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Gear and Sea
The World has gone away, and it's not coming back.
On the wide endless ocean, in a ship shaped like a turtle with a mind of its own, are children-survivors of global destruction caused by robots the kids call 'clunkers'. But all the kids have are their stories, especially when it comes to the red, corrupted clunkers called rends, who destroy anything in their path without warning or mercy.
Ty and Raleigh are the oldest on the ship, and best friends, and when they find a clunker in pieces on one of the many islands the turtle ship visits, they bring it aboard with the intention of rebuilding it. Ty has her misgivings, but Raleigh wants to be ready to fight the monsters-even if the greatest monster they've faced is much closer than they realize.
Friendship, jealousy, and the guts to choose between them intertwine in this brand-new adventure in the Silent Guardians series, a world of robots and the kids who love them, created by GMB Chomichuk and Justin Currie.
On the wide endless ocean, in a ship shaped like a turtle with a mind of its own, are children-survivors of global destruction caused by robots the kids call 'clunkers'. But all the kids have are their stories, especially when it comes to the red, corrupted clunkers called rends, who destroy anything in their path without warning or mercy.
Ty and Raleigh are the oldest on the ship, and best friends, and when they find a clunker in pieces on one of the many islands the turtle ship visits, they bring it aboard with the intention of rebuilding it. Ty has her misgivings, but Raleigh wants to be ready to fight the monsters-even if the greatest monster they've faced is much closer than they realize.
Friendship, jealousy, and the guts to choose between them intertwine in this brand-new adventure in the Silent Guardians series, a world of robots and the kids who love them, created by GMB Chomichuk and Justin Currie.
- GenresScience Fiction
202 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 16, 2026
I don’t typically pick up YA or children’s novels, but I bought this book directly from the author and the world sounded really interesting, so I gave it a chance.
This book follows Ty, a teenager leading a group of 30 kids in a post-apocalyptic world. Robots are everywhere and they are autonomous. They have a simple Star Wars-like good and evil system (blue eyes are good and red eyes are bad). We don’t know where they came from, what motivates them, or how they change from good to evil. It seems to be a metaphor for humans who are corrupted by hatred or anger, and lose themselves.
Our author wrote this book in a world created by another author, so I understand her restrictions with world building. I found myself wanting to know more about the world. I was just expected to accept the simple view of the world and the simple history.
The story reminded me of Big Hero Six or Lost In Space, with the child who makes friends with a good robot (that can turn evil and have red eyes). The author did a good job using this trope in a book meant for early adolescents. Our robot was interesting and easy to like.
I have mixed feelings about our two main characters, Ty and Raleigh. They both felt single dimensional to me. Raleigh experienced some character growth, but it felt rushed. Ty struggles with the burden of leadership in a way that I would expect a child to do, so well done by the author. Her problems feel real and the author gives us a moment in the book where I truly wondered how Ty would get out of it.
A few spelling and editing errors.
I’ll keep this book on our shelf at home. If my kids grow up with my love of sci-fi, I’ll be happy to share this one with them.
This book follows Ty, a teenager leading a group of 30 kids in a post-apocalyptic world. Robots are everywhere and they are autonomous. They have a simple Star Wars-like good and evil system (blue eyes are good and red eyes are bad). We don’t know where they came from, what motivates them, or how they change from good to evil. It seems to be a metaphor for humans who are corrupted by hatred or anger, and lose themselves.
Our author wrote this book in a world created by another author, so I understand her restrictions with world building. I found myself wanting to know more about the world. I was just expected to accept the simple view of the world and the simple history.
The story reminded me of Big Hero Six or Lost In Space, with the child who makes friends with a good robot (that can turn evil and have red eyes). The author did a good job using this trope in a book meant for early adolescents. Our robot was interesting and easy to like.
I have mixed feelings about our two main characters, Ty and Raleigh. They both felt single dimensional to me. Raleigh experienced some character growth, but it felt rushed. Ty struggles with the burden of leadership in a way that I would expect a child to do, so well done by the author. Her problems feel real and the author gives us a moment in the book where I truly wondered how Ty would get out of it.
A few spelling and editing errors.
I’ll keep this book on our shelf at home. If my kids grow up with my love of sci-fi, I’ll be happy to share this one with them.
March 20, 2021
I'm not sure what i was expecting when i picked up this book, but i know i was expecting a bit more excitement. Although i do realize this is more for a younger audience, and so, looking at it from the perspective of a kid in grade school, it's a really good book. From an older kid or adult perspective, it was a nice, creative story.
Also off topic, it's funny how Goodreads screwed up and misspelled the authors name.
Also off topic, it's funny how Goodreads screwed up and misspelled the authors name.
July 28, 2025
Short but a fun read! I’ve been buried in adult books lately (most of them spicy), so reading this felt like I just regained a little bit of my innocence. 😂 I went into this thinking I might not connect with it because it’s YA, but I ended up really enjoying the plot. It was a roller coaster of emotions, especially for such a short book. There were so many lessons, definitely the kind of book I’d love for my kids to read someday.
The only thing I wish is that the ending had more to it. I didn’t really feel that sense of closure. There’s so much potential for a sequel! I would love for this to have a sequel, I’d definitely want to read on the kids growing, or how the world changes.
The only thing I wish is that the ending had more to it. I didn’t really feel that sense of closure. There’s so much potential for a sequel! I would love for this to have a sequel, I’d definitely want to read on the kids growing, or how the world changes.
May 29, 2019
This book was pitched to me very simply:
Peter Pan meets Iron Giant
I cannot think of a more apt description. Clearly written for a younger audience, I still found plenty of enjoyment from this Tale of Ty, Raleigh, and their struggles to maintain the life they have forged with their group of children.
Peter Pan meets Iron Giant
I cannot think of a more apt description. Clearly written for a younger audience, I still found plenty of enjoyment from this Tale of Ty, Raleigh, and their struggles to maintain the life they have forged with their group of children.
May 22, 2024
I love post-apocalyptic, humanity questioning, intergenerational-trauma related stories so very much
July 31, 2024
Did this book emotionally destroy me? Yes, yes it did. If you are into sci-fi dystopian fantasies, you need to add this book to your TBR.
December 9, 2024
We picked this up at a craft fair TODAY.
My 9 year old blasted through it, and loves it so much he wishes it was an audiobook too - which is high praise from him.
My 9 year old blasted through it, and loves it so much he wishes it was an audiobook too - which is high praise from him.
August 2, 2025
Love is guts!!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews