Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 09/15/2022 *Starred Review* Fans of space exploration have eagerly followed the adventures of several Mars rovers as they roam our neighboring planet, but what if those robots could communicate their firsthand experiences? Enter a rover named Resilience, or Res for short, who gains consciousness in a sterile NASA laboratory. Res grows in knowledge and awareness with each passing day, gradually advanced by two scientists in particular. As they chat with the rover, play him music, and add endless code to Res’ repertoire, the robot begins to grasp the complicated realm of human emotion—or, at least, the robot equivalent. Res can communicate with other electronics (a cell phone, a tablet, another rover) and is warned that emotions have no place in the complicated mission. Still, Res can’t help viewing his existence in a new way, and when he ultimately lands on Mars, he’s determined to complete his mission, make his favorite humans proud, and find his way back home. It’s an endlessly inventive story, replete with gentle humor and playful pondering, offering a unique perspective on everything from music and electronics to loyalty and love. Res is written in a distinct, precise voice and sweetly countered by interspersed letters to the rover from a young girl intimately connected to his being, and both thoughtfully evolve as the years pass. A profound and poignant exploration of the universe both outside and within us all. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 10/01/2022 Gr 3–5—A fictional Mars Rover narrates its own journey from the robotics lab to the Red Planet. When two scientists, Rania and Xander, build a Mars rover named Resilience, neither are aware that it is paying attention to every detail. Through journal-style updates, interspersed with letters from Rania's daughter Sophie, Resilience meets robotic and human colleagues, survives a battery of tests, and travels millions of miles into outer space, all experienced through an emotional humanistic lens. The format of brief journal entries and letters is engagingly readable for even reluctant readers, and the humorous interactions between robots and machines keep the science-heavy story moving at a reasonable pace. Readers learn about becoming a Mars rover as Resilience does, turning into the expert as Resilience further learns how to be human. Warga's character development is consistent with human and nonhuman figures, particularly Rania and Sophie; their Arabic language and culture weave smoothly throughout the story and elevate the reading experience. Rania's very real challenges of being a working wife and mother in a male-dominated field round out an authentic, modern text. The arc of the story travels into the future for a happy ending that sacrifices realism for sweetness, but the overall experience is quite satisfying. VERDICT A fresh format and timely topic engage readers in this uplifting and deeply human sci-fi story.—Casey O'Leary - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.