Books for Tweens & Teens
"The AI Incident is the story of a young man who is a Foster Child which would have been a #teachingmoment in my home when we were #Homeschooling. The book is an about a Middle School student and that is who I would say this book is for..."
"What does it mean to be human? Not every middle grade novel tackles that question. The AI Incident doesn’t shy away from examining AI, robotics, learning, and being human. It does so with laughter, caring, and intrigue...."
"For Denver-based author Jan Thomas, a love of science fiction, a fascination with artificial intelligence, and a heart for middle schoolers all collided in her upcoming novel The AI Incident...."
"I recently got a new book in the mail that talks about AI. I'm especially excited about this one because I get to have conversations about AI with my kid..."
"The Wild Robot meets Restart when Colorado's unluckiest foster kid battles a rogue AI robot at school!..."
"J.E. Thomas, the acclaimed author of “Control Freaks,” returns this summer with her second middle grade novel, “The AI Incident,” publishing July 8, 2025, from Levine Querido. Already generating buzz among booksellers, educators, and librarians, the book is a thoughtful, character-driven exploration of artificial intelligence, identity, and what it means to belong...."
"This is a charming little book. It is clearly aimed at readers younger than me, but I still enjoyed it...."
"J. E. Thomas does it again with heartfelt and humorous stories for middle graders with The AI Incident. Having read and enjoyed Control Freaks, I knew I was in for a treat, and the author did not disappoint...."
"Denver author J. E. Thomas debuts her new novel, The AI Incident, a heartfelt and funny middle-school story about a foster kid who finds himself face-to-face with an AI robot at his new school. We love Thomas’ sharp humor and big-hearted characters. She brings warmth and curiosity to timely questions about technology, friendship, and what it means to belong....."
J.E. Thomas, Author