Hi friends! I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE TROUBLE WITH ROBOTS by Michelle Mohrweis Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About The Book:
Author: Michelle Mohrweis
Pub. Date: September 27, 2022
Publisher: Peachtree
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Pages: 288
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org, Book Depository
*Please note - this post contains affiliate links, from which we may earn a commission (at no additional cost to you) if you make a purchase
Evelyn strives for excellence. Allie couldn’t care less. These polar opposites must work together if they have any hope of saving their school’s robotics program.
Eighth-graders Evelyn and Allie are in trouble. Evelyn’s constant need for
perfection has blown some fuses among her robotics teammates, and she’s worried
nobody’s taking the upcoming competition seriously. Allie is new to school, and
she’s had a history of short-circuiting on teachers and other kids.
So when Allie is assigned to the robotics team as a last resort, all Evelyn can
see is just another wrench in the works! But as Allie confronts a past stricken
with grief and learns to open up, the gears click into place as she discovers
that Evelyn’s teammates have a lot to offer—if only Evelyn allowed them to
participate in a role that plays to their strengths.
Can Evelyn learn to let go and listen to what Allie has to say? Or will their
spot in the competition go up in smoke along with their school’s robotics
program and Allie’s only chance at redemption?
An excellent pick for STEAM enthusiasts, this earnestly told narrative features
a dual point of view and casually explores Autistic and LGBTQ+ identities.
Reviews:
"Full of girl power without ever showing them as
outsiders in robotics because of their gender, this brings a diverse team to
the page and shows the various skills needed to make a team succeed."—Booklist
"Unsubtle but not overwrought, with genuinely inspiring kindness and
collaboration found amid pain."—Kirkus Reviews
Rating: 5 Stars
Format: ARC (Courtesy of Rockstar Book Tours and Publisher)
Michelle Morhweis’ The Trouble with Robots is a heartwarming and educational contemporary middle-grade STEAM book. Told from two different points of view, readers are treated to a story that’s empowering, celebrates differences, and champions teamwork and cooperation.
Allie and Evelyn couldn’t be more different. Allie lives with her Grandma and has been struggling in school as a result of her parent’s death. Evelyn, on the other hand, is autistic and lives with her two Moms. Robotics is her passion, and she’s driven to do things right the first time. When Allie is forced to join the class and the two girls meet they realize that have a lot to learn (and lots of room to grow).
The characters are the heart of the story. Building a robot is a team effort, and everyone has a role to play and a way to contribute. At the beginning of the book, there was a lot of friction and butting heads, especially as Evelyn tried to micromanage everything. But when Allie joined the group, it helped smooth things out and their efficiency skyrocketed. For example, Allie took over the creation of the team notebook, lending her artistic skills to the effort. Varsha got to exercise her creative writing skills and write the team descriptions. Evelyn got to lead the team still and utilize her extensive robotics knowledge, but her team developed some ways to gently nudge her when she was being too pushy. I was amused by the small drawings Allie would hold up as a sort of silent signal. The children on the team truly gelled into a cohesive unit that valued everyone’s individual contributions and skills by the end of the book, and the adults (and their high school-level idols) saw that. As a reader, it was so rewarding to be a part of this journey. Go Barton Team B!
On another level, there is also a lot of diverse representation in this book. There’s a wide range of cultures and backgrounds represented in the team and the other students. Many of the characters are members of the LGBTQ+ community (Evelyn is bisexual, she has two moms, Allie is aro/ace, Santino and Alex are dating). You also have some neurodivergent representation (Evelyn is on the autistic spectrum) and some disability representation as well (DJ has cerebral palsy). I really appreciated how the strengths of each person were acknowledged, and not just the areas they struggle. For example, DJ can’t really draw that well due to his cerebral palsy but he’s a top-notch driver. Evelyn struggles to cope with loud situations (which she manages with headphones) but she’s a kick-butt problem solver. It’s so important for readers, especially at the middle-grade level, to learn that there’s no one way to do life and this book champions that idea.
The Trouble with Robots was a fantastic debut novel, and I’m so excited to see what the author will publish in the future. Readers young and old who want a book that’s inclusive, heartwarming, and filled with character growth should definitely check this one out! You may even learn a couple of things about robots in the process.
Thank you to the author, the publisher Peachtree Publishing/Holiday House Books, Jaime at Rockstar Book Tours, and Edelweiss for providing me a complimentary review copy of the book as part of my participation in the tour. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review The Trouble with Robots immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Bullying, Car Crash (Historical, Not on Page), Parental Death (Historical), Grief, Anger, Verbal Abuse, Money Insecurity
About Michelle Mohrweis:
Michelle
Mohrweis is a STEM Educator and space enthusiast. When not writing, they can be
found launching paper rockets down the middle of their street. They live with
their husband and two dogs in Colorado, where they enjoy hiking and hogging all
the best spots beside the heater when it gets too cold. Follow them on Twitter
@Mohrweis_Writes and visit them on the web at MichelleMohrweis.com.
Website | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon
Giveaway Details:
1 winner
will receive a finished copy of THE TROUBLE WITH ROBOTS, US Only.
Ends October 4th, midnight EST.
a Rafflecopter giveawayTour Schedule:
Week One:
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9/19/2022 |
Excerpt |
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9/19/2022 |
IG Spotlight |
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9/20/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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9/20/2022 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
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9/21/2022 |
Excerpt |
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9/21/2022 |
Excerpt |
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9/22/2022 |
Excerpt |
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9/22/2022 |
Excerpt/IG Post |
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9/23/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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9/23/2022 |
IG Review |
Week Two:
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9/26/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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9/26/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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9/27/2022 |
Review |
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9/27/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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9/28/2022 |
IG Review |
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9/28/2022 |
Review |
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9/29/2022 |
IG Review |
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9/29/2022 |
Review/IG Post |
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9/30/2022 |
Review |
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9/30/2022 |
Excerpt |
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