Leah and the 0% Match: The Algorithm of Friendship

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Leah and the 0% Match: The Algorithm of Friendship

Written by Dalbin A. Osorio

About This Book

Leah's best friend Maya just moved to Texas, and recess has become the loneliest part of the day. Her "Friendship Stats" are at zero, and the stars she used to map with her telescope look different when you're the only one looking at them. Then her mother shows her the Bestie-Blaster, a new school app that promises to use 1,000 data points to find her perfect match. Leah inputs her favorite things—astronomy, soccer, mangoes with chili powder—and the algorithm delivers: 99.8% compatibility with Marcus, a boy who likes everything she likes. But the algorithm also flags someone the math says to avoid. Sam. 0% match. Compatibility too low to bother with. When Marcus turns out to be exactly what the algorithm promised—and exactly what Leah didn't actually need—she starts to wonder whether the math missed something important. Maybe the people who look nothing like you on paper are the ones who turn your world into something bigger than itself. Leah and the 0% Match: The Algorithm of Friendship is an early chapter book for readers ages 8 to 12 that introduces young readers to how algorithms work—and to the questions algorithms can't answer for us. Featuring an Afro-Latina protagonist who is both a tech-user and an independent thinker, the book celebrates the friendships our data can't predict and reminds kids that a 0% match might be a 100% friend. Includes "The Tech Lab" back matter exploring recommendation engines and the difference between mirrors and windows.

Key Features

  • Timely, tech-relevant story that helps kids navigate AI, algorithms, and social media in a relatable way.
  • Celebrates diverse voices and perspectives, helping every child feel seen while introducing them to new ways of understanding others.
  • Empowers young readers to think critically, build authentic friendships, and “question the math” behind digital decisions.
  • Engaging, high-energy narrative blending humor, emotion, and real school experiences to keep readers hooked chapter to chapter.
  • Built-in educational value with discussion questions, activities, and “Tech Lab” sections that extend learning beyond the story.

Product Details

ISBN9781971794716
FormatHardcover
Ages8–12
Interest LevelGrades 3–6
Pages82
Publishere-Robotic Press
Weight2 lbs
Dimensions8.5" x 11"
Reading LevelGrade 3
LanguageEnglish
Publication StatusReleased

Table of Contents

  • Chapter 1: The Social Glitch 4
  • Chapter 2: The Logic Error 10
  • Chapter 3: The Debugging Phase 16
  • Chapter 4: The 6-7 Vibe 22
  • Chapter 5: The Velocity Test 28
  • Chapter 6: The Forbidden Zone 34
  • Chapter 7: The Collaborative Crash 38
  • Chapter 8: The Self-Correction 48
  • Chapter 9: The Zero Hour 56
  • A Note from the Author 70
  • The Tech Lab 72
  • Questions for the Window Seat 75
  • The Window Workshop 77

About the Authors

Dalbin A. Osorio

Dalbin A. Osorio is a literacy advocate, educational equity leader, and doctoral candidate in Applied Learning Sciences at the University of Miami,...

Dalbin A. Osorio is a literacy advocate, educational equity leader, and doctoral candidate in Applied Learning Sciences at the University of Miami, where his research focuses on father-led advocacy frameworks for Black neurodivergent youth. He has spent two decades leading nonprofit, policy, and community programs serving children, youth, and families—including direct service work in mental health and child welfare, public affairs leadership at the Montgomery County Education Association, senior policy work at the National Youth Employment Coalition, and most recently as Executive Director of the Dyslexia Tutoring Program in Baltimore. He is the contributing author of AI in Color: Examining Educational Technology Through a BIPOC Lens (IGI Global Scientific Publishing, 2026), a forthcoming poetry collection, Quiet Echoes In The Nursery (Dorrance Publishing, December 2026), and writes weekly essays on education equity, literacy, and family at substack.com/@dalbinosorio. His work sits at the intersection of literacy advocacy, disability rights, and the ethics of educational technology—particularly the question of how AI tools serve, or fail to serve, BIPOC families and neurodivergent learners. He has spoken on these topics at the NAFSCE National Assembly, the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, and the NextGen Women's Leadership Summit. Leah and the 0% Match: The Algorithm of Friendship is his debut children's book, written for his daughter Leah and inspired by her own experiences of friendship, identity, and what it means to find your people in an increasingly algorithm-driven world. Dalbin lives in Frederick, Maryland with his wife Patty, their dog Brotis, daughter Leah, and son Ayden.

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