The AI aspect is very well done but the gym class subplot felt like it was shoehorned in and didn't sync up with the rest of the story. Overall, I enjoyed this, especially our protagonist's developing relationship with his foster mom, and the audiobook has strong vocal characterizations which make for an easy listen.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook access.

This book was so fun! I listened to it in the car with my kids, and they couldn't wait to see what happened next.

Malcolm is a foster kid who is about to turn 13...the dreaded age that foster kids know means they have less of a chance of being adopted. He has a list. Ways to Get Adopted. He is trying to make himself more appealing to foster families. But when a local AI company contracts with the school to send a robot to increase standardized testing scores, he pulls the short stick and is forced to drag around the robot along with another kid who is a social outcast. NOT what he needs to be focused on in the next few short months.

What follows is a series of problems with the AI prioritizing scores and not education, battling between teachers and the administration who signed the contract, battles between the robot and Malcolm, and the AI causing much more of a stir than would actually be allowed IRL...well, I hope.

This was not only a fun book, but it also had the found family trope, one of my favs, and an important lesson for kids - AI is dangerous!

Excellent middle grades book that captivated me and my son immediately and explores several compelling themes: AI, obviously, also foster care and adoption, friendship, and honesty. Highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for the audiobook ARC!

As a reader and educator, I loved the foster care representation. Seeing the world through Malcolm’s eyes as he navigates the pressure of being “the good kid” to earn a forever home was deeply affecting. His story is equal parts funny, vulnerable, and sharply real. The author did an excellent job capturing decisions that may look confusing to the outside world, but Malcolm justifies with his need to walk on eggshells in his quest to be adopted.

The book also offers a great, accessible look at AI in education and raises meaningful questions about standardized testing, equity, and what makes us human. The classroom critique felt especially on point.

💬 Final Take:
The AI Incident is a perfect blend of sci-fi and soul. With humor, heart, and just the right amount of chaos, this story reminds us that the most human thing we can do is care for each other. A great classroom read or audiobook pick for middle grade readers!

𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑨𝑰 𝑰𝑵𝑪𝑰𝑫𝑬𝑵𝑻 𝒃𝒚 𝑱.𝑬. 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒔, graciously #gifted in both ARC & finished copy by @levinequerido and published this week!

This is the second MG book I have read from Thomas, and I love how she incorporates current topics with real world scenarios in 8-12 year old frameworks. This one clearly engages the topics of technology, but even deeper issues are the real story.

Malcolm is a brown-skinned, "size-and-a-half too big" Afro, foster kid who is starting a new school with another temporary foster mom. As a 12-year-old, he is keenly aware of his odds of finding a forever family, so has created a checklist. When a new AI project is announced at his new school, he somewhat reluctantly takes part, and what emerges may threaten more than just the school, but his future as well.

The inner life of this young man is being formed by the decisions made both around and from him. He sees how others act and must process what he will do, based on what he knows is right, and ultimately with the goal of being adopted.

My heart went out to Malcolm in so many ways. As an adult reading this, it was a good reminder of how important young people are and how seemingly small things can make a difference, good or bad.

I would imagine this would be a fantastic way to open up discussions with kids about many topics; some hard.

I was able to add the @recordedbooks audio thanks to @netgalley and I loved that infusion of voices to my experience! Ruffin Prentiss captured middle school angst and complicated adults well. I would think it would be a great addition to younger readers to have both formats like I did.

this was a fun and clever story that mixes school drama with a wild tech twist. it shows how fast technology is changing and gets kids thinking about how we use it—and what happens when it goes too far. perfect for middle grade readers who like mystery, humor, and a little chaos.

thank you to the publisher for sending me free copies of both the book + audio!

Picture it. Everything is going as smooth as possible as you transition into 7th grade. You know you have the state assessment coming up, but your teachers are pretty great about preparing you (except for that one language arts teacher who drones on and on.) Yeah, there are situations outside of school that you have to deal with, like being in foster care as you approach your 13th birthday, but that, at the moment, is manageable.

Then your school district signs a contract with a new AI in education company that is supposed to majorly boost test scores in your building on the state assessment. (Note, the contract being signed is a BIG deal.) Next thing you know, Francis, an AI powered robot-thingy joins your school. You volunteer, along with a new friend, to be the robot's handler. As the days pass, the robot, er, Francis, becomes more and more aware of things going on everywhere, not just at school, but in your life, too. But, it's a robot, how can it become more aware of things?!

That's where things go off the rail. Francis declares that it's better than a teacher, and its goal is to take over as superintendent of the district. And the hopeful adoption deadline of 13? Francis decides to take care of that, too.

What ensues in the AI Incident by J.E. Thomas may seem really far out there, but in today's reality, with AI encroaching on all areas of life, a robot like Francis isn't as out there as it may seem. I love how this story appeals to students who are at that age where they may be diving into AI, and excited about all it can do. The early adolescent brain (As Malcom often refers to his pre-frontal cortex) isn't yet able to discern reality from fiction, and doesn't quite yet have the questioning capability needed to utilize AI in a safe, and educational way.

Thomas does a masterful job of teaching a critical lesson - you can't believe everything you read online, including what AI provides - in a way that will reach kids and teachers alike. He also explores the dangers of schools and districts letting AI take over tasks that don't seem that big of a deal. Opening the door a little to this amazing technology, without fully understanding all aspects of how it works, can lead to quite the messy adventure!

I really enjoyed this read, and am eager to bring it to my students and colleagues this fall!