Book Review: The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown
Title: The Wild Robot Escapes
Author: Peter Brown
Release date: March 13th, 2018
It was last year that my son and I finished book one, ‘The Wild Robot,’ and we almost immediately dove into this, the sequel. For whatever reason, we kept getting sidetracked and we’d read a chapter here, a chapter there, until eventually we weren’t even picking it up at all, focused on other books that came along.
Now, that’s not to say this is a bad book right off the hop – far from it, this book is wonderful – it’s just more a commentary on the fact that while we started this off with the best intentions to read it right away after book one, life got busy. Finally, this past weekend, while camping, we wrapped it up and now we both can’t wait to check out the third one.
In my previous review, I said that the first book was perfect until the very ending – mild spoiler ahead – because instead of Roz simply enjoying that she was on the island, seeming free of the Reco’s and reunited with Brightbill and her animal friends, she decided to head back to the bigger world, where she came from to see how she fit.
With that in mind, it made a sequel necessary, at least if you wanted to follow Roz’s story and see where her life took her and my son and I wanted to do just that.
What I liked: The book pick’s up with Roz being ‘reconditioned’ and working at a farm. There, she befriends the farm animals – much like on the island – and tries to get any updates on Brightbill. The farm is owned by a man, who lives there with his two children. Unfortunately, their mother has passed away after an illness. It takes some time for Roz to cozy up and gain the children’s trust and when she finally reveals herself to them and asks for their help so that she can escape the farm and find Brightbill, the story really takes off.
Brown does a wonderful job of making Roz relatable while also being mysterious within this second book. It’s a showcase of trying to find one’s place while making their current situation work for them and as with book one, it shows that kindness is the best way to connect and make friends.
The story isn’t without antagonists. Once again, Reco’s are after her and we get some mangy coyotes vowing revenge on Roz for preventing them from feasting on the farm animals, but ultimately, the story is shaped by Roz trying to return to the island while also finding where she belongs and where she came from.
This is answered in the final quarter of the book and while I won’t go too far into this – spoilers and such – it worked really well to see how connection and humanity can triumph over policy and public pressure.
The ending was really enjoyable and this book can be read as a conclusion for the story, working to wrap up everything from book one and two while leaving the door open for the third book, which we already have and are excited to read.
What I didn’t like: Personally, I wish we had a further expansion on the wider world where Roz ends up. I’d like to learn more about how things operate, the way robots and humans interact and why things have gone the way they have. There’s a lot of dystopian hints throughout, but nothing gets really revealed and it’s left me wanting more.
Why you should buy this: If you read book one and loved it then you’ll love book two. Roz is a phenomenal character, one that teaches valuable lessons and connects richly with the reader. My son and I greatly enjoyed this one! Now, onto book three!
