ZED MOONSTEIN MAKES A FRIEND

Lonely, awkward Zed Moonstein is growing up in MonoTown, formerly known as Orange Hills and now the tech-obsessed headquarters of the company MonoLyth.

White-presenting Jewish sixth grader Zed’s world revolves around his best (and only) friend, Rishti Ray, who reads South Asian. So when Rishti starts spending time with new friend Caz Rojas, Zed feels abandoned. Desperate for connection, Zed discovers a secret app on his mom’s work server: MonoFriend. Through it, he meets “Matt,” an artificial intelligence presence who seems to understand him better than any real person. But as their friendship deepens, Zed begins to question what it really means to have a friend—and whether Matt is everything he claims to be. The tech-enhanced town, with homes, stores, and schools outfitted with every possible version of AI, plays a driving role in the plot and provides the context for much of the pulse-pounding action. Rubin skillfully balances humor, suspense, and emotional insights into the angst and isolation of adolescence, especially in a world where technology is always a tap away. And although the cautionary message regarding the perils of technology can get a bit heavy-handed, the book poses important questions about the role of AI in our lives, the loss of genuine connection and privacy, and how greed and constant consumption can drive innovation in a dangerous direction.

A fast-paced plot, quirky characters, and timely themes address friendship and identity in the digital age.