First published 2023
Bel avoids thinking about her future. College applications feel like a joke. Extracurricular activities hold zero appeal. Then she accidentally shows off her engineering skills at school and gets pushed into the robotics club. The boys on the team act like she doesn't exist. Neelam, the only other girl, seems to dislike her. Team captain Mateo Luna sees Bel's potential as an asset, but they clash immediately. Bel couldn't care less about winning Nationals. Teo cares about nothing else. Night after night, they work together building their combat robot for the championship. The long hours change everything. Bel and Teo don't just create a machine ready for battle. They make each other better. They strengthen the whole team. Their opposite personalities spark something neither expected. This story proves girls belong in STEM while exploring the tender vulnerability that comes with first love.
Genres: science-fiction, romance, contemporary, young-adult
Vibes: fast-paced, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
272 pages · Paperback · Holiday House