathetic or well developed, so the ending didn’t really tug at my heartstrings. I thought it was pretty unbelievable that his programming would be completely overridden by a 12-year-old simply attaching a tablet he’d pieced together. There were also a lot of characters, and I sometimes had trouble keeping them straight.
February 19, 2026
With well under 200 pages, middle grade readers will rejoice in a sci-fi, dystopian that isn’t encased in a 3 to 5 inch thick book or a multiple book series. But some will be disappointed that there isn’t an extended version to fill in all the details that its brevity leaves out.
In her characteristic style, characters are well-developed and sympathy quickly developed for the economically depressed Barrens area and its residents who are trying to survive in ramshackle mobile homes set on desolated, hard packed dirt while others nearby live in beautiful homes surrounded by greenery and equipped with the latest technology. The conflict in main character Zuzu’s own mind between her growing affection for the robot dubbed SNAP and the idea of its danger placed in her mind by her beloved and highly respected teacher is established just as quickly but there are few details backing up all the harm tech has done to further the gap between the two distinct characters. Conversely, in only a few chapters, the condition of those living in the Barrens is abundantly clear and backed up with details including the absence of adequate housing, respiratory illness without decent medical intervention or the necessary prevention measures given the dust storms and lack of all things green, plus access to only limited food.
The primary storyline between Zuzu and the surprising “human” robot SNAP develops rapidly, as it has to with only 176 pages to work with, but feels logical and understandable given Zuzu’s need for relationship and her desire to know and understand everything that is going on around her, the good, bad and the ugly. And the gentle insertion of SNAP’s non-renewable and steadily diminishing battery life adds great urgency to their developing friendship. The climactic conclusion further cements the robot’s sentience and kindness. There is a short epilogue that soothes readers not only by giving SNAP a 3rd life but by giving them hope that the life of those who live in the Barrens is getting better and the class inequality may someday come to an end.
Good book and one that will have wide appeal to those who enjoy robotics, dystopia, and/or sci-fi. For those wishing The Second Life of SNAP had more to it, though, their imaginations will have to fill in the blanks themselves because it does appear that this is a standalone, one and done story.
Target age: grades 4-7
Profanity: none
Sexual content: none
Violence: Only a vicious dust storm and the crime of big business deliberately separating people into distinct classes using a variety of methods.
Representation: Zuzu and her father are Filipino, Elias and his father are Hispanic, Laikan and her mother are Black and Ant is Caucasian; pronoun usage and absence of any romantic relationships do not indicate any LBGTQ+ characters.
In her characteristic style, characters are well-developed and sympathy quickly developed for the economically depressed Barrens area and its residents who are trying to survive in ramshackle mobile homes set on desolated, hard packed dirt while others nearby live in beautiful homes surrounded by greenery and equipped with the latest technology. The conflict in main character Zuzu’s own mind between her growing affection for the robot dubbed SNAP and the idea of its danger placed in her mind by her beloved and highly respected teacher is established just as quickly but there are few details backing up all the harm tech has done to further the gap between the two distinct characters. Conversely, in only a few chapters, the condition of those living in the Barrens is abundantly clear and backed up with details including the absence of adequate housing, respiratory illness without decent medical intervention or the necessary prevention measures given the dust storms and lack of all things green, plus access to only limited food.
The primary storyline between Zuzu and the surprising “human” robot SNAP develops rapidly, as it has to with only 176 pages to work with, but feels logical and understandable given Zuzu’s need for relationship and her desire to know and understand everything that is going on around her, the good, bad and the ugly. And the gentle insertion of SNAP’s non-renewable and steadily diminishing battery life adds great urgency to their developing friendship. The climactic conclusion further cements the robot’s sentience and kindness. There is a short epilogue that soothes readers not only by giving SNAP a 3rd life but by giving them hope that the life of those who live in the Barrens is getting better and the class inequality may someday come to an end.
Good book and one that will have wide appeal to those who enjoy robotics, dystopia, and/or sci-fi. For those wishing The Second Life of SNAP had more to it, though, their imaginations will have to fill in the blanks themselves because it does appear that this is a standalone, one and done story.
Target age: grades 4-7
Profanity: none
Sexual content: none
Violence: Only a vicious dust storm and the crime of big business deliberately separating people into distinct classes using a variety of methods.
Representation: Zuzu and her father are Filipino, Elias and his father are Hispanic, Laikan and her mother are Black and Ant is Caucasian; pronoun usage and absence of any romantic relationships do not indicate any LBGTQ+ characters.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Premise: Survival in the Dust
Set in a hauntingly plausible near-future, The Second Life of Snap introduces us to twelve-year-old Zuzu Santos. She lives in Bright Valley Subsidized Camp #5—a place where the sun is relentless, the water is rationed, and the trees are long gone. The camp is controlled by Lockwood, a faceless corporation that manages every aspect of life.
When Zuzu’s father is laid off, he isn't given a severance check; he’s given a "Snap," a dated, first-generation guardian robot. Without a charging station, Snap is effectively on a countdown to a permanent "reset." What follows is a deeply moving story about what it means to be alive, the weight of memory, and the lengths we go to for those we love.
What Works: Why It’s a 4-Star Read
The Atmospheric World-Building: Kelly excels at "grounded" dystopia. Instead of laser beams and high-tech wars, she focuses on the grit—the dust in the trailers, the heat, and the quiet desperation of a community squeezed by corporate greed. It feels urgent because it feels possible.
The Robot with a Soul: Snap is a masterclass in character writing. As a "know-it-all" robot with a dwindling battery, he provides a perfect foil to Zuzu's skepticism. Their bond avoids the typical "girl and her dog" tropes, moving instead into a profound meditation on mortality and legacy.
Themes of Community: While the setting is bleak, the heart of the book is the "Valleycats"—Zuzu and her band of friends. Their ingenuity and refusal to give up on Snap serve as a powerful reminder of the necessity of human (and robotic) connection in the face of systemic failure.
Emotional Resonance: Like Kelly’s previous work (We Dream of Space), this book doesn't talk down to its middle-grade audience. It deals with heavy topics—classism, climate change, and loss—with a tenderness that will likely tug at the heartstrings of adults and younger readers alike.
The Slight Setbacks
The 4-star rating reflects a few minor hurdles:
Pacing in the Middle: The narrative mirrors the "slowness" of life in the camp. While this adds to the atmosphere, the middle section can feel like it’s treading water as the characters search for solutions that feel increasingly out of reach.
The Corporate Villainy: Lockwood is a effectively cold antagonist, but some readers might wish for a bit more nuance or direct confrontation with the "powers that be" beyond the survival-focused plot.
Final Verdict
The Second Life of Snap is a beautifully written, bittersweet addition to the "robot companion" subgenre. It sits comfortably on the shelf next to The Wild Robot and A Rover's Story, but brings a unique, humane edge that is quintessentially Erin Entrada Kelly. It is a story about finding hope when the battery is at 1% and the charging station is nowhere to be found.
Thanks to Netgalley for arc for this book.
Set in a hauntingly plausible near-future, The Second Life of Snap introduces us to twelve-year-old Zuzu Santos. She lives in Bright Valley Subsidized Camp #5—a place where the sun is relentless, the water is rationed, and the trees are long gone. The camp is controlled by Lockwood, a faceless corporation that manages every aspect of life.
When Zuzu’s father is laid off, he isn't given a severance check; he’s given a "Snap," a dated, first-generation guardian robot. Without a charging station, Snap is effectively on a countdown to a permanent "reset." What follows is a deeply moving story about what it means to be alive, the weight of memory, and the lengths we go to for those we love.
What Works: Why It’s a 4-Star Read
The Atmospheric World-Building: Kelly excels at "grounded" dystopia. Instead of laser beams and high-tech wars, she focuses on the grit—the dust in the trailers, the heat, and the quiet desperation of a community squeezed by corporate greed. It feels urgent because it feels possible.
The Robot with a Soul: Snap is a masterclass in character writing. As a "know-it-all" robot with a dwindling battery, he provides a perfect foil to Zuzu's skepticism. Their bond avoids the typical "girl and her dog" tropes, moving instead into a profound meditation on mortality and legacy.
Themes of Community: While the setting is bleak, the heart of the book is the "Valleycats"—Zuzu and her band of friends. Their ingenuity and refusal to give up on Snap serve as a powerful reminder of the necessity of human (and robotic) connection in the face of systemic failure.
Emotional Resonance: Like Kelly’s previous work (We Dream of Space), this book doesn't talk down to its middle-grade audience. It deals with heavy topics—classism, climate change, and loss—with a tenderness that will likely tug at the heartstrings of adults and younger readers alike.
The Slight Setbacks
The 4-star rating reflects a few minor hurdles:
Pacing in the Middle: The narrative mirrors the "slowness" of life in the camp. While this adds to the atmosphere, the middle section can feel like it’s treading water as the characters search for solutions that feel increasingly out of reach.
The Corporate Villainy: Lockwood is a effectively cold antagonist, but some readers might wish for a bit more nuance or direct confrontation with the "powers that be" beyond the survival-focused plot.
Final Verdict
The Second Life of Snap is a beautifully written, bittersweet addition to the "robot companion" subgenre. It sits comfortably on the shelf next to The Wild Robot and A Rover's Story, but brings a unique, humane edge that is quintessentially Erin Entrada Kelly. It is a story about finding hope when the battery is at 1% and the charging station is nowhere to be found.
Thanks to Netgalley for arc for this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a heartfelt and thoughtful book! The Second Life of Snap follows 12-year Zuzu Santos whose father is given a faulty robot when he is let go from his job. The setting of this book is a not-so-distant dystopian America where the protagonist lives in a trailer camp that is vulnerable to adverse weather due to climate change, while wealthier individuals live in gated communities. The robot, after being tinkered with, gains a human-like identity and becomes “Snap.” Rather than speaking about “objective” truth, he seems to have a childlike curiosity as well as favorite colors and stories. While Snap is quickly running out of battery life-- which will restart his memory--he still has a chance to impact the lives of Zuzu and her friends.
For a short book, the world felt very developed and lived-in. I especially liked the details that show a contrast between the poor quality of life of the central characters and the advancement of technology. Zuzu’s community only interacts with the vehicles that transport them out of their homes to work, surveillance drones, and Snap, who is assumed to be useless. It is clear that this tech is not designed to better the lives of people in poor communities, but further marginalizes them by creating deeper gaps.
I also liked Zuzu’s characterization throughout the book. She has strong opinions, but is also curious and willing to reconsider. There are also small moments of empathy that I thought were touching, such as when Zuzu realizes the child who stole from her has even less than the people in her community. Snap, as a character, is a bit more up to interpretation, but I think this could be an interesting discussion point for kids. Snap’s sudden change after being tinkered with also seems to represent a coming to realization about how you would like to live your life. Through her interactions with Snap, Zuzu realizes something empathetic and resilient exists in her as well.
This book is paced well for younger readers, though I do think that the plot could have been more cohesive. Many of the chapters introduce new characters and plotlines, which caused the book to feel disjointed at times. The frequent reminders of Snap's battery life were a nice touch, though.
Thank you to Netgalley & HarperCollins for the ARC!
For a short book, the world felt very developed and lived-in. I especially liked the details that show a contrast between the poor quality of life of the central characters and the advancement of technology. Zuzu’s community only interacts with the vehicles that transport them out of their homes to work, surveillance drones, and Snap, who is assumed to be useless. It is clear that this tech is not designed to better the lives of people in poor communities, but further marginalizes them by creating deeper gaps.
I also liked Zuzu’s characterization throughout the book. She has strong opinions, but is also curious and willing to reconsider. There are also small moments of empathy that I thought were touching, such as when Zuzu realizes the child who stole from her has even less than the people in her community. Snap, as a character, is a bit more up to interpretation, but I think this could be an interesting discussion point for kids. Snap’s sudden change after being tinkered with also seems to represent a coming to realization about how you would like to live your life. Through her interactions with Snap, Zuzu realizes something empathetic and resilient exists in her as well.
This book is paced well for younger readers, though I do think that the plot could have been more cohesive. Many of the chapters introduce new characters and plotlines, which caused the book to feel disjointed at times. The frequent reminders of Snap's battery life were a nice touch, though.
Thank you to Netgalley & HarperCollins for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My kids and I listened to this on audio, and the official family verdict is: it was okay. Not terrible. Not amazing. Just a solid middle-of-the-road listen that kept everyone quiet long enough for me to feel like I won parenting for a minute.
My kids’ favorite part was the goodbye scene with Zuzu and the “robot”. Three of my kids loved the exchange where she says, see you next time, Applejack, and he responds, see you next time, Valley Cat. It was one of the few moments that felt genuinely sweet, and it landed hard for them. In general, they liked Zuzu and Snap because they came across as kind but strong. Big Jim taking the bikes also got a big reaction, because my kids do not play about bullies. The outrage was immediate and passionate.
As the adult, I kept waiting for the story to pick a direction and commit. It felt like it was building toward something, then wandering, then circling back, then wandering again. My biggest hang-up was Zuzu’s shift from hating robots to getting emotionally attached. I wanted a clearer path from point A to point B. I’m all for emotional growth, but I need at least a little trail of breadcrumbs. This one felt like teleportation.
Even my kids had questions that made me pause. In this world, how are kids reprogramming a robot like it’s an after-school craft. Why didn’t Snap just go get a charger from the supplies facility when it seemed pretty accessible. Also, I cannot accept a company allowing a password that easy. My kids were side-eyeing the security too, so you know it was bold.
The narration was good and easy to follow. The pacing worked well for family listening and didn’t feel confusing as it moved from scene to scene. My only minor note is that it was hard for me to picture Snap as male at times because the vocals didn’t match the more masculine voice I imagined. Not a dealbreaker, just a small mismatch in my head.
Overall, I’d give it a 2.5 stars. My kids would rate it closer to a 3. If you want a gentle audiobook with a few genuinely sweet moments, this one will do the job. Just don’t expect it to come flying in with fireworks.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Children’s for the ARC audiobook.
My kids’ favorite part was the goodbye scene with Zuzu and the “robot”. Three of my kids loved the exchange where she says, see you next time, Applejack, and he responds, see you next time, Valley Cat. It was one of the few moments that felt genuinely sweet, and it landed hard for them. In general, they liked Zuzu and Snap because they came across as kind but strong. Big Jim taking the bikes also got a big reaction, because my kids do not play about bullies. The outrage was immediate and passionate.
As the adult, I kept waiting for the story to pick a direction and commit. It felt like it was building toward something, then wandering, then circling back, then wandering again. My biggest hang-up was Zuzu’s shift from hating robots to getting emotionally attached. I wanted a clearer path from point A to point B. I’m all for emotional growth, but I need at least a little trail of breadcrumbs. This one felt like teleportation.
Even my kids had questions that made me pause. In this world, how are kids reprogramming a robot like it’s an after-school craft. Why didn’t Snap just go get a charger from the supplies facility when it seemed pretty accessible. Also, I cannot accept a company allowing a password that easy. My kids were side-eyeing the security too, so you know it was bold.
The narration was good and easy to follow. The pacing worked well for family listening and didn’t feel confusing as it moved from scene to scene. My only minor note is that it was hard for me to picture Snap as male at times because the vocals didn’t match the more masculine voice I imagined. Not a dealbreaker, just a small mismatch in my head.
Overall, I’d give it a 2.5 stars. My kids would rate it closer to a 3. If you want a gentle audiobook with a few genuinely sweet moments, this one will do the job. Just don’t expect it to come flying in with fireworks.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Children’s for the ARC audiobook.
July 25, 2026
This novel presents an intriguing premise: a near-future society controlled by a powerful tech corporation. Those fortunate enough to live inside the corporation's sheltered city are protected from the increasing devastation caused by climate change, but for our protagonist, Zuzu, and her friends and family living in a subsidized trailer park community where basic necessities are becoming increasingly scarce, life is a daily struggle to survive. When Zuzu's father receives a first-generation robot as a parting gift after losing his job (to a robot), Zuzu and her friends discover an unexpected friendship. Unfortunately, Snap (the Secure Network Android Processor) doesn't come with working charger, and when his battery dies, so will his memories of Zuzu.
While the novel raises interesting questions about economic inequality, corporate power, climate change, and artificial intelligence, it never fully develops them into anything concrete. We see evidence of a resistance movement developing in the subsidized communities, but nothing ever comes of it. Two characters visit a neighboring community that has fallen into complete disrepair, yet they never investigate why and the story moves on without ever mentioning it again. Even the relationship between Zuzu and Snap left me feeling unsatisfied, especially after reading the author's note about the real grief that inspired the story. I wanted more.
The audiobook performance was solid overall, though it wasn't especially memorable. I occasionally had trouble distinguishing between speakers, as Snap's robotic cadence sometimes bled into the narrator's performance of the other characters. I was also distracted by the repeated mispronunciation of poet Ada Limón's name, a minor detail but one that pulled me out of the story.
Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books and HarperAudio Children’s for providing this book and audiobook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
While the novel raises interesting questions about economic inequality, corporate power, climate change, and artificial intelligence, it never fully develops them into anything concrete. We see evidence of a resistance movement developing in the subsidized communities, but nothing ever comes of it. Two characters visit a neighboring community that has fallen into complete disrepair, yet they never investigate why and the story moves on without ever mentioning it again. Even the relationship between Zuzu and Snap left me feeling unsatisfied, especially after reading the author's note about the real grief that inspired the story. I wanted more.
The audiobook performance was solid overall, though it wasn't especially memorable. I occasionally had trouble distinguishing between speakers, as Snap's robotic cadence sometimes bled into the narrator's performance of the other characters. I was also distracted by the repeated mispronunciation of poet Ada Limón's name, a minor detail but one that pulled me out of the story.
Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books and HarperAudio Children’s for providing this book and audiobook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Erin Entrada Kelly is one of my absolute favorite middle grade authors, so I was thrilled to receive an advance copy of The Second Life of Snap through NetGalley. Recently announced as the Middle Grade selection for Global Read Aloud 2026, this book is sure to be a hit with my students when we read it together in October.
This dystopian story often feels eerily close to present-day reality, especially with the rapid advancement of AI technology and the country’s growing class and political divisions. In the novel, Zuzu lives with her dad, Beany, in a trailer within a subsidized housing community provided by Lockwood's tech-centered town of Bountiful. As a fiery member of the ValleyCats friend group, she shares a strong bond with her fellow camp dwellers. When her dad loses his job at Lockwood, he receives a robot as part of his severance package.
Although the ValleyCats have been taught to be wary of robots, they quickly form an unexpected friendship with SNAP after one of The Valleycat members updates the robot’s software. The story thoughtfully explores themes of nature versus technology and shows how connection and friendship can come from the most unexpected places.
Snap reminded me of my fondness for Roz from Peter Brown's The Wild Robot. Kelly consistently creates stories that keep me turning the pages, fully immersed in her characters and their development.
While I found the novel engaging overall, I was slightly disappointed by the ending. An intense climactic moment unfolded in a way that I didn’t expect, especially given SNAP’s earlier confession regarding an easy access point into Lockwood’s storeroom. Still, the final moment between Snap and Zuzu felt tender and meaningful.
Thanks so much HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC.
This dystopian story often feels eerily close to present-day reality, especially with the rapid advancement of AI technology and the country’s growing class and political divisions. In the novel, Zuzu lives with her dad, Beany, in a trailer within a subsidized housing community provided by Lockwood's tech-centered town of Bountiful. As a fiery member of the ValleyCats friend group, she shares a strong bond with her fellow camp dwellers. When her dad loses his job at Lockwood, he receives a robot as part of his severance package.
Although the ValleyCats have been taught to be wary of robots, they quickly form an unexpected friendship with SNAP after one of The Valleycat members updates the robot’s software. The story thoughtfully explores themes of nature versus technology and shows how connection and friendship can come from the most unexpected places.
Snap reminded me of my fondness for Roz from Peter Brown's The Wild Robot. Kelly consistently creates stories that keep me turning the pages, fully immersed in her characters and their development.
While I found the novel engaging overall, I was slightly disappointed by the ending. An intense climactic moment unfolded in a way that I didn’t expect, especially given SNAP’s earlier confession regarding an easy access point into Lockwood’s storeroom. Still, the final moment between Snap and Zuzu felt tender and meaningful.
Thanks so much HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book. OMG. It’s been weeks since I finished the ARC that Erin and her publisher graciously sent me, and I’m still thinking about it. Erin is the only writer I know who could manage to tell a story about such a dark and dystopic future that is this gentle, subtle, beautiful, melancholy, and brimming with so much life and humanity.
The Second Life of Snap excels at what the finest examples of children’s literature do best: explore sophisticated and socially relevant themes in a deceptively straightforward and simply-told package. This slender little novel has more to say about friendship, found family, technology, climate change, pollution, corporate greed, social and health inequity, and the power of collective action than any 1000-page dystopian doorstopper I’ve ever read. It’s a profound and angry book, but also one filled to the brim with love, tenderness, and hope.
Snap and Zuzu forge a friendship for the ages. Young readers will fall in love with these two, and will worry and ache for them as the stakes of the story swiftly ratchet up. Of course, I bawled. It’s definitely the kind of book that will elicit tears. But it will also make young readers think deeply about the kind of future they want for themselves and their world. This is a book that will open eyes and change minds.
I think The Second Life of Snap may be Erin’s masterpiece. (And I’m not just saying that because she named a character after me, lol.) Do yourself a favor and order one copy for the kid in your life, and another for you. I promise you won’t regret it.
The Second Life of Snap excels at what the finest examples of children’s literature do best: explore sophisticated and socially relevant themes in a deceptively straightforward and simply-told package. This slender little novel has more to say about friendship, found family, technology, climate change, pollution, corporate greed, social and health inequity, and the power of collective action than any 1000-page dystopian doorstopper I’ve ever read. It’s a profound and angry book, but also one filled to the brim with love, tenderness, and hope.
Snap and Zuzu forge a friendship for the ages. Young readers will fall in love with these two, and will worry and ache for them as the stakes of the story swiftly ratchet up. Of course, I bawled. It’s definitely the kind of book that will elicit tears. But it will also make young readers think deeply about the kind of future they want for themselves and their world. This is a book that will open eyes and change minds.
I think The Second Life of Snap may be Erin’s masterpiece. (And I’m not just saying that because she named a character after me, lol.) Do yourself a favor and order one copy for the kid in your life, and another for you. I promise you won’t regret it.
June 3, 2026
12-year-old Zuzu Santos does not like robots. Really, she doesn't trust anything that comes from the Lockwood Corporation; the super-conglomerate that governs life for the people in Barren, Texas. Zuzu and her fellow 'dusties' live in trailers with strict water rations in Barren, meanwhile people who live across the shelterbelt in the city of Bountiful have actual trees and all the water they want. To add insult to injury, Zuzu's father has been laid off by Lockwood and as a parting gift has been given a castoff robot - sans charging cable. To make things even worse, this robot is a guardian robot, specifically programmed to ensure Zuzu is attending school, doing homework, and other things a chaperone might do. Zuzu takes the robot to a nearby salvage yard, where her friend manages to reprogram the robot. In a twist, Snap (Secure Network Android Processor) now has a new personality and has developed the ability to lie. Zuzu slowly starts to come around to Snap, but her new friend has a slowly draining battery with no way to recharge.
Snap's steadily draining battery adds an element of unspoken anxiety to the story, which itself is filled with climate anxiety around a near-future dystopia. Zuzu and her group of friends, called the Valleycats, are likeable protagonists who kids will identify with. To say that two-time Newbery winner Erin Entrada Kelly can craft a story is underselling how well this book is written. For a fairly short novel, this book is remarkably poignant. A good read alike for fans of The Wild Robot.
Snap's steadily draining battery adds an element of unspoken anxiety to the story, which itself is filled with climate anxiety around a near-future dystopia. Zuzu and her group of friends, called the Valleycats, are likeable protagonists who kids will identify with. To say that two-time Newbery winner Erin Entrada Kelly can craft a story is underselling how well this book is written. For a fairly short novel, this book is remarkably poignant. A good read alike for fans of The Wild Robot.
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