I was first introduced to this author by a librarian friend who wouldn't let me leave the building without taking a copy of the author's verse novel for young adults. It's amazing, she said. 

And I've wanted to read everything by Sarah Crossan ever since. Her books, for adults as well as younger readers, often have uncomfortable subjects at their heart. This one is no different.

That first book I read was 'One', about conjoined twins, another title for young adults was 'Moonrise' about a boy visiting his brother on Death Row, and this novel, for adults, is about a life-size animatronic being.

Whatever the subject, I've found this author takes us intelligently and sensitively into these scenarios, confronting thoughts, feelings and motives to find universal truths.

So, 'Hey, Zoey' is about...Dolores and her husband David. They are struggling with marriage and with life. They have no children and get through the week meeting expectations set for them by work, neighbours, family, society, in their middle-of-the-road life.

When Dolores discovers an animatronic being in the garage, she doesn't mention it to David, but she does become curious. 

Dolores starts to talk to Zoey. And the responses she receives cause her to investigate love, loneliness, family and trauma. She wants to be seen and understood and this 'robot', this artificial intelligence, may provide that. There's connection, friendship and affirmation and the book, and Dolores' story, interrogates how we engage and relate in 'our tech-buffered age of alienation'.

This book is funny, poignant, challenging and thought-provoking, and feels very of the moment. Amazing.