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. A former journalist and lifelong book-lover, she writes stories that speak directly to kids who don’t always feel seen.
The AI Incident blends heart, humor, and high-tech adventure. What sparked the idea to pair a foster kid’s personal journey with a rogue AI plot-line?
Firstly, thank you so much for that lovely description of my book!
I enjoy putting characters with opposing motivations in situations that require them to interact. Malcolm, the 12-year-old protagonist in The AI Incident, is lonely, insecure and desperate to find a permanent home. FRANCIS is an autonomous AI focused on achieving its mission no matter the cost. Because Malcolm craves stability and FRANCIS recognizes an opportunity to exploit those emotions, I had a lot of different avenues of conflict and character development to explore.
I also wanted to set this book—like my first book, Control Freaks—in Denver. That’s because, on one hand, we are a technological hub. It’s very realistic to anticipate a local company emerging as a leader in the education technology field. On the other hand, we have neighborhoods like Washington Park and Park Hill that still have a small town feel. Neighbors know and look out for each other. So it’s equally likely that a foster child living in one of those neighborhoods would feel the desire for a family increase more and more each day.
Malcolm’s voice feels so authentic, self-deprecating, sharp and full of heart. How did you find and develop his character?
I feel as though Malcolm chose me. He popped into my imagination one day, and from that moment on, I wanted to write his story.
Malcolm’s awkward. He’s socially anxious. He’s misunderstood. He has trouble making friends. He tries to be perfect and keeps coming up short. I remember feeling that way many times, and readers tell me they identify with Malcolm because they remember feeling that way, too.
The foster care element of the story offers emotional depth. What research helped you portray it in such a grounded way?
Statistics say there are hundreds of thousands of children and adolescents in U.S. foster care. Some of my research said that thousands of those children and adolescents live in Colorado.
I wanted to create a book with a foster child who made decisions with broad ramifications. I wanted children who aren’t in foster care to see this character as someone who was more than his circumstances, and I wanted children who are in foster care to see themselves in a character who literally saves the day.
Another part of my research involved having a long conversation with a retired social services caseworker. She spent decades working with foster children in Denver, and she shared several stories about her time developing care plans for them. She helped me understand how being untethered from a family impacts not only the children, but also the biological parents or guardians, the foster parents, the adoptive parents, and the adults in the foster care system who support them all.
I wanted to give all of the people an opportunity to see themselves in this book.
The novel also touches on AI in schools, which is an increasingly relevant topic. What do you hope young readers, and maybe even educators, take away from that aspect of the story?
One lesson I hope all readers take from The AI Incident is that it’s important to question information. Just because a computer program says something, doesn’t mean that it’s so. Computers bring us information instantaneously, but it’s important to verify that what we are told is true.
That said, fact-checking and looking for multiple sources can be exhausting. It takes a lot of time! But I’ve noticed several AI programs now have disclaimers that say something along the lines of, “AI can make mistakes. Please check information before using it.” Personally, I think that’s excellent advice.
With regard to educators, I hope the lesson they take from the book is that they should be part of the conversation about which AI are incorporated into a school system. Will AI products be used to lessen their workload—for instance track grades, document attendance, or tutor students following a teacher-developed lesson plan—or are AI products being brought in to do something more?
It definitely takes time to research the different AI products available and learn technology that literally evolves every day, but teacher perspectives are vital. I hope the book inspires them to be part of the discussion.
Humor plays a big role in the book. Was it a conscious decision to use humor to address more serious themes, or did it emerge naturally?
It’s definitely a natural occurrence. I enjoy reading humorous fiction. I like laughing when I can. I love hearing other people laugh so I try to incorporate humor in my books whenever possible.
You’ve now written two middle school novels. How do you approach writing for kids in a way that respects their intelligence and curiosity?
I’ve been fortunate enough to speak with hundreds of elementary and middle school students since I started writing full-time. Honestly, the best part of those conversations is listening to what the kids have to say. Not only do they tell me about what interests them, but they often astound me with their perspectives on what’s happening locally and around the world. I try to reflect much of what I learn in my writing.
What’s one thing you hope readers, whether they’re kids, parents, or teachers, carry with them long after they finish The AI Incident?
The big takeaway is that there’s value in making human friendships and connections. It’s certainly faster and easier to click YES when a computer program asks, “Want me to be your friend?” But there’s a lot to be said for taking the time and making the effort to create bonds with other human beings.
Visit jethomasauthor.com to find out where to purchase this book locally.