THE CONTINUATION OF SUMMER DILLON

An android stepping into an 11-year-old girl’s life grapples with the challenges of assuming her existence.

Summer 2.0 was made by The Scientist and Lab 35, with uploads of memories that allow her to temporarily take the place of a Black girl named Summer Dillon. Since 2.0 isn’t sure where 1.0 is or how long she’ll be away, she intends to maximize her time as a stand-in: to like what Summer liked, befriend her older sister, joke around with her dad, and bond with her mom. But things aren’t going according to her daydreams, which may in themselves be a bug rather than a feature. Summer 1.0’s family remains aloof, and her hope that Summer’s school friends will welcome her is dashed when they reject her. Confused and disappointed, Summer 2.0 hesitantly embraces a new friendship with Mindy Wu, a girl 1.0 wasn’t friends with. When a geneticist reveals there’s a life-threatening bug in her system, 2.0 must decide whether to deviate from 1.0’s life and stay true to herself or work harder at fulfilling the purpose she’s been assigned by continuing to be Summer Dillon. Everett crafts an effective mirror through which to explore what it means to be human, the impact of AI and medical racism, and themes of grief and belonging. Despite these serious, deeper subjects, the well-developed characters and immersive, accessible writing keep the tone positive, and readers will enjoy the journey.

An engaging, nuanced exploration of AI and the essence of human nature.