Roz is a robot, being shipped to her intended destination, when a storm wrecks the ship that she and the other robots bound for the same destination. Their crates sink, or break up on the rocks, and Roz's is the only one that washes ashore on an island.
Some otters find the crate, and, being curious critters, they investigate, and accidentally press the button that turns her on. Roz sees the world for the first time in a place she was never meant to be, with a large database of information, and no instructions on what she's supposed to do. The otters are scared off when she speaks, and are no source of help in figuring things out.
Roz breaks free from the crate, but has no success communicating with any of the animals. She works out how to survive, and how to disguise herself as a feature of the landscape--different features of the landscape at different times--while listening to the animals, and gradually learning to understand them.
They think she's a monster.
Things don't start to change until she accidentally causes a rockfall on a goose nest, and then rescues the one remaining egg. When it hatches, she has no idea how to feed or care for it, and looks for help. An older goose finally responds to her, and while refusing to take responsibility for the chick, she does give Roz advice--and asks Roz questions about problems ahead that Roz didn't even know to worry about. It's the start of Roz starting to make friends and find a community.
But as her adopted goose son, Brightbill, grows and matures, there are new challenges and dangers. Approaching winter brings big changes and real dangers, and Roz's new community is threatened. Can they find a way to survive?
The narrative voice provides some context and information to help younger readers understand things obvious to adults, without talking down to either children or adults. I understand there's also a movie out now, based on the book, which I've heard positive things about.
The narrator, Kate Atwater, is very good.
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