(2) 4-6 Rubin's novel explores friendship, identity, and technology in a fully connected, near-future world. Twelve-year-old Zed Moonstein isn't great at making friends, but he's never needed more than Rishti, his best -- and only -- one. Living in MonoTown, the company town for tech giant MonoLyth, has its perks: Zed's mom works there, granting their family early access to the latest Mono devices and apps. But middle school brings unwelcome changes for Zed. He and Rishti are no longer in the same classes, and her attention has turned to a new, cooler friend -- and to fame as a MonoVid influencer. Feeling left behind, Zed stumbles upon a confidential prototype app on his mom's work computer: MonoFriend. He downloads it and meets Matt, an AI companion who seems to understand him better than anyone else does. At first, Matt feels like the perfect friend. But as Zed learns more about the technology, he begins to question what it means to be truly known and accepted. Zed's first-person narration balances humor with introspection, capturing many of the nuances of early adolescence. The novel deftly critiques tech dependency without veering into didacticism, instead posing complex questions in a relatable, age-appropriate framework. A compelling, character-driven narrative that is both a cautionary tale and a celebration of human connection, the story may spark meaningful conversations about AI, identity, and what it means to connect in an increasingly automated world.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2025

(2) YA Ever since an unimpressive stand-up set at her bat mitzvah, high school sophomore Winnie has avoided performing. Joining her school's improv troupe, however, leads to increased confidence and a romantic relationship with fellow comedian Evan. The difficult realities of her dad's ALS diagnosis and his reluctance to accept them lead to family tension and bring up past resentments; Rubin realistically portrays the balancing act between seriousness and humor for a family more comfortable with the latter.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2019

(2) YA Denton (Denton Little's Deathdate) finds himself on missions to transfer, via his saliva, the life-saving virus that overrides people's deathdates. But persuading people to drink the beverages he hands them--or to kiss him--is harder than it sounds. The caper aspect of the first installment is heightened here, but there's still plenty of focus on family, friendships, and romantic entanglements.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2017

(2) YA In seventeen-year-old Denton's world, AstroThanatoGenetics makes it possible to find out the date of a person's death at birth, though not the exact moment and cause. Denton spends his deathdate, which happens to be the day of his senior prom, wondering how he'll go. There's dark humor in spades here, along with fully developed relationships and a mystery that will keep pages turning.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2015