UNBOXING LIBBY

In the distant future, humans are preparing to settle on Mars.

In order to test the feasibility of the new Martian communities, Minerva Social Computing has populated the planet with intelligent, humanoid robots, who have a variety of physical appearances. Many of their robots are based on characters from popular shows, such as A.I.Cademy Girls. One of them, the Libby model, is programmed to be cheerful, peppy, and upbeat. But Libby “Max” Maxwell, who has “Cornsilk” skin and “bright lemon yellow” hair, notices that she seems different from the other Libbies in Community 14. Max wants to befriend Roxanne, who’s programmed to be mean—“like the designated alpha mean girl that everyone hates”—someone who’d never be friends with a Libby. And, although Libby behaviors should be innate in her code, she has to try hard to be a Libby. She’s confused, frustrated, and angry—everything a Libby shouldn’t be. But in seeking fundamental truths about herself, she just might uncover a deeper truth about robot life on Mars that could threaten everything she knows. This charming, feel-good work turns the concept of robots resembling sentient American Girl–style dolls into a heartfelt exploration of self. Cherrywell’s debut thoughtfully delves into themes of self-exploration, bullying, friendship, and individuality. The strength of this novel lies in its character building, where initially cookie-cutter characters slowly become unique individuals with their own compelling narratives.

An endearing story about being true to oneself.