Klara

Klara is the novel’s title character, as well as the narrator and point-of-view character. She is an ‘artificial friend’ (AF), meaning she is a sentient robot with artificial intelligence, and she has been designed as a companion for a growing child. She spends the first part of her existence in a store that sells AFs. Klara is highly intelligent and observant. She is eventually purchased by Chrissie, a wealthy businesswoman, as a companion for Chrissie’s sickly daughter Josie. Josie’s illness is potentially terminal, and Klara becomes determined to try to save her life. Klara is solar-powered, and she apparently believes the sun to be some type of life-giving deity. Klara begs the sun to save Josie’s life. When Josie recovers, Klara believes the sun to be responsible for said recovery.

Josie

Josie is a 14-year-old girl and the daughter of Chrissie. Josie and Chrissie...