Kuhlman, Evan. Brother From A Box.

Kuhlman, Evan.    Brother From A Box.     Simon & Schuster/ Atheneum    304p $16.99 978-1-4424-2658-0       elem/ms     E-BNe         Science Fiction  

Matthew Rambeau knows that his father and uncle are great inventors, but imagine his surprise when he gets a new robot-brother in a box from France!  Family healing, espionage and humorous encounters blend to produce a hilariously creative book! 

Norman the robot is comical and endearing as he attempts to fit into Matthew’s family and school life.  Needless to say, upon Norman’s arrival from France, Matthew’s life changes.  There are two conflicts that must be resolved for Norman to peacefully coexist in the U. S. with Matthew and his family.  First, some family healing must take place.  Mrs. Rambeau lost her first child Lucien soon after delivery, and initially she rejects Norman because he looks exactly like her deceased son.  Next, Uncle Jean-Pierre of France and Matthew’s dad of New York City designed the robot, but Jean-Pierre’s girlfriend Veronique actually built him.  She is disgruntled because they won’t go public with their invention, and she leaves Jean-Pierre.  Espionage, in the form of an attempt to steal Norman, greatly adds to the excitement!  In addition to a perfectly developed plot, the comic element cannot be ignored!  Children will love this book!  Norman’s antics include abilities that are ever more amazing to Matthew as they occur!  Kuhlman has invented a robotic character that every child in the world will want to own, and that is no easy feat!  Forty years ago this book would have been classified as science fiction, but now its premise is believable and in the near future, attainable!  What Kuhlman did that is futuristic is to create a robot that can think and problem-solve for himself, and with each new situation that arises, Norman wins over everyone around him.          

Robots-Fiction, Family-Fiction, Fantasy               --Martha Squaresky