Reviewed by McKenzie Tritt for TeensReadToo.com
David is a popular jock. Charlie is an outcast who would rather spend his time alone or with his dad. Neither one, however, is very close to anyone.
When David's parents give him an attractive female Companion robot designed to encourage social interaction, things get a little haywire. David wants more than Rose is willing to give - and she shocks him when he tries too much. After a turn of events, Rose finds Charlie, and both connect to each other like never before. Each boy experiences what love and loss are and how to deal with the consequences.
John Cusick's story is an original, funny one that is very relevant in today's world of Facebook and texts. Though people can instantly be connected, they often aren't genuinely close. David and Charlie are typical teenagers who are experiencing just that until Rose, the gorgeous bot, comes along. She changes their perspectives after a few hard-earned lessons, teaching them that connections aren't immediate and that love is something we must work towards.
Charlie and David are likeable enough, but I wish we got to know more about them. We didn't know much about their pasts, nor their daily lives. I would've liked more involvement between real life and their time spent with Rose. I did, though, enjoy the focus on Rose and her development of feelings and interactions with the world around her. It became an interesting ethical debate, whether Rose was something that could simply be turned off, or whether she had developed real emotions that allowed her to live.
GIRL PARTS is a refreshing and humorous novel that brings up plenty of important questions about today's society. I recommend it to anyone looking for a contemporary science fiction read that will have you laughing. On another note, I look forward to a hopeful sequel, as I wish to learn more about Rose and to find out what happens after that gosh darn cliffhanger!
David is a popular jock. Charlie is an outcast who would rather spend his time alone or with his dad. Neither one, however, is very close to anyone.
When David's parents give him an attractive female Companion robot designed to encourage social interaction, things get a little haywire. David wants more than Rose is willing to give - and she shocks him when he tries too much. After a turn of events, Rose finds Charlie, and both connect to each other like never before. Each boy experiences what love and loss are and how to deal with the consequences.
John Cusick's story is an original, funny one that is very relevant in today's world of Facebook and texts. Though people can instantly be connected, they often aren't genuinely close. David and Charlie are typical teenagers who are experiencing just that until Rose, the gorgeous bot, comes along. She changes their perspectives after a few hard-earned lessons, teaching them that connections aren't immediate and that love is something we must work towards.
Charlie and David are likeable enough, but I wish we got to know more about them. We didn't know much about their pasts, nor their daily lives. I would've liked more involvement between real life and their time spent with Rose. I did, though, enjoy the focus on Rose and her development of feelings and interactions with the world around her. It became an interesting ethical debate, whether Rose was something that could simply be turned off, or whether she had developed real emotions that allowed her to live.
GIRL PARTS is a refreshing and humorous novel that brings up plenty of important questions about today's society. I recommend it to anyone looking for a contemporary science fiction read that will have you laughing. On another note, I look forward to a hopeful sequel, as I wish to learn more about Rose and to find out what happens after that gosh darn cliffhanger!
