Parker Bell and the Science of Friendship

by Cynthia Platt, Rea Zhai (Illustrator)

In this fun young-middle-grade novel with STEM appeal, Parker really wants to win the school Science Triathlon—but first she’ll have to figure out how to keep her BFF from being stolen.

Budding scientist Parker Bell really wants to win the school Science Triathlon and follow in the footsteps of her idols, chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall and astronaut Mae Jemison. She’s sure that if she teams up with her trivia whiz BFF, Cassie, they will dominate the Science Bee, Egg Drop, and Animal Adaptation Presentation. When Cassie invites her new friend, Theo, to join their team, Parker is worried—that Theo won't help them win and might steal her best friend. As the three work together, Parker learns that you don’t have to be the best to be a real scientist and a good friend.

Genres: Middle Grade, Stem, Friendship, Chapter Books, Science, Childrens, Realistic Fiction

160 pages, Hardcover

First published May 21, 2019

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 STARS. I didn't like this quite as much as the Ellie, Engineer books, though they have a lot of similarities. The characterization didn't feel quite as strong with Parker Bell. But, it is still worth adding to your STEM early middle grade novel list. The emphasis on friendship struggles (jealousy when a current BFF makes a new friend; overcoming nervousness and getting over a bad first impression) and perhaps reevaluating your opinions of some people (one of the classmates who acts like a big goofball but actually has some hidden talents and interests) are important points especially for this age group. Some of the humor wasn't my type (a bit too near potty humor at times) but nothing too objectionable. My eight-year-old really enjoyed this and we hope it becomes a series.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parker Bell is super excited. Today is going to be the biggest science announcement at school ever. She loves everything about science and cannot wait to grow up to be a famous scientist like one of her science heroes. Jane Goodall, famous for her work with gorillas and Mae Jamison, the amazing astronaut are her two favorites. She has pictures of them in her bedroom, which doubles as her Mad Science Lab. She loves making things like the automatic feeder for her guinea pig, Algebra. But sometimes gets in trouble with her experiments. One time she took the toaster apart to see how it worked and couldn’t put it back together.

Soon the best day ever turned sour from the start. Why is Theo sitting in her seat on the bus instead of her best friend Cassie? She hasn’t liked Theo since he messed up an experiment in class with her and she got the lowest points ever. The science announcement doesn’t happen until the very end of the school day. And then, they announce that three kids have to be on a team for the Science Triathlon instead of two. Why can’t it be just her and Cassie, they would crush it. But now what will happen now that Cassie adds Theo to the team without even asking her?

The three children will have to get along to win this competition, but Theo will hardly speak to Parker. Strangely, he talks to Cassie all the time. Is Parker going to lose her best friend? She is determined to not only win the Triathlon, but also run a side experiment to see if she can become a better friend with Theo in the process.

This chapter book has great ideas and lessons for grade school kids. It encourages science, friendship and learning. The examples of great scientists such as Goodall and Jamison will spark further interest and discussions with your child. There are nods to sharing, not always coming in first as well as recycling. Youngsters will also enjoy the guinea pig and chicken facts. The overall information at just the right level for a chapter book is perfect.

I hope Ms. Platt plans to bring back Parker and her friends. A new series starring these characters would delight me as well as countless kids and the adults that care about them.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Copyright © 2019 Laura Hartman.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group through NetGalley.
Parker Bell loves science and wants to be an award winning scientist like Jane Goodall and Mae Jemison. Her goal is to win the Science Triathlon with her best friend. However, her friend adds another person to the team and that changes the dynamics.
Parker doesn't want to lose her friend and doesn't understand that people can have more than one friend.
Platt brings out the joys and the difficulty of elementary level friendships as kids learn to cope with their own feelings and how to handle everyone else's feelings too. Her main character struggles to figure out relationships and turns them into a scientific experiment - terrific coping skill as she discovers that other people have many sides and interests.
An easier read for middle elementary level.

[SaraKat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the way Parker uses the scientific method in her everyday life to solve her problems. It is nice to see a character doing science outside of a lab. I liked that Parker learns that science is a process and doesn't always yield the results you'd like or expect at first.

good science doesn't always go the way you think it's going to

Parker also learns not to be so judgmental and realizes that there may be other reasons for things than the one she thinks up at first.

I found the writing style to be simplistic and some of the slang terms the kids were using felt dated.

I feel really bad for Aidan. He's a tragic character--destined to be lumped together with his two idiot triplet brothers forever even though he wants to be part of the smart crowd. A lesson to us all to consider siblings as separate entities and not compare them unnecessarily.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet little book packed with STEM appeal. Unlike in many chapter books that try to mix educational content with fun fiction, Parker Bell's STEM content is integrated seamlessly into the narrative. As a programming librarian and as a parent, I can see tons of ways to use this book with kids. Can't wait to share it!

[Tammy Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I just wanted to say thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to get this book for an honest review. I thought this book was cute. It's something that my nephews and nieces would like. For me, any book that is kid-friendly is always my favorite and this would be something kids might like.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parker Bell loves science and wants to be a scientist when she grows up. So she’s super psyched about the science triathlon and competing with her best fried, Cassie. But Cassie also invited Theo to join them and so will it be three’s company or three’s a crowd?

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parker knows exactly what she wants, at least until she realizes there may be room in her plans for things she hadn’t counted on. This is a fun read with a spunky, still learning protagonist. A great STEM tie in book for young middle grade readers.

[Hana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked when Parker tried to be friends with Theo but Theo kept being nervous to talk to her!

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book. Not or a five year old boy though. It was a struggle to keep him interested.

[Nikoletta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thia book teaches kids how to incorporate new people into their lives and not judge what’s on the outside.

[Barbara O'brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parker Bell and the Science of Friendship
I LOVED Parker Bell and the Science of Friendship for so many reasons. Underlying the fun of planning and implementing an amazing science project is Cynthia Platt's gentle understanding of the process of coming to know and accept oneself while respecting and valuing others. The team of three learn about what it takes to work as a team and develop new friends while, at the same time, creating spectacular science experiments. A perfectly enjoyable summer read for any preteen!

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parker Bell and the Science of Friendship is a fun book for all readers. Parker is a science nerd whose heroes are two famous female scientists - Jane Goodall and Mae Jemison. This fun obsession resonates throughout the story as Parker tries to become like her heroes. The STEM theme flows through the story so that as kids are reading the adventure they also gain a bit of science knowledge. Parker enters a school science contest in which she must work with a team - her BFF and a boy she can't quite figure out. With three challenges to complete the threesome must learn to work together and share ideas. So many sub-themes in this story - friendships and relationships, kindness and cooperation along with the desire to take on challenges and try hard things. Easy to read format makes this a great independent read but would be a great book to share with a classroom of students to spark engaging discussions and maybe even a few experiments along the way. Thank you to NetGalley for the electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.

[LenaMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parker Bell and the Science of Friendship by Cynthia Platt is a wonderful story of determination, resilience, friendship, teamwork and competition. The science connections are great and add to the adventure of the story. Parker is a wonderful role model who has great science idols. She navigates the journey involved in the science triathlon while feeling the competiveness of sharing her BFF with another classmate. You will laugh and share the nervousness as they prepare for their science competitions. This is fantastic read for the budding scientist that may be lurking in our classrooms or our own families. A must-add title for school or home libraries!

Thank you to Net Galley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Amber Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parker Bell and the Science of Friendship was the perfect blench of science and friendship. Parker loves science and so does her friend Cassie, but what happens when the Science Triathlon comes around and Cassie invites someone else to join their team? Parker knows science and is confident that she can discover all the answers using the scientific method. She learns how to make and manage friendships, do a team best in the science triathlon and even give a few new people a chance.
I know a lot of young readers who will love this book and series.