The Second Life of Snap

Boston Globe¡ªHorn Book Fiction Honor Book”A profoundly relevant dystopian tale powered by one resourceful girl and a robot worth rooting for.” ¡ªKirkus Reviews (starred review)Twelve-year-old Zuzu Santos doesn¡¯t want a robot. She and her best friends 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. A gripping, stand-alone, thematically rich survival story by two-time Newbery Medalist Erin Entrada Kelly, for fans of The Wild Robot and A Rover¡¯s Story. 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.Erin Entrada Kelly tells a moving story of friendship and family, rich with themes and characters that will resonate with readers. The Second Life of Snap is a futuristic book for middle graders that is grounded, full of heart and humor, and unforgettable. An excellent choice for fans of The Wild Robot, A Rover¡¯s Story, and Erin Entrada Kelly¡¯s own We Dream of Space.