Runaway Robot

A comic and compelling tale set in a near-future filled with automated buses and dust-hog street cleaners, uproariously illustrated by Steven Lenton * Guardian *
What a funny, charming, life-affirming book. -- Richard Osman
The world he imagines is cleverly conceived and the spirit of fun and adventure is pure Cottrell Boyce, but there are also messages about acceptance and diversity, tucked away between the madcap antics, which will resonate with readers of every age. Expect plenty of laughs, some unexpected twists and turns, and a big smile as the last page turns. * Lancashire Evening Post *
A masterpiece that deserves to sell millions -- Amanda Craig * New Statesman *
A funny and heartwarming adventure * Ni4Kids *
A brilliantly observed and sensitively written story about two unlikely best friends who help rebuild each other. There were plenty of moments which really made me chuckle but also some shocking reveals and scenes which made my bottom lip tremble a little. I would definitely recommend it for readers aged 8+ * Library girl *
Storytelling at its snortingly-funny, hugely enjoyable and heartily-emotional best… a little bit warm and wise, a little bit tender and touching; there is a LOT to love about this book * The Reader Teacher *
Frank’s imagining of this futuristic world where pizza ovens deliver your pizza and driverless buses is really brilliant. Strangely it feels like you could touch it, it’s so close and yet in my mind it still feels like a lifetime away. For me that made the story feel more real and added to the warmth I felt about this compelling tale. The characterisation is genuinely brilliant and wonderfully diverse * BookLover Jo *
I was really looking forward to reading this book and I can honestly say I was not disappointed. This is a tale of humour, humanity and two friends trying to get to the truth * Books For Topics *
Cottrell-Boyce writes with confidence and flair, spilling his story into the reader’s head with artistry and comedy, so that readers are equally amused and enthralled, but also touched with a large brush of heart. He has a keen eye for human quirks, and seeing them play out both robotically as well as in humans, is rather fun. And Steven Lenton’s illustrations create that extra dimension of humour. * Minerva Reads *
this is a story that will stick in the reader's mind long after the last page is read * Parents In Touch *
hilarious, complex and hugely satisfying * Booktrust *
Confidently written with heart and humour, the unputdownable Runaway Robot will have children roaring with laughter and wanting a best friend robot of their own! * Armadillo *
Runaway Robot is a slapstick but complex tale of two companions who work to put each other back together after falling apart. Every page is a joy to read * South China Morning Post *
Alfie likes to hang around airports because the people there look as happy as he is not. He has a prosthetic limb – making him sympathetic to Eric, the giant, damaged robot he finds in lost property. Eric has not only lost an arm, but half his memory of some very important information. A riotous adventure ensues involving skulduggery, historic injustice and even a girl. For 8 yrs+ * The Daily Telegraph *
There is, as always in Frank Cottrell-Boyce’s narratives, a real beating, human heart. Underlying this hugely entertaining story is an understanding of how children, like Alfie and his friends at the Limb Lab, cope with the experience of traumatic, life-changing injuries, and about the prejudices, real or imagined, that they experience from adults and their schoolmates. It also tackles the emotional and mental health issues that arise from these experiences. However, it is also a book about hope, the great strength of the human spirit and the capability that modern technology has to enrich lives. I would whole-heartedly recommend Runaway Robot. It is funny, thought-provoking and an easy read for most KS2 children. No doubt it will become another Frank Cottrell-Boyce hit -- NATE * Teaching English *
Frank Cottrell-Boyce’s stories make you laugh and cry. Whether writing about two bereaved brothers and their stash of illegal money (Millions), or the first 11-year-old to go into space (Cosmic) or a boy whose missing limb and rebellious attitude to authority is exactly what is needed to rescue a marvellous lost invention (Runaway Robot), he is the real deal for children of eight and over. * Guardian, Amanda Craig *