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The Boy at the End of the World by Greg van Eekhout
Awakening in a ruined world with only a faithful robot for company, a lone boy sets out to uncover who he is—and what happened to everyone else. The Boy at the End of the World is a hopeful, gadget-filled adventure across a future Earth that refuses to give up.
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In The Boy at the End of the World, did you enjoy ...
... uncovering humanity's remnants and a path to a livable future after civilization falls?
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
If you loved following Fisher and his robot guardian Click as they crossed a ruined landscape in search of other people, you’ll be drawn to Lina and Doon in The City of Ember. Where Fisher digs through the leftovers of the old world and follows fragile clues that humans might still endure, Lina and Doon piece together a lost set of instructions that could lead their dying underground city back to the surface. It carries that same sense of scavenging hope and puzzle-solving grit that powered Fisher’s mission.
... resourceful, day-to-day survival against monsters and hazards with improvised gear?
The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier
Fisher’s trek—with Click jury-rigging fixes, scrounging supplies, and facing down rogue machines—mirrors the scrappy survival energy of The Last Kids on Earth. Jack and his friends fortify a treehouse, invent creative weapons, and make a daily plan to stay alive—much like Fisher devises clever workarounds to keep moving toward other humans. If the nuts-and-bolts problem-solving and set-piece dangers in Fisher and Click’s journey hooked you, this delivers that same adrenaline with a playful twist.
... a heartfelt bond with a non-human companion that teaches empathy and resilience?
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
A big part of Fisher’s story is how his bond with Click—and even with the young mammoth he protects—shapes him. In The Wild Robot, Roz wakes on a remote island and slowly befriends the animals, even raising a gosling. Like Fisher learning from Click’s patient logic and steady loyalty, Roz learns to care and to protect. If those tender, cross-species connections in Fisher’s travels moved you, Roz’s gentle, survival-tinged friendships will, too.
... lighthearted, optimistic road-trip vibes despite a world turned upside down?
The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex
Even with prowling machines and collapsing ruins, Fisher and Click keep a hopeful tone—cracking dry jokes and pressing on toward other humans. The True Meaning of Smekday channels that same buoyant spirit as Tip teams up with an alien named J.Lo on a cross-country quest. If you enjoyed how Fisher and Click’s humor and optimism steadied them through danger, Tip and J.Lo’s hilarious detours and heartfelt teamwork will feel like home.
... a growing, trust-first partnership between a kid and an AI protector?
Cog by Greg Van Eekhout
One of the most rewarding parts of Fisher’s adventure is how his relationship with Click evolves—from wary dependence to real trust and sacrifice. In Cog, an AI boy escapes a lab with help from a scientist who cares for him, then teams up with other robots to outwit their corporate pursuers. If watching Fisher and Click learn to rely on each other pulled you in, Cog’s steady, heart-forward bond-building and clever teamwork will hit the same sweet spot.
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