The Wild Unknown by Emily Gale

The year is 2045 so it's not that far into the future. There are plenty of ideas in this book that actually could happen such as personal assistants worn in the ear called 'mica'; body transplants such as hearts from animals; food orders delivered by robots called 'Goodbots'; government surveillance drones everywhere; student progress monitored by robots at school with reports sent regularly to parents; and talking appliances!

The idea of humans with body parts from animals is a key concept in this story but you might over look it.  It links with the strange changes happening to Eddie and a couple of his classmates and is introduced about two thirds of the way through the book. Eddie begins to grow feathers; he is fully awake at night and so exhausted all day; his eyes seem to have changed to night vision; he can run like an athlete way beyond his usual pace; and he can even stay under the water for a long period with no ill effects.

What is happening? How did this start? Eddie receives a delicious food delivery during the school holidays.

The Goodbot "was the size and shape of a stocky black labrador with a flat face consisting of two shining eyes and a fixed smile. It made it's way to the gate on wheels and rose to smoothly unlatch it. Then it activated its legs to navigate the step and padded towards Eddie like a cat approaching prey. ... (the treat) had to be eaten within the hour, it must be something fresh and delicious. ...the smell was something else - an aroma of fried chicken, freshly baked bread and something mysterious but delicious. ... Maybe it would taste as good as it smelt, instead of as bad as it looked. It did! Wow! WOW!"

Eddie does not question this gift from his dad even though his dad has never sent a food gift like this before and more importantly his father never uses and is even suspicious of Goodbots.

Meanwhile a boy named Theo is missing. You also need to know Eddie's mother works as a fact checker for an organisation called TruthUp because in the past "deep fakes and news-bots had turned the world upside down. No one had been able to trust a single thing they read or watched. TruthUp was trying to make news real again." Luckily Eddie has help to solve or partly solve all of this, his own body changes and the missing boy,  from his friend Kit, Kit's sister Romy and his own computer-game playing brother Jude. 

There is an interesting if somewhat minor theme explored in this story is about politics. A new political party has emerged - it is called Revive and it consists of dead former Prime Ministers. That part did give me a jolt. 

Blurb from author page: It’s 2045 and the world is full of tech. Eddie has a bot in his ear giving him advice all day, a bathroom scale that identifies illnesses, and classroom bots keeping track of him at school. The streets are full of delivery bots and game tech is amazing. But tech can’t help the police find a missing boy called Theo, who was last seen at the river. When they abandon the search, Eddie and his friends sneak down to the river to look for clues. What they find doesn’t make any sense. Then strange things start happening to Eddie. He’s never been sporty but suddenly he’s a brilliant runner. When a friend is caught in the bottom of the pool, Eddie rescues her from drowning by holding his breath for a suspiciously long amount of time. He has excellent night vision – and there are hair-like feathers growing out of his skin. It’s exciting. It’s terrifying. How can it be both? And what do the changes in Eddie have to do with Theo’s disappearance?

I did read this book quite quickly which means the story held my attention and I did enjoy the "hopefully invented" world of the future. Sadly though, two things let this book down - one, in my view, is the pastel colour choice for the cover and the second is the rushed and slightly unresolved ending - I don't think a sequel is planned. By the end of the book (spoiler alert) I was still unsure why the kids had been used in this experiment run by Theo's parents. I did find a reviewer who loved the cover - these things are always so subjective and personal. You can read more plot details here. Here is a Q and A with Emil Gale. Emily also talks about her book on this podcast (40+ minutes).

The Wild Unknown is a thrilling and suspenseful novel that explores the consequences of AI reliance and how this will shape our future. Emily Gale opens up a discussion, prompting children to ask what the benefits of AI are, and what should they be concerned about? She also hints at how AI might influence people in complex spaces, such as political parties misusing it for their own ends, or the media manipulating it. Through Eddie’s transformation and search for Theo, Gale highlights the importance of human relationships, of being able to turn to each other for help and support, and the beauty of the natural world. For ages 9+.  Readings Melbourne

(Its's) an unsettling, yet a compelling mystery that reminds us that human connection, using our own smarts and working together is better and more effective than the most up-to-date technology. It shows that we need a balance, to save humanity, to keep the world safe, and to make sure we don’t destroy the environment. This is in part a warning, and in part an examination of what could happen if gene modification and manipulation become weapons against humanity. Emily Gale has done a wonderful job of exploring this, departing from her usual historical fiction which I adore. A great example of not letting technology rule our lives. The Book Muse

The manipulation of humans using animal parts reminded me of this very old book (part of a series of three):

Robot Responders by Smriti Daniel

This is a very different book from the ones I usually see from CSIRO Publishing. Huge thanks for my review copy. 

What to expect from this book

1: A short history of robots

2: The digital revolution

3: Say hello to the robots …

4: Robots to the rescue: From dangerous to discovery

5: Dive into the world of roboticists

6: Humans and bots: Spot the differences

7: Biomimicry: Inspired by nature

8: Robots in different environments

9: The future from here

Blurb from Lamont: Explore the fascinating world of robotic innovation in Robot Responders. Uncover how nature inspires engineers, discover the latest life-saving technologies, and get a glimpse of the next

generation of robots that are already in development. Meet the robots that dare to go where humans can't! From blazing fires and crumbling buildings to radioactive zones and stormy seas, rescue robots are on the front lines saving lives, exploring the unknown and tackling tasks too dangerous for people. Whether they're diving to the ocean floor, fixing satellites or cleaning hospitals, robots are redefining what's possible. Behind every heroic robot is brilliant design and cutting-edge technology. Think flexible joints, precision flight, lasers for mapping, and fire-fighting abilities to spray hundreds of litres of water in seconds. But success also depends on seamless teamwork between humans and machines.

The Teachers Notes list these questions for discussion:

• Police should be allowed to use robots in public places if it helps keep people safe.
• Robots should be allowed to enter private land or homes during emergencies, such as bushfires or floods, without asking first.
• It is okay for robots like Reef Sweeper to kill invasive animals if it helps protect native species.
• Robots should replace humans in very dangerous jobs, even if it means some people lose their jobs.
• Drones and robots should be allowed to watch animals and people from above if it helps scientists collect important information.
• Medical robots should be allowed to work inside the human body if they can treat people faster and more safely than doctors alone.
• Robots should be used in war if it means fewer human soldiers are harmed.
• Robots that collect information (photos, sounds or data) should always ask for permission first, even in emergencies.
• If a robot makes a mistake and causes harm, the people who designed it should be responsible.
• Robots should only be used to help humans and the environment, not to make money or gain power

Over the last few days I read a new Young Adult title for readers aged 16+ Once Upon Tomorrow by Karen Comer due May 2026. Part of the setting of this confronting story is set in 2125 and in that imagined future robots are not to be trusted, humans have brain implants, and all thoughts are monitored. The future world described by Karen Comer is not one I would want to live in. 

Robot Responders contains ethical questions for further discussion. I have selected a few and if I was sharing this book in my school library (senior Primary level and High School) I would copy some of the questions and then link them with a suggested fiction title. I do enjoy fiction middle grade books that feature robots so I have quite a few I can suggest which you can link with this nonfiction title.

The Last Human

Troofriend

Roboethics "Some (people) think we'll see robots in every kind of industry. Others would like to see stricter rules and regulations put in place now."

Dogtown

Privacy paw-trol "Imagine if your pet could remember everything it sees and hears. While that sounds super cool, it also means we need to think about privacy ... What rules should be in place to protect information we don't want to share?"

Curiosity

A Rover's Story

When is it too risky for humans? "Robots can go places that are too dangerous for humans, such as deep under the ocean or far into space. Do you think that's necessary? What do we gain - or lose - when we send a robot instead of a human being."

Our sister again

The Wild Robot

Who is in charge? "Should robots always obey the commands of their human partners? Or are there some situations where a robot should act based in its own judgement?"

Runaway Robot

Friends or machines? "Some people think that as robots become more lifelike and useful, they should have certain rights similar to humans or animals. Others believe that since they are human creations and don't have feelings, robots shouldn't have rights."

Monstrous Devices

Robots at the frontlines. "Should robots be used in military conflicts? ... Do you think it is every right to have a robot fight a human? ... what happens when one side can afford advanced robots and the other cannot?"