A speculative graphic novel explores the positive human qualities of artificially intelligent robots. JieJie (in Mandarin, “older sister”) and DiDi (“younger brother”) live without parents in a sand-covered, post-apocalyptic wasteland. Their mother lives and works in glass-domed Oasis City, “a paradise with the purest water and air,” trying to save enough to move her children there, too. While collecting water one day, the siblings chase a fox into a restricted area filled with mountains of trash from Oasis City. There they find a discarded robot, which they take home, repair, and activate. “Please state your wish,” it says. DiDi wishes for a mother, and so the robot activates “mother mode.” From then on, “AI Mom” not only meets the children’s basic needs but also provides them with moments of pleasure in their otherwise dismal, difficult lives: stories, dance lessons, and movies projected from her head onto the wall. The siblings give her one of their mother’s dresses and grow to love her. But when they miss a call from Mom, she returns home to check on them—and violent conflict erupts when she realizes that AI Mom has been residing with her children. When the conflict is resolved and the children’s needs are prioritized, AI Mom shares her plans to grow food with Mom. “Maybe we can live without money someday.” With sparse text and soft, black-and-white illustrations, this thought-provoking story may inspire discussions on AI, parenthood, and the future.

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR for The New York Times, NPR, Publisher's Weekly, and more!

★ SEVEN STARRED REVIEWS! ★
“It’s rare to find a book so thought-provoking and haunting that also feels like it’s welcoming the reader with a warm hug.” - The New York Times

With all the heart of The Wild Robot and the wonder of A Rover's Story, two children and one robot form an unbreakable bond as they survive in a world that values the efficiency of tech over the care of humanity.

JieJie and her little brother, DiDi, are living on their own in a barren desert while their mother works tirelessly to earn their admission into Oasis City. Their days are filled with weathering sandstorms and scavenging for water, but everything changes when they come across an AI-powered robot lying dormant in an abandoned junkyard.

Filled with equal parts hope and suspense, Oasis tells the story of a potentially not-so-distant future that you won’t ever forget.

"Perfectly blending story and art, this deeply compelling fable assures middle-grade readers that, with resilience, adaptability, and the hope for connection, love can prevail even amid desolation." - Booklist, starred review

"The children are at the heart of the narrative, and the family they form, unconventional as it may be, offers a breath of hope in a dark time." - Kirkus, starred review