
Content levels
Trigger warnings
Protagonist archetypes
Synopsis
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR for The New York Times, NPR, Publisher's Weekly, and more!★ SEVEN STARRED REVIEWS! ★“It’s rare to find a book so thought-provoking and haunting that also feels like it’s welcoming the reader with a warm hug.” - The New York Times With all the heart of The Wild Robot and the wonder of A Rover's Story, two children and one robot form an unbreakable bond as they survive in a world that values the efficiency of tech over the care of humanity. JieJie and her little brother, DiDi, are living on their own in a barren desert while their mother works tirelessly to earn their admission into Oasis City. Their days are filled with weathering sandstorms and scavenging for water, but everything changes when they come across an AI-powered robot lying dormant in an abandoned junkyard. Filled with equal parts hope and suspense, Oasis tells the story of a potentially not-so-distant future that you won’t ever forget. "Perfectly blending story and art, this deeply compelling fable assures middle-grade readers that, with resilience, adaptability, and the hope for connection, love can prevail even amid desolation." - Booklist, starred review "The children are at the heart of the narrative, and the family they form, unconventional as it may be, offers a breath of hope in a dark time." - Kirkus, starred review
Tags
Is Oasis appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 10 and up.
Children face harsh survival conditions in a desert while waiting for their mother, including weathering sandstorms and scavenging for water. Themes of abandonment and poverty are present but handled gently, with focus on hope and found family through friendship with a robot.
What to know going in
This book has mild violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include child harm, abandonment, and poverty (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Kids will love the adventure of two children befriending a robot and surviving together in a desert world, forming an unlikely family.