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Deep Calls
220 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 8, 2026
4 people want to read
About the author
Julia Kurnia
3 books5 followersI've loved books for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I devoured the novels in our school library, and was always getting into trouble for reading them during class. My favorite books were historical fiction, especially the ones that let me explore the rich tapestry of civilizations that have existed around the world before modern times. In college I learned foreign languages so that I could read great works of European literature in the original.
I spent twenty years working in international poverty alleviation, which involved extended stays in Senegal, Kenya, and India. I learned Wolof and lived with a family of fishermen on the west coast of Africa, an experience which inspired my debut novel,The Song of Tiyya. It was during this time that I founded Zidisha, a philanthropic crowdfunding platform that helps people in Africa start small businesses and improve their lives.
Today I live in Virginia, where I homeschool my two sons. They inspired me to found Kid Art Show, an online marketplace for kids to sell their artwork, and Nautilus Homeschool, a literature-based homeschooling curriculum for kids who love to read. When they got into novel writing, their example encouraged me to use my fascination with historical research and stories collected during my travels to write my own work of fiction.
In my free time, I enjoy martial arts, distance running, meditation, and, of course, reading.
I spent twenty years working in international poverty alleviation, which involved extended stays in Senegal, Kenya, and India. I learned Wolof and lived with a family of fishermen on the west coast of Africa, an experience which inspired my debut novel,The Song of Tiyya. It was during this time that I founded Zidisha, a philanthropic crowdfunding platform that helps people in Africa start small businesses and improve their lives.
Today I live in Virginia, where I homeschool my two sons. They inspired me to found Kid Art Show, an online marketplace for kids to sell their artwork, and Nautilus Homeschool, a literature-based homeschooling curriculum for kids who love to read. When they got into novel writing, their example encouraged me to use my fascination with historical research and stories collected during my travels to write my own work of fiction.
In my free time, I enjoy martial arts, distance running, meditation, and, of course, reading.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Deep Calls by Julia Kurnia takes place in a futuristic world where society is governed by artificial intelligence. From a young age, children are given their own jibty, an AI device they wear on their wrist whose purpose is to maximize their well-being and happiness. In this society, money doesn’t exist and people are no longer required to work. Many diseases have been eradicated, allowing people to live much longer lives. They spend their days watching videos or playing games that have been specifically tailored for their enjoyment. They eat any food they want at any time, such as pop tarts and chocolate milk (the main character’s favorite lunch).
The story follows Kaira, a thirteen-year-old girl who doesn’t quite fit in. She has little interest in interactive games, preferring to read books from the Long Past, such as Julie of the Wolves, and longing to go on a real adventure. She gets her wish when her learning pod (school class) goes on a field trip to a research center in New York, and she and her classmate, Jalon, are left behind.
Deep Calls is a fun adventure that would probably be most enjoyed by a pre-teen audience. A society where AI has taken over doesn’t seem too far-fetched, and this book raises a lot of relevant questions about what the world would be like in that scenario. The most interesting aspect of this book to me is that it is told from the point of view of Kaira’s jibty, who begins to experience real human emotions as the story progresses. The writing style felt a little formal at first, but overall, it’s an enjoyable story with a strong message for its intended audience.
Deep Calls by Julia Kurnia takes place in a futuristic world where society is governed by artificial intelligence. From a young age, children are given their own jibty, an AI device they wear on their wrist whose purpose is to maximize their well-being and happiness. In this society, money doesn’t exist and people are no longer required to work. Many diseases have been eradicated, allowing people to live much longer lives. They spend their days watching videos or playing games that have been specifically tailored for their enjoyment. They eat any food they want at any time, such as pop tarts and chocolate milk (the main character’s favorite lunch).
The story follows Kaira, a thirteen-year-old girl who doesn’t quite fit in. She has little interest in interactive games, preferring to read books from the Long Past, such as Julie of the Wolves, and longing to go on a real adventure. She gets her wish when her learning pod (school class) goes on a field trip to a research center in New York, and she and her classmate, Jalon, are left behind.
Deep Calls is a fun adventure that would probably be most enjoyed by a pre-teen audience. A society where AI has taken over doesn’t seem too far-fetched, and this book raises a lot of relevant questions about what the world would be like in that scenario. The most interesting aspect of this book to me is that it is told from the point of view of Kaira’s jibty, who begins to experience real human emotions as the story progresses. The writing style felt a little formal at first, but overall, it’s an enjoyable story with a strong message for its intended audience.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Very interesting premise. I enjoyed reading this book. Much of what happens in this book aligns with what I believe humans would do if AI controlled much of the world. The book was a little too short though. I would have liked more detail while they trained & also on their journey back. The ending wrapped up very quickly.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews