This interview originally appeared in the March/April 2025 Horn Book Magazine as part of the Publishers’ Previews: Spring 2025, an advertising supplement that allows participating publishers a chance to each highlight a book from its current list. They choose the books; we ask the questions.

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TV director Oz Rodriguez collaborates with Pura Belpré Award winner Claribel A. Ortega for The Girl and the Robot, about a secret and unlikely — not to mention interstellar — friendship with high stakes for both parties.

1. Claribel, what’s the most delicious secret you’ve ever had?

One of the best and hardest parts of being an author is the exciting book secrets. I currently have a big one I can’t divulge, but I’m excited to share it in the near future.

2. Oz, what invention would help you the most?

A teleportation device would be convenient; I live in Los Angeles, and my family is in the Caribbean. I would love to get beamed to a Dominican beach right about now.

3. Claribel, how did you develop the friendship between Mimi and the robot?

I just went with what felt right for the characters as I was writing. I tend to write about girls and girl friendship — with Ghost Squad, Witchlings, and Frizzy as well — so it felt natural to give Mimi a robot friend reminiscent of those girl BFFs.

4. Oz, does the book speak to your love of E.T.?

Spielberg schooled me in the kind of wonder that doesn’t need translation. E.T. was the master class, showing how two beings from places that couldn’t be farther apart could click like they were always meant to.

5. What quality did the other bring to the book that most surprised you?

OR: Claribel was patient with my ignorance of the book world and prose. I’m used to screenplays, where words are tight and the visuals do the heavy lifting. This was a whole different endeavor.

CAO: I wasn’t surprised, really, because I’m familiar with his work, but Oz is amazing at dialogue, especially humor. The only thing that surprised me was his ability to come up with even more dad jokes — it was an endless well.

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