I LOVED this book! I didn't read the Adult book, so this was my first time experiencing the story of Spare Parts. I thought it's completely relatable to children and I thought that it was engaging throughout the story. This is a 10/10 recommendation for me.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s broken down into short sections about each boy’s life, telling of their early childhood in Mexico, what circumstances brought them and their families to the United States, and what the transition to school in the US was like for them. In each boy’s chapters, we learn about their family life and how robotics inspired them in different ways.

For example, Lorenzo grew up watching his godfather fix cars with few tools and lots of ingenuity. The experience taught him to think outside the box and find solutions that work rather than reaching for expensive, flashy materials. Meanwhile, Cristian developed a love for home improvement shows, which taught him how to build things and use different types of tools. Oscar excelled in JROTC, where he learned how to be a great leader and get things done.

The pacing of the book was excellent as well. I felt like the narrative spent just enough time on different parts of the story. Each scene was a puzzle piece, set in place and adding to the picture, taking shape as I read. The short sections and clear writing made this one a really fast read.

I wish there had been some pictures of the team and the robot included in the book. I’m reading a pre-release version, so it’s possible there are in the book available for purchase. I’m not sure, but I hope so.

All in all, I think SPARE PARTS (Young Readers Edition) is an inspiring story, perfect for readers interested in STEM or anyone looking for a heartwarming story about an underdog team rising to victory.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

Title: Spare Parts (Young Readers Edition)
Author: Joshua Davis and Reyna Grande
Genre: Middle grade, Non-fiction, Science
Recommended Ages: 5th-7th grade

Summary/ Review:
Spare parts: The True Story of Four Undocumented Teenagers, One Ugly Robot, and an Impossible Dream is a true story based on the life of four undocumented citizens who join robotics class. It’s in robotics class, that new friendships are fostered. These young men have undeniable passion to prove themselves, and with high levels of competition bring about remarkable creativity, and inventiveness to take on MIT in the National Robotics Nationals Championship.

I really had a strong desire to love this biography about these strong willed young men, however, I felt it was missing an emotional connection piece for me. It started off quite strong by the novel started to lose my focus about half way. I do feel this novel would have been more appealing to young readers if it included pictures, or maybe became a graphic novel. I was visualizing what was happening throughout the story, but as the story progressed it become very difficult for me to continue reading.

Thank you to Joshua Davis, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#reluctantreaderreads #spareparts
#joshuadavis #reynagrande
#youngreadereditions
#netgalley
#advancedreadereditions

This was such an uplifting story about a team of boys who were undocumented, having been brought to the United States illegally. Each boy's story of how he learned English and blossomed into an academically gifted student was inspiring, but the overall story of how they came together as a team was amazing. I loved reading about the scientific aspects of their robotics project and found myself wanting to learn more about robotics in the process. This is a true underdog story, and I highly recommend it for all ages.