Gadget Geeks

by Cara Brookins

Drew is a computer geek who loves to build things out of electronic scraps that other people throw away. He has developed an amazing new Robot that works on a unique power source all from parts he found while dumpster diving. Hope is a wealthy Hispanic girl with busy parents. She certainly never planned to dig in trash heaps for robot pieces, but Drew has shown her how much fun it can be. The two unlikely friends end up on a wild adventure while trying to save their sticky robot from a greedy scientist. Along the way they learn important lessons about family, friendship, and even the power of skunk scent.

170 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 20, 2008

About the author

Cara Brookins is a computer analyst and social media marketing expert based in Little Rock. You can read more about her, as well as see shots of her home and family at http://www.carabrookins.com/. Her memoir, Rise: How a House Built a Family details the house she built with her children after they had left a domestic violence situation. She is also the author of seven middle grade and young adult novels and one adult novel.

Reviews

[Charles Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gadget Geeks
A review by Author Chap Harper



Cara Brookins takes us back to our early teens years where school grounds are battlefields infested with bullies and the technically advanced kids are easy targets. Drew is a thirteen year old geek who has built an advanced robot that uses a revolutionary propulsion system. It catches the attention of some bad guys who want to steal his robot Sticky and exploit his invention for their own profit. Drew’s friend Hope is a rich Hispanic girl that finds herself alone much of the time since her parents seem to always be off working someplace. Drew recruits her to go dumpster diving to salvage electronics and discarded solar panels for use in transforming Sticky into an remarkable Robot well beyond anything a child would call a toy. As the word gets out that this advanced robot exists, then a group of thieves attempt to steal it. The story builds to an exciting conclusion that contains the use of home made weapons that are used on the bad guys to try and stop them. The story also contrasts the normal family atmosphere of a working family who experiences the chaos of four kids and a stay at home mom to that of a wealthy family that seem to be work-a-holics with very little time to spend with their only child. The story moves at a very good pace and seems to build while also securing and binding relationships within families and friends. The book made me want to be a kid again.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drew is a builder: a geek who loves making things from junk - which is why he can commonly be found dumpster diving for spare parts and new ideas. Free parts is the reason why he can afford to build a robot. It's also part of the reason why he's friends with Hope, a Hispanic girl with busy, wealthy parents who like Drew for his unique interests.

It's unusual enough to find a friendship between two people from distinctly different economic circles, much less different cultures - but their mutual attraction and friendship is further solidified by a dilemma when an evil scientist gets wind of Drew's amazing robot and decides to robotnap it.

In the course of their organized resistance and battles, the two bond and learn valuable lessons about friendship, adversity, and sticking together.

Intrigue, adventure, conflict, and evolving relationships: add a healthy dose of skunk scent (…and you'll just have to read the story to find out why) and what you have here is an outstanding story of robots and intrigue, with more psychological depth than either the classic young investigators Encyclopedia Brown or Danny Dunn can offer.

[Kate Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really fun to read because it is filled with mystery and danger for the main characters, Drew and his friend Hope. Drew is a highly intelligent inventor who just happens to be thirteen! His new friend, Hope, is a very rich, but lonely girl, whose parents have no time for her, while Drew’s family is very loving and close knit. Drew has almost finished building a unique and amazing robot named Stickey, and he is very hopeful that his robot will change the world for the better.
You will hardly believe the lengths that he and Hope will go to in order to collect the parts Drew needs to build his creation! When the word gets out about his important invention, greedy criminals start coming out of the woodwork to try to steal the robot for purely financial reasons.
This is a wonderful story about the bravery and creativity of Drew, Hope and Drew’s younger brother, and how they come up with brilliant plans to outsmart the villains
I would recommend this fun and inspiring book to any young person interested in robotics OR who just wants to have fun reading a terrific book!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun little story about a boy who enjoys dumpster diving to create robots, a girl with distant but wealthy parents, and evading corporate scientists who want to steal their invention. A cute little story with friendship, humor, action, and adventure. I really like that this book, and the author, promotes girls in STEM. Great book for children who enjoy technology and gaming.

[B.K. Bradshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gadget Geeks is perfect for 9 to 12-year-olds, but has wider appeal. It has non-stop action, adventure and suspense; endearing and resilient character role models; and excellent plot development. I recommend it highly for teachers looking for STEM-related fiction for their classrooms.