- Chapter Books
- Ages 9–12
- Science Fiction
Adam-2
A gripping sci-fi thriller about a robot boy who wakes after two hundred years into a world torn between humans and machines, and discovers he holds the power to end the war. A page-turner that asks who, and what, decides right and wrong.
- Best for9–12
- FormatChapter
- Length304 pp
- Read aloud~4 hr20 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
Tone
- Exciting
- Suspenseful
- Adventurous
- Thought provoking
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Adam has been shut away in the basement of a forgotten building for more than two hundred years, until two children stumble upon him and switch him back on. Emerging at last, he finds a world laid waste by a long civil war between humans and the advanced artificial intelligences they once created. Hunted by both sides, Adam slowly realises that he is no ordinary machine: he holds the key to the war itself, and the power to destroy one side and save the other. But which side deserves to win, and how can Adam decide when everyone around him wants to use him, and even his allies aren't sure they can trust him? From the author of Orion Lost, Adam-2 is a fast, thoughtful science-fiction thriller full of chases, twists and hard choices, perfect for fans of Philip Reeve, Eoin Colfer and Anthony Horowitz. Beneath the action it wrestles with big, genuinely interesting questions about identity, war and what it means to be a person, making it as much a talking point as a page-turner.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
Aimed at 9-12s reading independently, with strong appeal for reluctant readers who like fast, high-stakes stories. Its war setting, peril and some violence make it best for children comfortable with jeopardy rather than gentle reads.
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- Best fit · 9–12
- Read aloud · 9–11
- Independent · 9–12
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
None
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Workable
Works well for
- Reluctant readers
Preview before sharing if a child is sensitive to: war or conflict, scary imagery, violence.
Bedtime suitability
2 / 5 · Better outside bedtime
Sensitive-child
3 / 5 · Mostly fine
Graphic intensity
2 / 5 · Mild
Best for
- Robots
- Science fiction
- Twisty thriller
- Reluctant readers
Avoid if
- Wants gentle bedtime
- Dislikes peril
Particularly good for children who are…
- Reluctant reader
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
Waking up after two hundred years into a world at war, and finding out you're the one thing that could end it, is a brilliant hook. Adam is chased by everyone, and the constant question of who to trust and what's right keeps the tension high.
- Surviving danger
- Being special or chosen
- Adventure and freedom
- Making a difference
Why parents love it
A pacy, gripping sci-fi thriller that also chews on real ideas, identity, war and what makes someone a person, without slowing down. Its relentless momentum makes it great for reluctant readers, and the moral questions spark good conversation.
- Conversation starter
- Quick to read
About the author
Alastair Chisholm.
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Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
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