Description: "Malcolm Montgomery is the new kid at Shirley Chisholm Charter Middle School. In no time at all, he's been slapped with the weird kid label. Is it because he's a foster kid who's been in nine homes? Or maybe because he burps when he gets nervous-which is often? Malcolm has a plan to finally get adopted by a forever family before it's too late. But then on Visiting Professionals' Day, his school invites Dr. Alphonse Hatch, president of Hatch-ED-one of the fastest-growing artificial intelligence companies in the state-to give a presentation. Dr. Hatch brings his AI-powered robot, and events get set in motion that create ... THE INCIDENT"--
Review Quotes: "Thomas dishes up a diverse cast of complex, (mostly) likeable children and grown-ups, expertly showing relationships in flux while steering events to satisfying resolutions that leave her protagonist with new friends and the real prospect of a much-desired 'forever home.' The perils of replacing live teaching with AI instruction get a good, brisk airing too."