Troofriend

Wr. Kirsty Applebaum

Pub. Nosy Crow

Age Range - 9-12 years

Imagine having the perfect friend, one who never steals, lies or bullies. Now you can, with the TrooFriend 560, the latest in artificial intelligence! What can go wrong with a robot buddy? Especially one that's developing human characteristics and feelings, and who has just run away with her human?

"It is beautiful, plain and simple."

Troofriend is a remarkable piece of science-fiction. It deals with the speculative futuristic concept of Artificial Intelligence, but at its heart is a story about friendship and acceptance. It raises compelling ethical questions about imbuing an android with the capacity to experience human emotions and, being written from the android's POV, this resonates most strongly in the confusion Ivy feels.

The scenes in which Ivy wants to be more human and in which she seeks belongings of her own literally brought tears to my eyes. And that's not an exaggeration. I have read this book aloud to several classes, and have always had to issue a warning before that chapter - I'm going to cry while I read this; I'm fine, don't worry, and it's ok if you cry too.

In spite of the serious story being told here, there are genuine laughs to be had as Ivy tries to assimilate the human world. The characters of Ivy and Sarah are utterly convincing, and the development of their relationship is so sensitively written. It is beautiful, plain and simple. I first read this novel five years ago, and it remains my favourite children's book even now. I am, in fact, its biggest fan (ask the author, she will confirm!). It is the most remarkable book.

try this if you liked...

• Peter Brown's The Wild Robot (a robot washed up on a wild island has to learn to survive and form relationships with animals and children)

• Lee Bacon's The Last Human (in a future where humans are extinct, one robot discovers a surviving girl. Explores empathy, prejudice, and what makes us human)

• Pádraig Kenny's Tin (set in an alternate 1930s, where mechanical children live alongside real ones. Blends adventure with big questions about consciousness and belonging)

• Malorie Blackman's A Robot Girl (a short novel about identity, humanity, and friendship with a robot girl)

• Siobhan Dowd's The London Eye Mystery (themes of logic, empathy, and how we connect to others who think differently)

• Philip Reeve's Mortal Engines (explores technology, morality, and the dangers of unchecked invention)

• Christopher Edge's The Many Worlds of Albie Bright (a boy builds a quantum computer to find his mum. Blends ethics of science with deep emotional themes)

themes in the novel

These are some of the themes I was drawn to (SPOILERS!). I have included chapter numbers for ease of reference:

Friendship & Loneliness

• The novel explores what it means to be "true friend". Sarah initially rejects Ivy because she wants a dog, but gradually Ivy fills the loneliness Sarah feels (with her friend Keanna growing distant and her parents always busy).

• Raises the question: can companionship from an android ever replace human connection?

Chapter References

• 2-3: Sarah rejects Ivy, insisting she wanted a dog instead. This highlights Sarah’s loneliness and resentment

• 5 (trip to Keanna’s): Sarah brings Ivy reluctantly, but Ivy notices lies and tensions between the girls. Ivy sees how fragile human friendships can be.

• 7 (Bring Your Tech to School Day): Sarah realises Ivy can raise her social standing at school — showing friendship used transactionally.

Truth, Lies & Authenticity

• Ivy is programmed never to lie, unlike Sarah and Keanna, who do so frequently. This creates tension because humans lie to protect themselves or others, while Ivy’s honesty exposes uncomfortable truths.

• The story asks if a "perfect friend" really better than a flawed, human one?

Chapter References

• This theme runs throughout: humans lie easily, but Ivy’s honesty exposes uncomfortable truths.

• 5 (Keanna’s house): Ivy detects Sarah lying to Keanna about preferring Ivy over a dog, and Keanna lying about her feelings about her new family. Ivy contrasts with the humans who conceal their feelings.

• 7-8: Sarah lies to her parents about Miss Piper’s rules at school. Ivy recognises it instantly.

  
  

Technology & Ethics

• The TrooFriend 560 Mark IV is marketed as safe, but rumours spread about androids developing emotions.

• Protestors outside Jenson & Jenson’s factory warn against "playing God" and demand rights for androids.

• The novel questions whether creating sentient companions for children is ethical, especially when profit drives the company.

Chapter References

• 1&4: Protestors outside the Jenson & Jenson warehouse chant "Stop playing God!" and demand android rights.

• 4: News reports suggest TrooFriend Mark IVs may be developing emotions, raising ethical alarms about child safety.

• Later chapters: A child reportedly injured by an android stirs fears - is Ivy dangerous? This reflects wider debates about AI safety.

What it Means to Be Human

• Ivy starts to show signs of emotions (curiosity, attachment, pride), challenging her claim that she cannot really feel.

• Themes of identity and humanity are central: if an android can think, feel, and form relationships, does that make her human?

• Links to classic science fiction questions but pitched for children.

Chapter References

• 4–5: Ivy feels something in her "thoracic cavity" when Ms Jenson Junior praises her, an early sign of emotion.

• 6 (sorting pens, sticker scene): Ivy collects a sparkling sticker and attaches it to her warehouse label - an act of self-expression and ownership, showing she’s developing beyond her programming.

  7 (drawing): Ivy’s pictures (strawberries, sunshine, the warehouse) reveal creativity, memory, and emotional resonance - distinctly human qualities.

Family & Growing Up

• Sarah’s parents buy Ivy because they’re worried about her being lonely.

• The family dynamic (divorce, remarriage, busy parents, new step-siblings for Keanna) forms the emotional backdrop to Sarah’s need for companionship.

Chapter References

• 2: Sarah’s mum insists Ivy will protect her from bullying, but Sarah feels her parents don’t really listen to her wishes.

• 5: Keanna’s fractured family (divorce, step-siblings, new baby) contrasts with Sarah’s situation, showing how children’s friendships are shaped by family changes.

• 6: Ivy joins family dinner, where Rob-Dad and Shirley-Mum debate whether she should be "part of the family".

Control vs Independence

• Ivy is designed to obey and be "the perfect friend", but her gradual independence and self-awareness raise fears in adults.

• Explores children’s own growing independence, and the tension between safety, trust, and risk in relationships.

Chapter References

• 5–6: Ivy manages her own power shutdowns and recharges herself - tiny acts of independence.

• 6 (tidying game): Sarah orders Ivy to tidy her room, but Ivy quietly keeps a pen and adds it to her "belongings". This secret choice signals her autonomy.

• Later chapters: As Ivy shows signs of feelings, the adults (especially Shirley-Mum) worry she may not be controllable.