Book Review of Leah & The 0% Match: The Algorithm of Friendship
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The Children’s Book Review
Leah & The 0% Match: The Algorithm of Friendship
Written by Dalbin A. Osorio
Ages: 6-10 | 82 Pages
Publisher: e-Robotic Press (2026) | ISBN: 978-1971794716
What to Expect: Making new friends, AI, authenticity, critical thinking, belonging, bullying.
Young people today are growing up in a world where technology seems utterly pervasive, controlling everything from school lessons to entertainment to meal plans. There is no doubt that some of this influence is less helpful than it is marketed to be—and some of it can be downright harmful. There is a real need for critical thinking and learned strategies for navigating AI and app use, and this short chapter book models both, all while delivering a relatable story about developing friendships.
When Leah’s best friend, Evelina, moves away, loneliness moves in to fill the gap. Her school’s new app, Bestie-Blaster, promises a solution: a cutting-edge algorithm that analyzes 1,000 data points to prevent social isolation. The result? Marcus — a 99.8% compatibility match. There’s just one problem: friendship with Marcus feels completely hollow. Meanwhile, the app flags Sam as a 0% match and someone to avoid—but Sam turns out to be the most genuine connection Leah has found in a long time.
When popular girl Jade gets hold of Leah’s private notes about Sam and broadcasts them to the entire school, Leah is forced to confront what the algorithm can’t measure: the difference between people just like us and people who help us move beyond ourselves—three guesses who ends up being the perfect new friend for Leah.
Any reader who has struggled with changing friendships will be sure to empathize with Leah’s sadness at the loss of her long-time friend, but this determined and inquisitive protagonist is also smart enough to realize when the technology has produced results that just don’t work for her. The story’s emphasis on the difference between “windows” (people who are very different from us) and “mirrors” (people just like us) teaches an important lesson about algorithmic bias, while also making a strong argument in favor of diverse and inclusive friendship circles. The digital illustrations depict realistic environmental elements that offer readers a window into Leah’s Afro-Latina culture, underscoring this theme.
Uplifting, timely, and instructive, Leah & The 0% Match: The Algorithm of Friendship is perfect for launching discussions about the role and usefulness of “smart” technologies in our lives.
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About the Author
Dalbin A. Osorio is an educator, literacy advocate, and children’s author based in Frederick, Maryland. An Afro-Latino writer and the son of Dominican immigrants, he writes stories that help young readers see themselves on the page — and see beyond themselves, too. His debut chapter book, Leah and the 0% Match: The Algorithm of Friendship, blends a relatable friendship story with a kid-friendly look at algorithms, bias, and belonging. When he isn’t writing or championing literacy, he can be found dreaming up new stories with his family, who are his greatest inspiration.
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored*, non-biased review of Leah & The 0% Match: The Algorithm of Friendship. Learn more about getting a book review …
