Boffin Brainchild, the world's most advanced free-thinking robot, is bored. He's been programmed to learn like a child, so standing on a plinth in the science museum is no fun. Along comes Tom. Boffin escapes with him (despite Tom's best efforts) on the school coach. What can Tom do? Terrified of being accused of stealing the robot, he disguises Boffin as a real boy. But how long can Tom fool his parents - and his school? Having the world's most valuable robot to stay is the most exciting thing, but definitely the scariest, that Tom's ever known. This collision of robotics and normality sets up a story of constant humour and tense drama, with some thought-provoking questions of science and humanity. Above all, what responsibility should Tom feel for this machine that's wished itself on him and now wants the life of a real boy? "Boffin Brainchild" is a gripping, stimulating tale from first to last.

Illustrated by: Thomas Jennings, Russ Daff