Friendroid — M.M. Vaughan

Stranger Things meets robots in this sweet story about an unlikely friendship between two boys -- one human, one android.

Eric Young is an android, but he doesn't know. He does know that he's just moved to Ashland, so it's important to make the right kind of friends -- the kind that would be interested in skateboarding and the new Slick sneakers his Uncle Martin sends him.

Danny Lazio doesn't have any friends, but he doesn't care. Even if his classmates don't accept him, he still has Land X, the online role play game that he's actually really good at. But then Eric takes an interest in Land X, and suddenly Danny thinks he might have found a real friend…if he can figure out the mystery behind Eric's sudden disappearances and strange lifestyle.

It becomes harder to ignore the weird events that happen only around Eric. But uncovering the secret behind Eric's identity is an act that might cost them both as powerful forces soon move in around them.

This heartfelt story about friendship and what it means to be human is sure to tug at your soul -- or your soul-chip if you're like Eric.