 | War at home (Twisted) Author: Mara, Wil | |
| Price: $13.41 | ||
Summary:
Emma's family is obsessed with new tech, especially their new AI bot, Buddy. Buddy listens to everything they say and watches everything they do. With a Buddybox in every room, connected to every smart device in the house, it's impossible to avoid him. But Emma tries her best. Then the day comes when Emma is home alone and Buddy starts taunting her. In hi-lo text.
Reviews:
School Library Journal (-) (05/01/25)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 05/01/2025 Gr 6–8—The War at Home is a thin suspense tale about a smart home gone bad. Told in third person, Emma finds herself in an unexpected battle with Buddy, her smart home, as it tries to kill her with appliances and—even worse—deletes her homework. The story would be timely if it wasn't so reductive, with an ending is so simple that it's comical. Overall, the writing lacks nuance, relying on stereotypical fears of AI gone awry and reads like a smart device wrote its own book after watching outdated tech thrillers. VERDICT An overall uninspiring package, but it may appeal to a new generation of young luddites. - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
