Under the new law, the Cyborg Act of 2130, Huey is now considered less than human because he contains more than three synthetic body parts or organs. In fact he and those like him are considered three/fifths of a human being. The story is creating parallels to the time of slavery when the African Americans were considered three/fifths of a person. The fact that under this Act they must register with the Cyborg Bureau of Affairs may ring familiar in our own times as well. This powerful story is designed to get our children to think about this kind of discrimination and oppression and this would make a great group or bookclub discussion book.