The year was Something Something. Humans had spread like peanut butter across the galaxy, looking for new planets to call Somewhere.
One of those planets was Somewhere Five One Three.
When the humans arrive on Somewhere 513, they discover that the robots sent to prepare the planet for Humanity’s arrival have chosen to keep it for themselves. Only one robot remains loyal – K1-NG, aka King of the Robots. But even with the most powerful robot on their side, the outlawed humans don’t stand a chance.
Ten years on, Gnat and her sister Paige are the only humans left and have spent their lives hidden underground. Now they must venture out in search of the one robot that stood by the humans. There’s just one problem – the once mighty K1-NG has vowed never to help another human for as long as he lives…
Helen (@HelenByles)
My school is pretty much like other schools, we have children who love reading, some children who read because they have to, and some children who are reluctant readers.
When I have a reluctant reader I give them a selection. In this selection of books I always include Skeleton Keys and without fail every child will pick Skeleton Keys up. Then after a week or so the child will come and pick up another one.
So when I heard about Scrap I knew several things, one it was going to be a great read, second it was going to be something different, and third it was going to be very popular at school.
The beautiful illustrations throughout from Alessia Trunfio really set the scene for this non-stop adventure starring Scrap, a loyal robot, and the only humans left on the planet, two young sisters called Paige and Gnat. Surprisingly there are lots of moments of humour – Gunner in particular is very funny with all her little phrases that are just slightly wrong e.g. a “shaving grace” and “hazard a guest”! Scrap is a wonderfully grumpy character who can’t quite hide his warm heart and the two girls are perfectly feisty and determined. The characters are all perfect. The story is brilliant and unique. I think this is a great idea for a book. It’s lovely to see how the relationship develops between the girls and Scrap and how over the book it grows into a friendship. This is another perfect book for reluctant readers It’s the first in a trilogy and I’m really looking forward to seeing what happens next, and where the characters go to next.
Sam (@SamJDThomas)
Books written by Guy Bass never fail to amaze me with the vast world that awaits readers, and the incredible attention to detail in every single scene. You can tell that this is an author that wants to ensure he has done justice to the utterly brilliant concept for a book he has, that came to live in his unbelievable imagination, and remains just as he envisioned on the page too. Scrap is therefore the epitome of a read for pleasure title, and readers aged 8+ are in for such a treat. It also appears that this is the first in a new series, so the continuity is there for readers too, now all you have to concern yourself with is being able to put the book down again, because once you pick up Scrap you will not want to!
Somewhere 513 is a seemingly unimportant planet until it becomes habited by robots, who are sent there to prepare the planet and its environment for humans. But when the ship arrives to deliver people there to their new home they find that the robots have decided to keep the planet for themselves, and subsequently humans are outlawed on Somewhere 513. Skip forward to now in the book and we find ourselves introduced to two incredibly brave, loyal, caring, and determined young girls, who show a united front as the sisters they are. They have one goal, to find the ship that brought the robots to Somewhere 513 and leave, taking their sick mum with them.
Enter Scrap, or K1-NG as he was formerly known. He is the first robot that Gnat and Paige’s poorly mum created, and he has led a full life until now, with the exception of the past 10 years which he has spent on Somewhere 513 trying to forget about everything that came before. Scrap played a pivotal role in the war that erupted between robots and humans a decade earlier, and he bravely chose to fight on the side of humans, but was ultimately betrayed and broken.
There are lots of obstacles that come between Gnat, Paige, and Scrap and their combined mission to get the three humans safely off of the planet. It begins with hunters tracking the two girls, an unfolding situation that leaves you gripped, and then there is a train ride taking them somewhere none of them are familiar with or wanting to find themselves, and then there are robots sent to greet them as the train comes to a stop that are actually looking to ensnare them for the Mayor, and so much more besides, and they haven’t even made it to the harsh and hostile wastelands yet!
One of the things that sets this book apart from others is how multi faceted it is.
- There is the stark contrast of robots successfully superseding humans, and therefore humans being the minority species, which is such a clever concept for a modern day book series.
- The war that took place between robots and humans 10 years earlier then the time in the unfolding story is referred to as “The Difference of Opinion” by the robots, and gives another view of War for intended readers, which is of course highly relevant given that War is currently ongoing in Ukraine, and children are acutely aware.
- All three of the main characters are minority’s in their respective ways, the two girls being the only humans in a world of robots, and with Scrap it is apparent that he is different to all the other robots, especially upon first impressions as he hasn’t had a single upgrade in the 10 years he has been on Somewhere 513, unlike all the other robots that are still operating.
- It is Freewill that led the robots to rebel against the humans, and war to break out, and this encourages you to see other side to Freewill, and that it doesn’t always have positive connotations.
- The vast and varied landscape of Somewhere 513, and the subsequent ways that the robots neglect some areas whilst preferring others links environmental conservation into this book as well, and makes you consider if we take for granted the resources around us on earth are we heading for a desolate and less hospitable planet?
There are so many more things I could deduce from this book, it really is that brilliant, but I often think it important for readers to interpret things for themselves, and draw your own conclusions. I am a massive fan of books that have many layers, themes, elements to them relevant to current affairs, and characters inside, and this book ticked every single box for me. If you haven’t check out other books by Guy Bass you are missing out, and I highly recommend you do so, it will keep you busy whilst we all anticipate what is next for Scrap.
- Check out the rest of the blog tour for Scrap by Guy Bass using the information on banner below.
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