Practically Human

A story about friendship, empathy, and what it really means to be human.

After a long career as a collectible doll designer, Robert Tonner returns to storytelling with a novel he’s been shaping for over a decade.

COMING OCTOBER 2026

About Practically Human

Twelve-year-old Sam Kelly thinks the little doll she discovers is extraordinary. She has no idea just how extraordinary.

Em is a Bio—a forbidden biomechanoid made of living cells and nanomachines, capable of curiosity, kindness, and empathy. And there are people who will do almost anything to possess the secret of her power.

When Sam and her friend Luca are pulled into a hidden world of outlawed technology and corporate secrets, Sam must decide how far she is willing to go to protect her family, her friends—and a little living doll.

Paperback • 232 pages • Lounsbury Press
ISBN 979-8-9948757-0-4 • Coming October 2026

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