The Boy at the End of the World

May 15, 2011

A boy, a robot and a mammoth struggle to survive after the apocalypse.

Fisher "becomes born," as he thinks of it, out of a gel-filled pod in a destroyed Ark meant to preserve dozens of species along with human life after environmental cataclysm. He seems to have been endowed with a complete understanding of language and of his surroundings, and with, as he notes in awe, an awareness of hundreds of ways to catch fish: "I know all of them." He is accompanied by the somewhat damaged guardian robot Fisher christens Click and by a juvenile mammoth Fisher calls Protein (after deciding not to kill and eat the gentle giant...just yet). This trio makes its way across the North American continent in search of a second and finally a third Ark in order to help Fisher fulfill his mission of continuing the human species. Self-reinventing weaponry meant to defend each of the Arks leads to the destruction both of Fisher's birthplace and the Southern Ark, where an encounter with nano-technology is by turns hilarious and creepy. Part speculative fiction, part cinematic survival adventure, the novel features a brisk pace and clever and snappy dialogue.

The real, scary possibility of human destruction of our own environment is tempered by this diverting tale of the possibilities of continued existence and the meaning of hope, friendship and community. (Science fiction. 8-12)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

September 1, 2011

Gr 5-7-"This is what he knew: His name was Fisher. The world was dangerous. He was alone." Thousands of years before, a dying civilization created the Life Ark and filled it with perfectly preserved genetic specimens so that one day human culture might rise again. But when Fisher awakens among the Ark's twisted, smoking ruins, he realizes that he is the only survivor except for a slightly off-kilter robot he calls Click. Its stated purpose is to help Fisher "continue existing," but its rather wonky programming is not always reliable. They find clues that the long-dead scientists may have planted more than one Ark. If they can find that other installation, there may be hope. However, evolution hasn't been idle, and nature and the terrain have changed in unexpected and dangerous ways. The cross-continent trek parallels Fisher's own journey toward realizing his humanity. The story is set in a fascinating and at times chillingly altered North America in which scattered relics of the pre-cataclysm era will seem hauntingly familiar to 21st-century readers. Robot Click is a surprisingly complex character, and his deadpan insights add a welcome touch of humor to the sometimes dark plot. With strong themes of courage and self-reliance, this challenging and thought-provoking adventure is a fine choice for science-fiction collections.-Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.