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Fuzzy
When Max—Maxine Zealster—befriends her new robot classmate Fuzzy, part of Vanguard One Middle School’s new Robot Integration Program, she helps him learn everything he needs to know about surviving middle school—the good, the bad, and the really, really, ugly. Little do they know that surviving sixth grade is going to become a true matter of life and death, because Vanguard has an evil presence at its heart: a digital student evaluation system named BARBARA that might be taking its mission to shape the perfect student to extremes!
272 pages, Hardcover
First published August 16, 2016
168 people are currently reading
1115 people want to read
About the author
Tom Angleberger
81 books793 followersTom Angleberger artist-turned-writer. He is a columnist for the Roanoke Times in Roanoke, Virginia, and began work on his first book while in middle school. Tom is married to author-illustrator Cece Bell. He lives in Christianburg, Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews
May 31, 2016
I love Tom Angleberger's dislike of the standardization of school systems.
July 2, 2016
Oh, wow! If you enjoyed the humor and school setting of Tom Angleberger's Origami Yoda series, then you must read his new book with coauthor Paul Dellinger. Max (short for Maxine, but she just likes Max and that's all) is a student at Vanguard Middle School. The school has been selected to pilot a Robot Integration Program, having an actual robot as a student. When she is chosen to act as a native guide for the robotic student, Fuzzy, Max is thrilled. But not everyone is happy about this development, including the computer program Barbara that acts as the vice-principal for the school. Barbara's lines of code and logic see Fuzzy as a disruption to learning, and students like Max fall into the same category. To get rid of these distractions, how far can and will a computerized school principal go?
As a teacher during a time of high-stakes testing and constant pressure from government at all levels to "improve student performance," I had to laugh at the #CUG in the story. The Federal School Board has come up with a program called Constant UpGrade (Get it - Up Grade?) that all the schools must follow. The computer program Barbara is there to help with that goal. Her job is supposed to be keeping track of demerits for breaking school rules, logging test scores, etc. And the students all feel pretty much the same about it. "The Constant UpGrade program was supposed to be a "revolution in education" with "cutting-edge technology" like Barbara. But it had turned out to mostly be a giant pain in the butt. The cutting-edge technology was always yelling at you, and with the constant testing, none of the classes were any fun. Since teachers got their own #CUG scores, all they seemed to care about was preparing for the next test." I just have to ask - how much time have the authors spent on school visits lately? Because we may not have computers for vice-principals, but some of what they describe in this fictional school feels all too real. And the rest feels like a dire prediction of things to come.
Anyway, I digress. My point is that just as Fuzzy's programmers put him into the school environment to try and help him learn to emulate human behavior, the authors have managed to capture middle school life very well. The pressure to do well because your academic future depends on it (with or without #CUG). The helpless feeling of being a teen or tween and having multiple adults all telling you what to do - sometimes with conflicting orders. The struggle to find a way to fit in and have friends. And that last one is something that Fuzzy really seems to be writing a lot of code for as he comes up with improvements on his programming and evolves as a thinking machine. The references to classic SciFi like Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, and Ray Bradbury are awesome and will perhaps send young readers looking for some of that great literature.
Anyone who wants to see school improvement taken to a laughable extreme, who enjoys some SciFi or tech mixed in with their stories of friendship and school hi-jinx, or who is simply waiting for the next Angleberger book - please read Fuzzy. You will love it (98.66% chance of success).
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
As a teacher during a time of high-stakes testing and constant pressure from government at all levels to "improve student performance," I had to laugh at the #CUG in the story. The Federal School Board has come up with a program called Constant UpGrade (Get it - Up Grade?) that all the schools must follow. The computer program Barbara is there to help with that goal. Her job is supposed to be keeping track of demerits for breaking school rules, logging test scores, etc. And the students all feel pretty much the same about it. "The Constant UpGrade program was supposed to be a "revolution in education" with "cutting-edge technology" like Barbara. But it had turned out to mostly be a giant pain in the butt. The cutting-edge technology was always yelling at you, and with the constant testing, none of the classes were any fun. Since teachers got their own #CUG scores, all they seemed to care about was preparing for the next test." I just have to ask - how much time have the authors spent on school visits lately? Because we may not have computers for vice-principals, but some of what they describe in this fictional school feels all too real. And the rest feels like a dire prediction of things to come.
Anyway, I digress. My point is that just as Fuzzy's programmers put him into the school environment to try and help him learn to emulate human behavior, the authors have managed to capture middle school life very well. The pressure to do well because your academic future depends on it (with or without #CUG). The helpless feeling of being a teen or tween and having multiple adults all telling you what to do - sometimes with conflicting orders. The struggle to find a way to fit in and have friends. And that last one is something that Fuzzy really seems to be writing a lot of code for as he comes up with improvements on his programming and evolves as a thinking machine. The references to classic SciFi like Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, and Ray Bradbury are awesome and will perhaps send young readers looking for some of that great literature.
Anyone who wants to see school improvement taken to a laughable extreme, who enjoys some SciFi or tech mixed in with their stories of friendship and school hi-jinx, or who is simply waiting for the next Angleberger book - please read Fuzzy. You will love it (98.66% chance of success).
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
August 21, 2016
FUZZY is a very interesting twist on the classic sci-fi plot of sentient robots.
It takes place in a near-future where almost everything is automated and in care of robots. Max Zelaster is a middle school student who attends a school that's completely automated under an operating program named Barbara. The program was implemented to make sure students perform better at school and it's beginning to have a mind of its own when it comes to how to accomplish that. Into all this comes the Robot Integration Program with a robot that's being prepared to think on its own and needs to interact with kids to get there; this is the titular Fuzzy. He and Max quickly become friends and embark on an adventure that will not only teach Fuzzy how to think for himself, but will have everyone asking what it means to be human.
I really appreciated how Angleberger and Dellinger managed to take a very complicated (if slightly overdone) plot and make it simple and interesting for younger readers. There's a little bit of everything to keep them interested and I'm sure it would be a perfect introduction to the world of science fiction.
It takes place in a near-future where almost everything is automated and in care of robots. Max Zelaster is a middle school student who attends a school that's completely automated under an operating program named Barbara. The program was implemented to make sure students perform better at school and it's beginning to have a mind of its own when it comes to how to accomplish that. Into all this comes the Robot Integration Program with a robot that's being prepared to think on its own and needs to interact with kids to get there; this is the titular Fuzzy. He and Max quickly become friends and embark on an adventure that will not only teach Fuzzy how to think for himself, but will have everyone asking what it means to be human.
I really appreciated how Angleberger and Dellinger managed to take a very complicated (if slightly overdone) plot and make it simple and interesting for younger readers. There's a little bit of everything to keep them interested and I'm sure it would be a perfect introduction to the world of science fiction.
February 5, 2018
This cute middle grade story is set in a futuristic society wherein public schools are...almost exactly the same as they are now, and live-action Transformers movies are (most regrettably) a somewhat recent memory. RIP, the Robot Integration Program, is underway, as highly advanced computers have been inserted into most aspects of people's lives. The main character, Max, is particularly interested in robots, and is ecstatic to learn that a robot will be attending her school. Even better, Max is selected to act as Fuzzy's guide to the perils of middle school. To the chagrin of some of the figures behind the scenes of RIP, Fuzzy becomes self-aware, and teams up with Max and her friends to take on the robot assistant principal, who has gone rogue in order to satisfy the government's desire for "constantly upgrading" school scores, based on a number of problematic things like somewhat arbitrary, sometimes inaccurate standardized test scores.
June 14, 2016
The perfect middle school book! An all-too-human girl fighting every kid's enemy, the heartless bureaucracy of school. In this case young Max has the support of a delightful robot named Fuzzy, so named because of its ability to comprehend and utilize fuzzy logic. In other words, Fuzzy is on the path to becoming human. How Fuzzy transcends the evil schemes of the military, rescues her friend and frees the school from the clutches of a monstrous computer system called Barbara makes an entertaining page turner by a master writer of Middle School fiction.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2016
Holy cow. So amazing. And the ending is so damn satisfying.
August 28, 2018
Great sci-fi for Battle of the Books
September 4, 2018
I loved this book! Probably next Girl Scout book club book.
August 19, 2019
this was a really cute story.
also it's still weird to be attached to an AI? not the first time, so it probably won't be the last.
it's definitely centered around middle-grade as it had a few different things happening but the main focus was on the young characters and the school problems, not on the political space issues that were going on. (i vote for an adult novel that still sort of focuses on fuzzy but centers around the space stuff.)
the main portion was wrapped up nicely, but other side-plots were kind of left ambiguous. which isn't the worst because they weren't the main focus, but i still really want to know.
also it's still weird to be attached to an AI? not the first time, so it probably won't be the last.
it's definitely centered around middle-grade as it had a few different things happening but the main focus was on the young characters and the school problems, not on the political space issues that were going on. (i vote for an adult novel that still sort of focuses on fuzzy but centers around the space stuff.)
the main portion was wrapped up nicely, but other side-plots were kind of left ambiguous. which isn't the worst because they weren't the main focus, but i still really want to know.
June 28, 2023
Story was good and the plot was awesome. Any one who likes robots stuff out of control then this book is for you.
September 29, 2025
cute and fun story
December 4, 2016
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
Fuzzy is the latest offering from Tom Angleberger (author of the Origami Yoda series) and was cowritten by Paul Dellinger. It is a humorous school story that is full of intrigue, humor, and robots.
Fifty years in the future schools are controlled by a strict Federal School Board. The students take tests every week to prove that they are "upgrading" well enough. In one school Max (Maxine) is having a rough time. Her test scores are falling even though she studies hard and knows the answers. The computer vice-principal known as Barbara is also constantly giving her discipline tags. But Max has something to be excited about because her school is about to get the first robot to be integrated with humans. The handlers of "Fuzzy" choose Max as the robot's guide and soon the robot and the girl are connecting. When Fuzzy figures out that Barbara has developed a mind of her own and is changing students' test scores. Fuzzy, Max, and their other friends have to try to save their school and each other.
Max and Fuzzy are a great friendship team. This delves into the idea of AI and what happens when a computer can think for itself and make crucial decisions without human input. It is a concept that has been explored in science fiction for decades (several such books get a mention in here), but is definitely trending in both MG and YA more in the last couple of years. Fuzzy, being an Angleberger novel, takes a humorous look at this. Max is a smart girl, but she doesn't always want to perform inside the box created for her by the school system, testing, and the tyrannical AI Barbara. The kids desperately want to be kids but are constantly being told to get back in line and worry about their tests. Max tries her best but doesn't always succeed. Barbara sees her as a wild card and fixates on her for this reason. Max is full of curiosity about her world and just wants to know more. She does a great job with Fuzzy-anticipating his problems, leading him around, and helping him acclimate. In return Fuzzy learns from her how to think like a human. He begins to make his own decisions and color outside the lines himself. He even begins to have a spectacularly spot-on middle school attitude problem complete with snark. They are a brilliant team.
There is a lot about Fuzzy that is reminiscent of a Disney Channel movie. The adults are all a little over top and stereotypical. Their antics are a lot beyond the realm of the realistic, and of course, the kids are the ones to save the day in the end. They see things the grown ups do not. There are mustache twirling yet incompetent type villains in a van trying to get to Fuzzy. It's the sort of story kids eat up like candy. Added to this is a lot of humor and a fast-paced story full of action that will keep kids reading.
Underneath all of this, the authors have a commentary about the state of eduction and focus on testing going on that is fascinating. I don't think this is something just adults in education or concerned parents will get. The kids are going to fully get this to. I've had so many kids talk to me about how worn out they are on all the testing they do. I think they will appreciate this. They will like seeing that there is someone else out there who gets that. The fact that the villainous face of the testing system is Dolores Umbridge in AI form will make this even more entertaining for them.
This is a must have for kids who like humorous school stories.
Fuzzy is the latest offering from Tom Angleberger (author of the Origami Yoda series) and was cowritten by Paul Dellinger. It is a humorous school story that is full of intrigue, humor, and robots.
Fifty years in the future schools are controlled by a strict Federal School Board. The students take tests every week to prove that they are "upgrading" well enough. In one school Max (Maxine) is having a rough time. Her test scores are falling even though she studies hard and knows the answers. The computer vice-principal known as Barbara is also constantly giving her discipline tags. But Max has something to be excited about because her school is about to get the first robot to be integrated with humans. The handlers of "Fuzzy" choose Max as the robot's guide and soon the robot and the girl are connecting. When Fuzzy figures out that Barbara has developed a mind of her own and is changing students' test scores. Fuzzy, Max, and their other friends have to try to save their school and each other.
Max and Fuzzy are a great friendship team. This delves into the idea of AI and what happens when a computer can think for itself and make crucial decisions without human input. It is a concept that has been explored in science fiction for decades (several such books get a mention in here), but is definitely trending in both MG and YA more in the last couple of years. Fuzzy, being an Angleberger novel, takes a humorous look at this. Max is a smart girl, but she doesn't always want to perform inside the box created for her by the school system, testing, and the tyrannical AI Barbara. The kids desperately want to be kids but are constantly being told to get back in line and worry about their tests. Max tries her best but doesn't always succeed. Barbara sees her as a wild card and fixates on her for this reason. Max is full of curiosity about her world and just wants to know more. She does a great job with Fuzzy-anticipating his problems, leading him around, and helping him acclimate. In return Fuzzy learns from her how to think like a human. He begins to make his own decisions and color outside the lines himself. He even begins to have a spectacularly spot-on middle school attitude problem complete with snark. They are a brilliant team.
There is a lot about Fuzzy that is reminiscent of a Disney Channel movie. The adults are all a little over top and stereotypical. Their antics are a lot beyond the realm of the realistic, and of course, the kids are the ones to save the day in the end. They see things the grown ups do not. There are mustache twirling yet incompetent type villains in a van trying to get to Fuzzy. It's the sort of story kids eat up like candy. Added to this is a lot of humor and a fast-paced story full of action that will keep kids reading.
Underneath all of this, the authors have a commentary about the state of eduction and focus on testing going on that is fascinating. I don't think this is something just adults in education or concerned parents will get. The kids are going to fully get this to. I've had so many kids talk to me about how worn out they are on all the testing they do. I think they will appreciate this. They will like seeing that there is someone else out there who gets that. The fact that the villainous face of the testing system is Dolores Umbridge in AI form will make this even more entertaining for them.
This is a must have for kids who like humorous school stories.
Read
February 5, 2017A high-intensity thriller with AIs, government spooks, corporate espionage--and a lot of heart. As Fuzzy the robot learns about friendship, he teaches readers a lot, too. RP + F Forever
May 10, 2017
This was a good sci-fi. About a robot with "fuzzy logic", i.e. the ability to think for itself, learn, and break rules, who is sent to a middle school to develop it's capabilities. The school has a vice principal, named Barbra, that's a computer connected to the school building, and is extremely testing centered. Friendships are formed, rules are broken, but for good reason, and the kids discover the adults may have missed some really important factors about Barbra. Ensuing mayhem and hijinks are amusing and touching, though there were a few curse words and one kiss that the story could ahve done without.
November 2, 2016
My kids are fans of Tom Angleberger's other books, so it's no big surprise that this was also very popular in our house. They voted it "his best work so far" and "11 out of 10."
In addition to the fun story, I liked how the layout of the book helped reinforce the tech-theme: chapters that are numbered 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3, for example, marking changes in the story's setting. Some information is printed in the book as if copied-and-pasted from robotic source code, but is translated so that it's still reader-friendly.
The characters are developed appropriately for the audience, and the plot is paced well. Several times we had to read 'just one more chapter' (or more) to avoid stopping at a cliffhanger. The premise of the book is very creative, as is its execution. We were thrilled to receive it as part of a Goodreads giveaway, and we were thrilled again when we enjoyed it so much.
In addition to the fun story, I liked how the layout of the book helped reinforce the tech-theme: chapters that are numbered 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3, for example, marking changes in the story's setting. Some information is printed in the book as if copied-and-pasted from robotic source code, but is translated so that it's still reader-friendly.
The characters are developed appropriately for the audience, and the plot is paced well. Several times we had to read 'just one more chapter' (or more) to avoid stopping at a cliffhanger. The premise of the book is very creative, as is its execution. We were thrilled to receive it as part of a Goodreads giveaway, and we were thrilled again when we enjoyed it so much.
December 12, 2016
The fact that this book wasn't super funny threw me a little because when I see this author's name, I immediately think funny. I think that is why it was just okay for me. It's more of a serious sci-fi book. I don't really know what to call it, but it was well written, and I do feel like the kids will enjoy it. It's a quick read and a nice intro into robot science fiction.
August 25, 2016
Fuzzy is great science fiction-lite and is going to be an easy one to recommend. As soon as I finished it I handed it off to my son who is now also happily devouring this fun story from one of our favorite authors!
September 4, 2016
Recommended by Jonathan.
I thought this was a really good read. Kind of a young-adult encapsulation of the classic themes in sci fi artificial intelligence. Fast paced and exciting, but with attention to interesting philosophical questions like "what is it to be human."
I thought this was a really good read. Kind of a young-adult encapsulation of the classic themes in sci fi artificial intelligence. Fast paced and exciting, but with attention to interesting philosophical questions like "what is it to be human."
August 15, 2016
Great book for young readers who want to get into scifi books! Lots of fun, smart humour and a robot you'll wish was your friend
March 1, 2017
This week's blog post comes courtesy of Recorded Books (who provided FUZZY) and Elizabeth Sims, contributing editor to Writer's Digest, whose article, "Stepping Up Your Sidekicks" in the February, 2017 issue, prompted the template for this review.
Tom Angleberger, best known as the author of the popular Origami Yoda series, co-wrote FUZZY, a clever middle grade book with Paul Dellinger. The premise is guaranteed to attract both boy and girl readers: What happens when an experiment to create a robot that mimics a middle school student is so successful that the robot actually begins to think and act like a middle schooler?
Chaos. Trouble. Fun. And a slew of interesting dilemmas for the scientists behind the Robot Integration Project.
SYNOPSIS
The protagonist, Maxine Zelaster (aka Max) is a smart, seventh grader struggling against a school increasingly dominated by vice-principal BARBARA--the computer who runs Vanguard One's Middle School. She is so determined to have an excellent school that her rules end up being burdensome and ridiculous. When Max demonstrates initiative or out-of-the-box thinking, BARBARA punishes her by lowering her test scores. Max gets into trouble with her parents and the threat of being sent to a disciplinary school looms over her. Fortunately for Max, she is also Fuzzy's mentor-friend.
Although misunderstandings with Max's parents and conflicts with the school's administration is an interesting plot, the real focus of the book is Fuzzy, the robot. He is named this because he is learning to think how humans do--which can be fuzzy at times, not totally logical or linear.
Fuzzy, in Elisabeth Sims' words, is Max's sidekick.
Sidekicks fulfill several functions heroes can't, and they make us love them while they do it. A good sidekick can provide support for the protagonist--or inadvertently screw things up for her. He can pivot the plot in sudden, unexpected directions, or bring a fresh set of eyes to a problem...Without sidekicks, many heroes would be mere shadows of themselves. (p. 58)
Fuzzy does all of this for Max from encouraging her to cheat on a test (which totally goes against Max's grain and gets her into trouble) to breaking into BARBARA's office and trying to, I'll put this nicely, re-program the vice-principal.
Seven Types of Sidekicks
According to Sims, there are seven kinds of sidekicks:
The Chronicler (think Nick Caraway in The Great Gatsby).
The Servant Savant (think Jim, Huckleberry Finn's trustworthy companion).
The Gang (think Ron and Hermione in Harry Potter).
The Rogue (think HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey).
The Enigma (think Creature in Frankenstein).
The Pain in the Rear (think Chris in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance).
The Loyalist (think Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings.) (pp. 58-60)
Fuzzy fits the seventh type perfectly.
Their primary purpose is simple: to show that at least one person feels the hero is worthy enough to deserve a steadfast friend. They act as messengers, deflect unwanted attention from the hero, or come to the hero's rescue. [Fuzzy decides it is his duty to figure out why Max's test scores are plummeting and to do something about it. Which leads to the afore-mentioned altercation with BARBARA.] Ultimately, however, a true loyalist must be willing to sacrifice his life--literally or metaphorically--for the protagonist. (p. 60)
Which Fuzzy does. But since this is science fiction, Max doesn't get thrown out of school, Fuzzy gets a second life, and all's well that ends well.
Sims suggests that in order for writers to create unforgettable sidekicks they should "possess some or all of the following attributes." Let's see how Fuzzy measures up.
They are fiercely loyal to the hero. Check.
They are different in at least one key respect from the hero (in temperament, class, gender, race, age, etc.) Check. You can't be more different than non-human.
They possess a strong moral compass (rogues being the notable exception.) Check. Even though Max does not have a conscience, as he becomes more and more human, he has a growing sense of right and wrong.
They have unique, useful skills. Check. Fuzzy's ability to access information instantaneously, tap into the school's computer system, and compute logical outcomes is very useful to Max.
They are somehow dependent on the hero, if only emotionally. Check. Fuzzy finds "himself" attached to Max.
They're not looking to overshadow or be more valuable than the hero. Check
They have unique backstories and character arcs. Check. Even as a robot, he learns and grows.
They are too essential to the hero and the story to be killed off. Check. (p. 60)
Erin Moon, the narrator, did an excellent job of portraying the different characters. Even though I finished listening to this book a month ago, I can still hear Fuzzy's voice in my head!
Classroom Resource
Not only could a middle school teacher ask her students about the role of the sidekick, this book could generate great classroom discussion:
What is the role of technology in schools and society?
If you were a student at Vanguard, would you have made the same choices as Max? Why or why not?
Can an inanimate object like a robot have a conscience? Could it/he make moral decisions?
How was Fuzzy sacrificial for Max? Can a robot do this?
Fuzzy gets a "second life." Are there implications of this theme?
Giveaway
Sims provides great reasons to have a sidekick in a novel. In your comment, let me know if you have a sidekick in your book. What role does he or she serve? If you're not a writer, who is your favorite sidekick in literature? This giveaway ends on March 3. As before, if you are an educator, new follower to my blog, or share this on social media let me know and I'll put your name in twice. If you are new to my blog, make sure you leave your email address.
Tom Angleberger, best known as the author of the popular Origami Yoda series, co-wrote FUZZY, a clever middle grade book with Paul Dellinger. The premise is guaranteed to attract both boy and girl readers: What happens when an experiment to create a robot that mimics a middle school student is so successful that the robot actually begins to think and act like a middle schooler?
Chaos. Trouble. Fun. And a slew of interesting dilemmas for the scientists behind the Robot Integration Project.
SYNOPSIS
The protagonist, Maxine Zelaster (aka Max) is a smart, seventh grader struggling against a school increasingly dominated by vice-principal BARBARA--the computer who runs Vanguard One's Middle School. She is so determined to have an excellent school that her rules end up being burdensome and ridiculous. When Max demonstrates initiative or out-of-the-box thinking, BARBARA punishes her by lowering her test scores. Max gets into trouble with her parents and the threat of being sent to a disciplinary school looms over her. Fortunately for Max, she is also Fuzzy's mentor-friend.
Although misunderstandings with Max's parents and conflicts with the school's administration is an interesting plot, the real focus of the book is Fuzzy, the robot. He is named this because he is learning to think how humans do--which can be fuzzy at times, not totally logical or linear.
Fuzzy, in Elisabeth Sims' words, is Max's sidekick.
Sidekicks fulfill several functions heroes can't, and they make us love them while they do it. A good sidekick can provide support for the protagonist--or inadvertently screw things up for her. He can pivot the plot in sudden, unexpected directions, or bring a fresh set of eyes to a problem...Without sidekicks, many heroes would be mere shadows of themselves. (p. 58)
Fuzzy does all of this for Max from encouraging her to cheat on a test (which totally goes against Max's grain and gets her into trouble) to breaking into BARBARA's office and trying to, I'll put this nicely, re-program the vice-principal.
Seven Types of Sidekicks
According to Sims, there are seven kinds of sidekicks:
The Chronicler (think Nick Caraway in The Great Gatsby).
The Servant Savant (think Jim, Huckleberry Finn's trustworthy companion).
The Gang (think Ron and Hermione in Harry Potter).
The Rogue (think HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey).
The Enigma (think Creature in Frankenstein).
The Pain in the Rear (think Chris in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance).
The Loyalist (think Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings.) (pp. 58-60)
Fuzzy fits the seventh type perfectly.
Their primary purpose is simple: to show that at least one person feels the hero is worthy enough to deserve a steadfast friend. They act as messengers, deflect unwanted attention from the hero, or come to the hero's rescue. [Fuzzy decides it is his duty to figure out why Max's test scores are plummeting and to do something about it. Which leads to the afore-mentioned altercation with BARBARA.] Ultimately, however, a true loyalist must be willing to sacrifice his life--literally or metaphorically--for the protagonist. (p. 60)
Which Fuzzy does. But since this is science fiction, Max doesn't get thrown out of school, Fuzzy gets a second life, and all's well that ends well.
Sims suggests that in order for writers to create unforgettable sidekicks they should "possess some or all of the following attributes." Let's see how Fuzzy measures up.
They are fiercely loyal to the hero. Check.
They are different in at least one key respect from the hero (in temperament, class, gender, race, age, etc.) Check. You can't be more different than non-human.
They possess a strong moral compass (rogues being the notable exception.) Check. Even though Max does not have a conscience, as he becomes more and more human, he has a growing sense of right and wrong.
They have unique, useful skills. Check. Fuzzy's ability to access information instantaneously, tap into the school's computer system, and compute logical outcomes is very useful to Max.
They are somehow dependent on the hero, if only emotionally. Check. Fuzzy finds "himself" attached to Max.
They're not looking to overshadow or be more valuable than the hero. Check
They have unique backstories and character arcs. Check. Even as a robot, he learns and grows.
They are too essential to the hero and the story to be killed off. Check. (p. 60)
Erin Moon, the narrator, did an excellent job of portraying the different characters. Even though I finished listening to this book a month ago, I can still hear Fuzzy's voice in my head!
Classroom Resource
Not only could a middle school teacher ask her students about the role of the sidekick, this book could generate great classroom discussion:
What is the role of technology in schools and society?
If you were a student at Vanguard, would you have made the same choices as Max? Why or why not?
Can an inanimate object like a robot have a conscience? Could it/he make moral decisions?
How was Fuzzy sacrificial for Max? Can a robot do this?
Fuzzy gets a "second life." Are there implications of this theme?
Giveaway
Sims provides great reasons to have a sidekick in a novel. In your comment, let me know if you have a sidekick in your book. What role does he or she serve? If you're not a writer, who is your favorite sidekick in literature? This giveaway ends on March 3. As before, if you are an educator, new follower to my blog, or share this on social media let me know and I'll put your name in twice. If you are new to my blog, make sure you leave your email address.
April 3, 2018
This book is about a robot student named Fuzzy who joins a public school filled with normal human kids. Fuzzy must learn how to interact with the other kids in the school, and thanks to the smart AI inside Fuzzy he can teach himself new things by experiencing them. For example: Learning to dodge kids when walking in the hallway so he doesn't bump into them. Fuzzy quickly befriends a girl named Max and she helps him with the first few weeks at school. This school is also very technically advanced so it has a robot vice-principal that pretty much runs the place and decides what happens and who gets certain punishments during school hours. This sinister robot principal is named Barbara and it's uncovered that she's an evil force that is unfairly grading and treating students badly in the school. Max with the help of Fuzzy has to take her down and save the school.
My opinions on the book: I think this book is very thrilling and it has strong characters that have very cool defining qualities. My favourite character is Fuzzy because even when he is shut down by other people he still tries to find a way to keep going. He persevered to make a statement and help the school which I find really inspiring. I like Tom Angleberger's style of writing and the way he comes up with his story lines. This was an interesting book from start to finish. There was never a dull moment.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it. It was lots of fun to read and sucks you right in. It's a real page turner.
My opinions on the book: I think this book is very thrilling and it has strong characters that have very cool defining qualities. My favourite character is Fuzzy because even when he is shut down by other people he still tries to find a way to keep going. He persevered to make a statement and help the school which I find really inspiring. I like Tom Angleberger's style of writing and the way he comes up with his story lines. This was an interesting book from start to finish. There was never a dull moment.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it. It was lots of fun to read and sucks you right in. It's a real page turner.
April 16, 2018
This book is about middle-school robot, Fuzzy, just trying to make it through the gruesome days in middle school. He teams up with another robot, Maxine, as a partner in crime and helpful guide to get through middle school. The two robots soon realize that their vice principal, commuter programming system, Barbara. The students realize that Barbara is going to try to take over their systems and make them into the "perfect students" who never break the rules. The students must band together and re-wire their systems in order to not be taken over by the evil Barbara. Because of its inclusion of robot children and evil computer programs, this story is aimed towards young readers(4th grade+). The realism in this story comes from the friendship between Max and Fuzzy, showing that their friendship made middle school troubles much easier for them both, something readers may be able to connect to. However, I felt that was mainly the only connection that readers could connect to the story, because the rest deals with robots and computer systems, problems that readers would never experience. I was not able to make a personal connection with this story, or even really enjoy it, but the author really did capture the essence of science fiction in this story with the incorporation of robots and technology ruling the world. I would use this story in my classroom as a creative writing assignment, where the students can act as though they are the students in this story, writing about how they would take down the evil Barbara. I do not see much use for this story as a teaching tool, besides if my students enjoy science fiction.
March 2, 2019
While technically scifi and futuristic, all kids will find plenty to relate to in this fun novel because the setting is quite realistic in many ways. Middle school student Maxine (or Max for short) befriends a test robot apply named "Fuzzy" - named because it uses fuzzy logic. There are many layers to this book and interesting points of discussion for classes. My favourite is the juxtaposition of binary or Boolean logic - represented (initially) by Barbara, the school's AI vice principal and the highly rigid standardised testing of student progress and behaviour (Constant Upgrades) - and fuzzy logic which more realistically reflects the ambiguities and messiness of real life (especially in a typical middle school!). Barbara represents a logical extension of the standardised testing line of thought therefore posing a sobering pause for reflection. Max, Fuzzy and Barbara all tackle the theme of independent thought, how we make decisions and what it means to be free thinking. Are we really prepared for AI as it approaches human cognition therefore also taking on our human imperfections? If we don't create AI that can think and reason for itself, then are we really creating AI at all?
With all this existential food for thought, this book remains relatable on many levels. Themes of friendship, family, bullying and trust all bound in a middle school setting keep this book firmly in the world we know and can relate to. The pace and action of the story is crafted well building to a great finishing twist.
Thoroughly recommended for a wide age range.
With all this existential food for thought, this book remains relatable on many levels. Themes of friendship, family, bullying and trust all bound in a middle school setting keep this book firmly in the world we know and can relate to. The pace and action of the story is crafted well building to a great finishing twist.
Thoroughly recommended for a wide age range.
January 30, 2023
3.5
I have wanted to read this book since before it was published, all because of the Dan Santat cover art. After years of failing, we finally chose it for a family read.
For context, we've read a couple of juvenile sci-fi titles in a row, the other being Holm's the Lion of Mars. Three out of four family members would recommend Fuzzy over Lion. I am one of those three.
I found the story unique, engaging, and thought provoking. Angleberger navigates questions regarding what it means for AI to become sentient quite deftly for his target audience. Barbara manages to be very evil from a school educator or student point of view; it's a great foil for Fuzzy.
My biggest problem with this book is the stealing Fuzzy/tech sub plot. It goes quite literally nowhere. At best, you might be able to view it as a potential set up for a sequel that never materialized. As such, it's utterly pointless and could have been cut with minimal changes to the rest of the story. It's frustratingly pointless. Also, the parents in the book have some semblance of character and story at the start of the text, but fade to angry background yellers as the story moves along. Does the mom ever get reconciled to robots? What happens with her job situation? I hope you have a great imagination, because otherwise you will never know.
Still - "Middle school is hell and you have to be a badass to survive" is one of the most relatable sentences I've ever come across. My seventh grader pumped her fist in agreement while we read.
I have wanted to read this book since before it was published, all because of the Dan Santat cover art. After years of failing, we finally chose it for a family read.
For context, we've read a couple of juvenile sci-fi titles in a row, the other being Holm's the Lion of Mars. Three out of four family members would recommend Fuzzy over Lion. I am one of those three.
I found the story unique, engaging, and thought provoking. Angleberger navigates questions regarding what it means for AI to become sentient quite deftly for his target audience. Barbara manages to be very evil from a school educator or student point of view; it's a great foil for Fuzzy.
My biggest problem with this book is the stealing Fuzzy/tech sub plot. It goes quite literally nowhere. At best, you might be able to view it as a potential set up for a sequel that never materialized. As such, it's utterly pointless and could have been cut with minimal changes to the rest of the story. It's frustratingly pointless. Also, the parents in the book have some semblance of character and story at the start of the text, but fade to angry background yellers as the story moves along. Does the mom ever get reconciled to robots? What happens with her job situation? I hope you have a great imagination, because otherwise you will never know.
Still - "Middle school is hell and you have to be a badass to survive" is one of the most relatable sentences I've ever come across. My seventh grader pumped her fist in agreement while we read.
August 4, 2017
Fuzzy was a fun romp of a science fiction novel that will easily appeal to middle schoolers. Containing so many of the middle school tropes--bad adults; well meaning, but trouble making kids; fast moving plot; ending scene of mass kid-generated chaos. This book even includes futuristic (ie made up) cussing. Clearly an all around winner. I would love to see this made into a movie. Bonus points for referencing other famous sci-fi.
A few minor complaints, minor characters seem formulaic and come and go at plot whims without having much life to themselves and the adults in the book are almost a little too stupid and not well developed. However, these are minor problems compared to the quick moving plot.
Personal notes on the audiobook: I did not enjoy the different voices for all the different characters. Although they were consistent, I had a hard time following them. I also did not realize how much shouting some of the robots would do and that was personally jarring.
Age notes: This would be good for 5th grade through 8th and it is very specific to those grade levels. Younger grades aren't going to be mature enough for the kids vs adults theme and older students likely are not going to be as interested.
A few minor complaints, minor characters seem formulaic and come and go at plot whims without having much life to themselves and the adults in the book are almost a little too stupid and not well developed. However, these are minor problems compared to the quick moving plot.
Personal notes on the audiobook: I did not enjoy the different voices for all the different characters. Although they were consistent, I had a hard time following them. I also did not realize how much shouting some of the robots would do and that was personally jarring.
Age notes: This would be good for 5th grade through 8th and it is very specific to those grade levels. Younger grades aren't going to be mature enough for the kids vs adults theme and older students likely are not going to be as interested.
November 6, 2018
Fuzzy by Tom Angleberger, 263 pages. Amulet Books, 2016. $14.95.
Language: G, Mature Content: G, Violence: G
BUYING RECOMMENDATION: EL, MS – OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Barbara is the computerized assistant principal at Max’s school. She’s programmed for perfection and wants nothing less than exemplary test scores and behavior. Fuzzy is an experimental robot that’s been sent to the school to improve its artificial intelligence by hanging out with kids. Soon Fuzzy figures out that Barbara is intentionally lowering Max’s test scores so he will be sent to the remedial school. In her artiticially intelligent opinion, Max and his friends are bringing down the school’s rating.
I love Tom Angleberger, but this book doesn’t tickle the funny bone as much as either the Origami Yoda or Qwikpick Papers series. Both of those series were solidly realistic. The plot in this book gets a little too far out there to be as enjoyable. On top of that, it gets muddled with a couple of idiotic criminals who want to kidnap Fuzzy. The side plot is under developed and detracts from the main plot. It’s a fun read, but not a home run.
Reviewer: Valerie McEnroe, Media Specialist
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
Language: G, Mature Content: G, Violence: G
BUYING RECOMMENDATION: EL, MS – OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Barbara is the computerized assistant principal at Max’s school. She’s programmed for perfection and wants nothing less than exemplary test scores and behavior. Fuzzy is an experimental robot that’s been sent to the school to improve its artificial intelligence by hanging out with kids. Soon Fuzzy figures out that Barbara is intentionally lowering Max’s test scores so he will be sent to the remedial school. In her artiticially intelligent opinion, Max and his friends are bringing down the school’s rating.
I love Tom Angleberger, but this book doesn’t tickle the funny bone as much as either the Origami Yoda or Qwikpick Papers series. Both of those series were solidly realistic. The plot in this book gets a little too far out there to be as enjoyable. On top of that, it gets muddled with a couple of idiotic criminals who want to kidnap Fuzzy. The side plot is under developed and detracts from the main plot. It’s a fun read, but not a home run.
Reviewer: Valerie McEnroe, Media Specialist
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
September 12, 2018
Fuzzy put himself in danger just to save Max from getting expelled. His plan was to stop Barbra from telling Max's parents about their plan, that would tell them whether Barbra was changing their test scores. I can't believe that Dr.Jones and Nina programmed a robot that could think like a human and care for someone. Fuzzy went to Barbra's operating room and tried to re-programme her. He managed to stop Barbra from telling Max's parents but he couldn't stop Barbra from killing him. Dr. Jones and Nina got a message from Fuzzy saying HELP ME, they managed to get a hold of Max and run down to the room. When the door opened all they could see was Fuzzy's head rolling towards them. It took Nina and Max 2 weeks to fix fuzzy, he could only talk but that was okay. All his wires and pieces were scattered over the room. Overall I really liked this book and I think that the main message is, you have to fight for your friends when they are in trouble even if it means risking yourself.
August 3, 2019
I read this because it's a Nutmeg Nominee for 2020. I liked the story- almost everything in this world is run by computers and/or AI. For adults, it's a little scary because it seems that this is the way the world is going, but kids will probably think this is cool. The school is basically run by a central computer, whose main goal is to have a high-achieving school, which means everyone needs to behave, do really well on standardized (computer administered) tests...everyone needs to tow the line. Fuzzy is a robot who's been assigned to be a "student" at the school; he has been programmed to learn and to adapt to new situations. He learns that Maxine has a problem; she has been targeted by the Vice Principal who wants to get her transferred out of her high functioning school.Fuzzy reprograms himself so he can solve the problem. Cute story...I think upper elementary students will enjoy this.
March 29, 2019
3/26/2019 ~ A suspense/thriller set in the near future when schools are run by computers, every aspect of children's lives at school is controlled by test scores, and corporate interests may outweigh educational interests. Noone whose read the later Origami Yoda books by Angleberger will be surprised by Angleberger's sarcastic and derogatory look at the testing culture and use of data that has permeated schools in this near-future setting. Teachers will be groaning, and I'm curious to hear kids' reactions.
Beyond being an page-turning suspense/thriller, the book is also a fascinating look at the role of robots in our future and how we need to consider our use of robots as they become near-sentient. This could lead to some fascinating conversations with kids - kids who may well have to make similar decisions about how much autonomy robots should have later in their own lives.
Beyond being an page-turning suspense/thriller, the book is also a fascinating look at the role of robots in our future and how we need to consider our use of robots as they become near-sentient. This could lead to some fascinating conversations with kids - kids who may well have to make similar decisions about how much autonomy robots should have later in their own lives.
July 17, 2019
Tom Angleberger author of the bestselling Origami Yoda series strikes again with a story which is sure to keep you up late reading (or under your desk) when the teacher isn't looking. Who knew RIP stood for Robot Integration Program. Can you image robots running your school? In a story with a "super secret purpose" (Angleberger,2016) will bring your curiosity to life, take your imagination to the limits and make you wonder about the ulterior motives by unexpected adults and robots.
You'll meet Max, a 7th grader, who's experiencing unexpected challenges with seemingly no way to prove herself to her parents and teacher, until one day when 'Fuzzy' shows up!
I challenge you to check out this book and let us know what you think...
You'll meet Max, a 7th grader, who's experiencing unexpected challenges with seemingly no way to prove herself to her parents and teacher, until one day when 'Fuzzy' shows up!
I challenge you to check out this book and let us know what you think...
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