Future Friend by David Baddiel

 I'm not sure what it is about famous people thinking they can write kids books but there's a lot of it about lately. However, David Baddiel is definitely very good at it and I'm glad he diversified in this way!

This book sees the return of Rahul from the Taylor Turbo Chaser. Pip, accidentally ends up in 2019 from 3020 (it was supposed to be 2020 but he decided not to use that year. For some reason.).

3020 is a time when all interactions are online, no one can go outside because it's 50 degrees and also because of pandemic deseases, it never rains and people have artificial robot friends who look exactly like themselves. Pip's robot friend (Pip2) decides she likes Pip not being around so stops her from being able to return and Rahul needs to help her, her talking cat and talking (like, proper talking) parrot to get back to their own time.

The thing I like most about David Baddiel's books is the diversity. Not just in terms of race, but also in terms of economic background. I didn't even realise, until reading his books, that almost all kids in books live in a nice house in decent area. They almost never live in tower blocks or flats above shops or on a council estate. Representation of different races in books set in the UK is very rare. Except, and this is important, when it is relevant to the plot. Now, don't get me wrong, books addressing those topics are incredibly important. But the great thing in these books is, the race/accomodation/background just "is". It's just there representing people from those backgrounds without making it a thing. And I think this is really important too. 

Anyway, it's fun, non-patronising, entertaining. Recommend.