Chadgpt - by Samuel Miller (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A suspenseful and timely story about a teen convinced his best friend is an AI humanoid bot by Samuel Miller, New York Times bestselling author of Redemption Prep.

Eliot Williams knows he's the most interesting person at Gideon High School, so why can't anyone else see it too? After his parents' messy divorce forced Eliot to move with his dad back to Gideon, Kansas, he's had an impossible time making friends in a place where everybody picked their friends in kindergarten. So instead, Eliot focuses on robotics, and silently pines for the cute girl in trigonometry, content in the knowledge that no one makes friends as a new kid in a small town like this.

No one... except Parker, the other new kid. For him, it's effortless. Parker's like a golden retriever in a letterman's jacket, and a quarterback on the football team to boot. He makes high school look easy--because he's perfect. Too perfect, Eliot decides. There's only one possible explanation:

Parker is a robot.

There have been rumors of humanoid AIs being tested in the real world, and Parker's behavior fits the bill. Unable to convince anyone of his incredible discovery, Eliot decides instead to train Parker, decoding his language model to give him commands. When he recruits Parker to join the robotics team, it leads to incredible results for both his project and his social life. That... or they're actually becoming friends.

What begins as a Turing Test mystery becomes a complicated, interdependent friendship, and a poignant examination of what it means to be human at a time when humans are unable to tell what is real from what is not.

Review Quotes

Praise for Dark Parts of the Universe: "The page-turning suspense is a draw, but the book's ultimate strength is its skillful exploration of racial injustice in rural America. A multifaceted thriller with a powerful social message." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"In the richly detailed plot, Miller deftly captures the claustrophobic nature of small-town residents locked into what they believe is the way things should be." - Booklist (starred review)

"A powerful thriller with a poignant message." - School Library Journal (starred review)

"Dark Parts of the Universe serves as a terrifying mystery while examining an important history. Masterfully done!" - Nick Brooks, author of Promise Boys

"A raw and daring portrait of Middle America, Dark Parts of the Universe defies categorization. Part tech thriller, part small-town mystery, Miller explores the complexities of family secrets, and what happens when the unshakeable foundation of brotherhood begins to shake, without ever shying away from the beating heart of the story: the reckoning of one town's racist past (and present), through the eyes of a boy reckoning with his own complicity. Propulsive and genre-bending, I couldn't put it down." - David Arnold, New York Times bestselling author of Mosquitoland

"Evocative exploration of the suffocation of small town life, where a dark past controls present chaos." - Mindy McGinnis, award-winning author of Heroine

Praise for Redemption Prep: "The moody atmosphere, the science/religion dichotomy, and the constant cliff-hangers will keep readers hooked till the shocking finale." - Booklist

"Clever, drama-filled, and mind-blowing. My mind is still reeling from the twists and turns, and I loved every second of it." - Sasha Alsberg, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Readers looking for a unique take on the isolated-house mystery, with a bizarre setting and a cast of unstable characters, will enjoy losing themselves in this strange yet compelling tale of drugs, power, and the future of the human race." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"A tense and atmospheric thriller with a truly surprising twist. I can't wait to see what Samuel Miller does next!" - Kara Thomas, award-winning author of The Cheerleaders

"Eerie, atmospheric, and smart as a whip, Redemption Prep kept me on the edge of my seat until the last page." - Brittany Cavallaro, New York Times bestselling author of the Charlotte Holmes series

Praise for A Lite Too Bright: "What a compelling journey this is--and what an accomplished debut too. Beautifully conceived and executed, it has an irresistible premise; an ingenious plot tinged with mystery; compelling, multidimensional characters; and a haunting ethos that will linger in readers' minds long after they have finished." - Booklist (starred review)

"Jumping from clue to clue and train to train across the country, Arthur stumbles upon extraordinary discoveries, from long-lost family members to secret societies. This fresh incarnation of the great American road trip novel is bursting with big ideas, enigmas, poetry, and flashes of humor." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Charmingly written, this debut novel introduces rounded characters and an engaging mystery. Wonderfully mirroring the disjointed feelings and thoughts of young Arthur and those who have dementia, this literary piece has a satisfying conclusion. A highly recommended purchase for fans of literary and realistic fiction centered around family." - School Library Journal (starred review)

"Miller's debut novel weaves together several other larger-than-life literary figures and events, including gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, the beat generation, and the Kent State shootings, creating a love letter to social justice and American literature." - Publishers Weekly

"Arthur's coming-of-age journey communicates that today's young rebels' most important cause may be their own mental health." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Debut author Miller peppers his well-paced chapters with the poetry of ALP the First. This earnest homage to writers, rebels, and the evergreen ideals of youth will appeal to devotees of John Green and Gayle Forman." - The Horn Book