Your Robot Dog Will Die

by Arin Greenwood Narrated by Sandy Rustin

Overview

Fusing the heart of Julie of the Wolves with the imagination of Little Brother and Ship Breaker, this speculative YA is a must-listen for any dog lover.

In the mid-21st century, dogs are all but extinct. An experiment gone awry caused every canine on Earth to become hyperintelligent. When as a species they stopped wagging their tails, hysteria ensued - followed by a program of mass euthanasia. Now the only surviving dogs are relegated to a sanctuary off the coast of Florida: Dog Island. There, they are studied in a wild, feral, and protected state. And there, too, their robot replacements are tested before being sold for mass consumption.

Seventeen-year-old Nano Miller was born and bred on Dog Island, as were her two best friends, Jack and Wolf. Life has been mostly wonderful except for annual heartbreak, when another robot dog is torn from her arms and replaced with the latest model. And more recently, there is the heartbreak of her brother, Billy, who vanished without a trace a year earlier. Wolf, there to console Nano, has suddenly become more than a friend. (Bad news for Jack.) With the excitement of a surprise first romance, Nano is happier than ever, in spite of her loss. But then she makes a discovery that upends everything she took for granted: a living puppy who wags its tail. And there is no way she is letting this dog go.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

A Children's Book Council 'Hot Off the Press' Pick for April
YALSA's 2019 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers
Winner of Creative Loafing's 'Best of the Bay' Award for Best Local Author

Praise for Your Robot Dog Will Die

“Only a true dog lover could have written this marvelous book. By setting the story in a dystopian world where real dogs are no more, its artful storytelling makes the best possible case for treating dogs well, as that is what they so richly deserve for giving us unconditional love like no other creature on this earth. This book will make you smile and give your real-life canine extra hugs, and really, what could be better than that?”
—W. Bruce Cameron, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Dog’s Purpose
 
“This novel is a perfect choice for animal lovers, adventure lovers, and those who enjoy books with unique plots. Anyone who rescues animals? It’s a must-read!”
—Pamela Kramer, Huffington Post contributor and animal advocate 

“Robot Dog weds sci-fi adventure to a heart-tugging human/canine love story, and the result is an unforgettable read. I adored this book and couldn’t put it down!”
—Gwen Cooper, New York Times bestselling author of Homer's Odyssey and My Life in a Cat House 
 
“This book is weird, and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible.”
—Eric Smith, Paste Magazine

“Our most anticipated indie YA.”
—Barnes & Noble Teen Blog

“A wild little tale that dances on the edge of your heartstrings . . . This book had me overcome with feelings of hope, anguish, fear, and inspiration. Arin's distinct ability to capture the world that we are careening toward if we are not careful left me feverishly turning pages in hopes that there is a way to save us all from such a bleak future, a world without our best furry friends. I could not put this book down!”
—Deidre Franklin, founder of Pinups for Pit Bulls and author of The Pit Bull Life: A Dog Lover's Companion

“Satisfying and wistful, with an ending that will thrill every animal rescuer out there. Impossible to put down.”
—Debby McMullen, author of How Many Dogs: Using Positive Reinforcement to Manage a Multiple Dog Household

“Your Robot Dog Will Die is a fascinating and well-written novel that will make both lovers of dystopian fiction and animals want to wag their tail.”
—Annie England Noblin, author of Sit! Stay! Speak! and Pupcakes 

“Arin Greenwood tackles animal welfare challenges like no one has before. Do we save animals? Do we challenge the way things are and have always been? According to Greenwood, the answer is yes. And I could not agree more.”
—Shannon Glenn, Executive Director of My Pit Bull is Family 

“One of the most thought-provoking books I have read this year . . . [an] engrossing tale that, while exploring brutal actions, ends in a way guaranteed to warm hearts.”
—Best Friends Magazine

“There is no putting down this fun, quirky read.”
—The New Barker 

“An unusual, quirky book with unexpected twists and turns.”
—Pet Connection Magazine 
“A very unique approach . . . suspenseful and exciting!”
—Seattle Book Review

“Skirts the line between science fiction and speculative fiction . . . a unique story well-suited to reluctant readers.”
—YALSA's 2019 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers

“A really fun book about hope and discovery.”
—Book Riot, "Hey YA" Podcast 

“It's an intense read, sure to leave an impression, and readers will likely have difficulty getting Dog Island out of their heads.”
—Shelf Awareness 

“Compelling, [and] also zany . . . It’s smart, fun, and while it will make you consider how we can better treat our furry best friends, it won’t bring on flashbacks of that time in second grade when you read Where the Red Fern Grows and sobbed into your animal crackers on the swing set.”
—LitReactor
 
“This book definitely creates an interesting philosophical conundrum. Readers will enjoy Greenwood tackling ethical dilemmas around life, suffering and what it means to take care of the world around us.”
—RT Book Reviews 

“Tacitly challenges our notions of kindness and our world view of bioethics . . . The way she weaves this delightfully heartbreaking, comically sobering dystopian story sets her work apart from most dystopian YA.”
—Creative Loafing

“Fast-paced and entertaining . . . Arin has a deft touch.”
—Marianas Variety

“A meaningful read for teens and adults of all ages.”
—BarkPost

“I loved the book! It's so well done—I was hooked from the get-go. Plus, if you're conversant with the world of animal welfare, it's hard not to see Your Robot Dog Will Die as a gripping allegory.” 
—Duncan Strauss, host of "Talking Animals" 

“It is a great read, and [Arin Greenwood] is a brilliant writer.”
—Raise the Woof Podcast

“Funny, fresh, and self-assured, Your Robot Dog Will Die is a charming, gripping speculative look at the darker side of animal activism. Read this book! Your human brain will thank you.”
—Micol Ostow, bestselling author of Mean Girls

“The novel explores the gap between human intention and impact . . . A provocative reflection on humanity's increasingly damaging effects on the natural world.”
—Kirkus Reviews 

“A thought-provoking story line . . . Quirky details and imaginative tech characterize the simultaneously futuristic and off-the-grid environment of Dog Island.”
—Booklist 
“Your Robot Dog Will Die is best read with a warm puppy in your lap. Don't have one? This book will make you want to head to your nearest shelter and pick up a furry companion. Everyone who loves a rescue animal should read this smart YA novel.”
—Erin Ruberry, editor of the "In Better News" newsletter 

“A fun and engaging romp through a slightly upended future . . . deals with some of our most pressing animal-ethics issues with lovable dogs (real and not real).”
—Susan Houser, Out the Front Door blog

“It’s a perfect beach read . . . It poses a humongous question: What is suffering? But author Arin Greenwood delivers her response in a funny, thought-provoking, and quick-moving novel.”
—Oh My Dog! blog

“This story was definitely different than any others that I’ve read previously.”
—Chapter 2 Books (Hudson, WI)


Praise for Arin Greenwood

“Savvy, fun and fast-paced, full of twists and turns that you won’t see coming.”
—Jodi Lynn Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of Peaches, May Bird, and Tiger Lily

“Polished writing, crackling dialog, and irresistible characters . . . Serves up surprises from start to finish.”
—Sophie Littlefield, nationally bestselling author of Garden of Stones

“Thrilling, chilling, funny and true to life.”
—Gary Shteyngart, New York Times bestselling author of Super Sad True Love Story

“Full of dead ends, sharp turns and swerving mishaps this mystery novel is a nonstop, high-speed chase for the truth.”
—The New Orleans Advocate

“Readers will be pulled by Zoey’s strong inner compass and martial-arts
Prowess . . . Readers of detective, spy, and crime novels, as well as Ayn Rand fans, will find tidbits to enjoy as Zoey and family prevail against the odds.” 
—Booklist

“An intricate tale of confusion and loss as Zoey attempts to peel away the mysteries surrounding her family and her unusual upbringing . . . This is good for ravenous fans of thrillers with a twist.” 
—VOYA

“Part mystery-thriller, part coming-of-age tale, and part romance with a pinch of the paranormal.”
—School Library Journal

“Reminiscent of A Wrinkle in Time, Greenwood’s debut for teens twists and turns with mysterious men, real bullets and numerous candidates for worst parent ever . . . [Readers] with a philosophical bent may find references to Kant, Nietzsche and Ayn Rand entertaining.”
—Kirkus Reviews

Kirkus Reviews

2018-03-05
In a near-future world of drought and rising seas, a young dog lover learns to question what it means to be humane.Genetic experiments on man's best friend have gone awry, with disastrous results for their temperaments requiring mass canine euthanasia. While the Mechanical Tail Company is perfecting increasingly lifelike robot replacements, Dog Island, off Florida's coast, offers a Ruffuge for a handful of remaining Organics (natural dogs). Nano Miller, one of three teens living in this quirky community, tests new robot dogs, offering feedback on upgrades and trying not to mind when her robotic pets are replaced annually with newer models. Meanwhile, Nano must grapple with the mysterious disappearance of her older brother, Billy, and the intense emotions accompanying first love with Wolf—her lifelong friend and fellow resident. When Nano discovers a live puppy that wags its tail—a trait bred out of dogs during the scientific tinkering—she impulsively decides to hide rather than euthanize it. Plunging into an unexpectedly dangerous world of intrigue, Nano questions the dogma and motivations of those around her, including trusted adults like their sanctuary's humanitarian founder. Full of plot twists, puns, and a sometimes-disconcerting blend of serious and silly, the novel explores the gap between human intention and impact. A white default is assumed.A provocative reflection on humanity's increasingly damaging effects on the natural world. (Dystopian. 14-18)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170530359
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	04/17/2018
Edition description:	Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

I’ve never gotten used to the rep from Mechanical Tail showing up once a year to replace my robot dog with a new one.
(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Your Robot Dog Will Die"
by .
Copyright © 2019 Arin Greenwood.
Excerpted by permission of Soho Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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