Fantastic Middle Grade fantasy/sci-fi that reads like realistic fiction, told from the point of view of a Mars Rover and letters a girl writes to the rover over a decade. This book will make an amazing read aloud, and I can see it winning many book awards! It is incredible!

A Rover’s Story
By Jasmine Warga

If you’re looking for STEM content with heart & soul, this is the book for you. What a creative novel!

I loved learning more about the NASA Rover program through the character of Resilience (Res). Jasmine Warga made these inanimate NASA objects have a voice, a life, a soul… It was really incredible.

I became really attached to Res through the events of the story. The relationship between Res & Fly was the heart of the book for me. I loved watching Sophie grow & the twist at the very end hit me in the feels.

A big thank you to Harper Collins for allowing me to read an ARC!. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time.

Jasmine Warga’s A Rover’s Story is a gorgeous combination of science and imagination that takes readers on a unique and engaging journey.

Resilience is a Mars rover built to do a certain job a certain way, at least according to the other Mars rover, Journey. But Resilience, or Res, sees the world differently than Journey, and he isn’t totally sure that’s a bad thing…but he’s also not totally sure, either way.

Warga's books are known for their depth and lyricality, and A Rover's Story fits into that lexicon perfectly. Though the narration style isn't lyrical itself, as Res is a robot and so his narration style fits him perfectly, his perception of the world is lyrical. Res may be a robot, but his search for identity and belonging are universally relatable. Just like young readers (and, let's be honest, adult readers, too!), Res must learn to trust and believe in himself.

Res isn’t alone, either. Though Res is our primary narrator, letters from a young girl are interspersed throughout the novel. Sophia is a student with unique ties to Res, and her letters offer a glimpse of how the world is viewing Res for the reader to contrast with how Res views his mission and himself. Other lovable characters include Journey, a satellite, the “hazmats,” scientists that designed and built the rovers, and Fly, a drone helicopter that accompanies Res to Mars.

I can’t believe I became so invested in a robot friendship, but the relationship between Fly and Res is so wonderfully portrayed that it’s impossible not to be invested in their fates. This wonderful portrayal of friendship is full of humanity and hope, which are at the heart of this book. This is my comfort every time I think about how much Warga made me cry over a robot friendship.

This novel is the perfect middle grade STEM book, combining relatable themes with science in an accessible and understandable way. This is the kind of book that can spark a love for space, or fan the flames for those readers who already dream of being amongst the stars. The author’s note on combining imagination and science is sure to inspire every reader, whether that’s to learn more about Mars and the rover program or to imagine what worlds they could dream up themselves.

A Rover’s Story is perfect for fans of WALL-E, as it has the same humor and heart but in a whole new story with lovable characters. It is overwhelmingly wonderful. I’m honestly having trouble putting into words the way this book made me feel.

That’s the heart of it, really. It makes you feel.

From the gorgeous setting descriptions to the heart-pounding plot, A Rover’s Story is one you don’t want to miss.

Thank you to Jasmine Warga, HarperCollins Children’s Books, Balzer & Bray, and NetGalley for an advanced e-copy such that I could share my honest opinions.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this story about space exploration to Mars from the point of view of a Mars rover. I think this would be a great read aloud, particularly for students/classes who enjoyed The Wild Robot. I also think this would be a great springboard for STEM discussion and research.

Thank you to NetGalley, Balzer + Bray of HarperCollins Children's Books, and author Jasmine Warga for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

A Rover's Story immediately peaked my interest upon seeing it on NetGalley because Warga is one of my favorite Middle Grade authors. I was so curious about this one because it seemed very different from her other MG books, and while it was very different in terms of plot, it still had her same beautiful writing, characters, and storytelling. I very much enjoyed the Author's Note at the beginning that talked about how and why this book came about because it showed how personal of a connection Warga had to this story that at first glimpse seems so different. The chapters were short, making this a good read for any hesitant readers, as it reads very quickly. I loved the alternating perspectives of Resilience's point of view, as well as Sophie's letters to him, as it helped to connect the story in a sweet way. I would have liked to see more of Sophie's character though because while it was not primarily her story, I think it could have been impactful to read more about her in conjunction to Res. This was a very easy read that will be great for younger readers and does a great job of mixing a lot of facts about NASA/space exploration with a little bit of fiction to make the story interesting. My biggest complaint was that I was very confused about the lead scientist, Raina, at the end because Sophie's chapters made it seem like something different happened in regards to her. There were some plot holes that I wish would have been gone into a bit more, as the book does jump around quite a bit, but for MG readers, it won't be an issue. I enjoyed getting to read something different by Warga that still was a beautifully emotional and inspirational story!

Eeee, adorable anthropomorphic Mars Rovers! This was the cutest and most charming book about space exploration that I have read this year. Incredibly sweet and earnest, this would make an excellent family read-aloud for STEM-my kids.

What an incredible and special story! Told from the perspective of a fictional Mars rover (resilience) who is a robot but observes and learns from the human scientists around him as well as the other robots sent to Mars. The story of the hardworking scientists who dedicate their lives and sacrifice time with family to make these space missions possible is brought to light through letters from the scientist's daughter to Resilience. This book definitely inspired me to learn more about the space program and research what the actual Mars Rovers have (and continue to) discover. I can't wait to share this book with young readers!

Not a fan. Very disappointing because I AM a fan of the Mars rovers. I've watched several documentaries on them. I even showed the 2006 documentary "Roving Mars" to my classes back when I was a science teacher. I remember feeling emotional about it, like there was a kind of humanity about those rovers, so I get this author's desire to go at the story the way she did.

The problem is that the book is too over-the-top emotional. It's a stream of consciousness book from the perspective of a Mars rover. If the rover, fictionally named Resilience, had been even a little bit humorous, it would have been more tolerable. But this serious, almost desperate, attempt by this rover to understand its world is emotionally depleting for the reader. It's like it wants to be human, but knows it never will be, and that's just downright depressing. There's a somber undertone to this story.

It begins with the rover being built and follows her through launch, Mars exploration, and return to earth. Along the way, we are introduced to two human engineers, a sister rover, a drone Mars companion, and a satellite guide which I didn't quite understand. Resilience has human like conversations with all the nonhuman characters. They ponder life's questions like humans and have feelings. There's also the daughter of one of the engineers who writes letters to Resilience over the course of many years beginning when she is 12. She doesn't send them, so it's more like a journal.

My students consistently check out The Wild Robot by Peter Brown, so I know the subject matter has an audience. But from what I know about kids this age, they do not go for stream of conscience books unless they are funny and descriptive. Passing on this one.

This book allows the reader to explore the intersection of humanity and technology. It allows readers to ponder concepts such as artificial intelligence as well. It brings opportunities to discuss coding, robotics, and exploration of space. It also can inspire conversations about what kinds of careers and families readers may want in the future. Additionally, the letters are a beautiful way to get inside the mind of the growing human along side the narrative from the rover and the drone. I thought the book was interesting and engaging, and feel that students will find imagining about these topics engaging as well.

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and Jasmine Warga for the opportunity to read this e-ARC!

"Avoid dust and see stars" - Resilience and his drone-friend, Fly are the most lovable little pieces of technology I've ever encountered in written fiction. From the very first page, this little rover grabbed at my heart. The story alternates between Resilience the rover and the letters that Sophie, the daughter of one of Resilience's main scientists, writes to him.

Seeing the world (from the NASA lab to the surface of Mars) from Resilience's perspective was unique and honestly quite a fun read. Even got a little emotional near the end. Absolutely cannot wait to get this for my class library!

Jasmine Warga is a masterful writer for young readers (and a good human whose insight shines through in her work). I loved this blending of science and fiction, and her exploration of resonant themes and deft characterization continue to please. I’ll be recommending this to my students and school library.

Thank you to #NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for allowing me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of A Rover's Story. This middle grades novel will be published October 4, 2022. All opinions are my own.

Resilience (Res for short) is a rover built to explore Mars and bring a lost rover back online. He is a robot. He was built to discover and explore, not to have human emotions. While in the lab, he learns from the hazmats (human scientists) and develops human-like feelings. Res blasts off for Mars along with a helicopter drone named Fly. They quickly learn that Mars is full of danger and challenges, but Res is determined to live up to his name.

This is a beautifully written novel about identity and exploration. It's based on true science, but Warga uses imagination and creativity to create a unique story. It also looks at parents who are away from their family for work and the affects that has on the whole family. I liked rover's name and how he embodies the theme of novel. The chapters are pretty short and engaging and the story is told through a mixture of Res's perspective and letters from Sophie (one of the NASA scientist's daughter). It's an interesting and heartwarming story of growing up, overcoming challenges, and being resilient.

Our hero is Res, aka the Resilience rover, as it prepares for a mission from Mars. It learns about itself and its mission from the scientists working on it, as well as letters from a young girl, Sophie, and its fellow rover, Journey. It’s a bit one-sided, since Res can’t directly communicate with the humans, but we do see the humans anthropomorphizing it, and sometimes trying hard not to.

It also touches on parents who are away from their family due to work, and how that affects everyone. Sophie is the daughter of one of the coders working on Res, and is somewhat jealous of the time her mother spends working on Res instead of at home with Sophie.

It’s not really true to the science reality, but good enough for a middle grade book. There’s talk of finding a previously sent rover and reviving it, which might be possible one day, but it’s a lot cheaper to just send a new one with the latest technology. there’s also a mention of bringing Resilience and Journey back to earth, which would never happen. We’d have all the data collected, there’s no scientific reason to bring it back. But we science nerds all cried when contact was lost with the real-life rover, Opportunity, so we’ll accept a little poetic license. After a 90-day mission that turned into 15 years, we were a little attached.

There are some illustrations at the beginning of each of five sections, but I would have liked to see more, such as at the start of each chapter. Getting complicated information regarding a rover might be more effective with interesting graphics.

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Rover's Story is Warga's newest novel by Jasmine Warga. It tells the story in dual perspectives. We hear about Resilience's (or Res, the Mars rover) experiences from its perspective, and we hear from Sophie (the daughter of the scientist working with Res) through her letters to Res. Both of them are characters the readers will be drawn to.

Res tells us about its experiences preparing for a mission. Res has an incredible journey that spans from the lab where he is created to the mission on Mars. Throughout that, it shares its thoughts and experiences about whom it meets and what it encounters. Res was a believable character, and Warga did a fantastic job capturing the voice of a robot. This character also will lead to discussions whether or not robots can have feelings and think on their own. While most of the story focuses on Sophie in 6th grade, the story does span years. We get to see her as an adult as well.

I thought the name of the Mars Rover, Resilience, was perfect. It ties in well to the themes of the novel. I thought the author did a wonderful job researching the topics in this book. There were many details about the process of creating a Mars rover as well as aspects on Mars. I especially enjoyed hearing Warga's inspiration from this book. This is a gem that readers are sure to enjoy.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I just finished A Rover’s Story. I could not put this story down. I am sitting here thinking of how to write this review and I can think is that I loved everything about it. It touched me on every level. I laughed and I cried. I cannot wait to share this book with students. It will definitely be a read aloud in my room this year.

Jasmine Warga is an amazing author. If you have not read Other Words For Home, I highly recommend that book as well.

5 stars; without question.

“A Rover’s Story” is a science fiction/realistic fiction middle grade novel by Jasmine Warga which is due to be released October 4, 2022.

“A Rover’s Story” is about Resilience, or Res, a rover that is sent to Mars. The story is told by Res and through the letters of a girl named Sophie. Sophie’s mom, Rania, worked on Res before Res was sent to Mars and then coding for Res while on Mars. The story has five parts which document the progress of Res and the life of Sophie back on Earth.

This was a book I started today and did not put down until I finished. I highly recommend this book starting at potentially 2nd grade. I know for sure my 3rd graders will love this book. I do believe this is easily a contender as a future read aloud in my classroom. I love love loved it!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy. I had this on my Kindle for a long time before trying to read it, since I thought it would be a boring STEM story. I was pleasantly surprised at how amazing this book is! I was not expecting a tear-jerker story from the point of view of a robot. The themes of human emotions, family, and growing up can all be discussed. The letters interchanged with dialogue from robots were entertaining and thoughtful. I appreciate that this is a clean novel, without profanity. There is a little Arab-American culture, but it is not the focal point of the story. I wish I had read it earlier, and I will be purchasing copies for our school library. Thank you for a happy ending!

What if a Mar’s rover had human emotion? Would it have the resilience to complete the mission? Follow Res on his journey to Mars and meet all the charming characters along the way. This one is sure to touch your heart.

I loved this book. Unique way of telling a wonderful story. It feels like several coming of age stories rolled into one.

This was a sweet book. It was a little hard to suspend disbelief about Resilience's acclimation of human emotions and vocabulary. All of the machines showed emotion even though they weren't supposed to, but it felt a bit inconsistent. I enjoyed Sophie's letters, and they helped bridge the big time skips. I think your science kids might enjoy this. I enjoyed it, and I'll probably purchase for my K-5 library.