Early- to mid-1970’s: A boy builds robots in a non-urban area. A lightning strike makes them autonomous. At the end of the book, he tells them to “stop rowing for a minute. ” They take the instruction literally and, 60 seconds later, row away, never to be seen again. IIRC the book had some insignia on its paperback cover saying that it had won some sort of literary award.
Stump the Bookseller
New format, same book stumper solving.
Andy Buckram’s Tin Men by Carol Ryrie Brink?
Never actually read it, but from memory of reviews and blurbs, isn’t this ANDY BUCKRAM’S TIN MEN by Carol Brink?
Ah, one of my favorites! Andy Buckram’s Tin Men, by Carol Ryrie Brink. They save Andy and his neighbor after a flood, then realize that they’ll never be able to live as “people” and row away, to find a place of their own.