"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....."
"In this podcast interview Megan welcomes back J. E. Thomas to talk about her new middle grade book, The AI Incident, available July 8. She talks about her fascinating research into AI for educators and students...."
"In this dynamic episode of Reading With Your Kids, host Jed Doherty takes listeners on a fascinating journey through two remarkable middle-grade novels that push the boundaries of storytelling.
First up is J E Thomas and her groundbreaking middle grade novel "The AI Incident," which explores the complex world of artificial intelligence through the eyes of Malcolm Montgomery, a 12-year-old foster kid...."
"Listen in as she and I discuss how to create a surprise opening to a book, how to write into what's coming next, as well as how to write into the difficult territory of foster care in America...."
"On this episode of Black in the Stacks, Marquita talks with author J. E. Thomas about her love of literature, how she pivoted out of her communications career, and her latest publication, The AI Incident...."
J.E. Thomas, Author