Rocket Champs

MY THOUGHTS

Rocket Boy Girl Champs

Arjun loves Science and science experiments, but his mother has had enough of his experiments exploding and messing up her perfect home. Arjun doesn’t care about any other subject, and when his teacher announces a school-wide science competition, he knows he needs to win the top prize! The problem is, his teacher announces that students need to work with their bench partner, and that means working with his annoying benchmate, Kiara. What does she even know about Science, Arjun wonders. He is determined to make a rocket and win the competition. But he will have to design the rocket without his mother knowing. Can he pull this off?

Niyatee Sharma’s latest book is a fun, easy-breezy read for middle-grade readers. She creates the character of Arjun as a boy who loves Science but isn’t the stereotypical nerd. He isn’t the teacher’s pet, his notebooks are untidy, and his mom reprimands him and asks him to focus on academics. I love that she brings in themes of friendship, teamwork, and schoolyard rivalry. Arjun understands that he cannot take his bench partner, Kiara, for granted, especially when she reveals her model for the competition.

This is a story that young readers can relate to. They may find similar characters in their own school and resonate with school challenges. It is an easy book to read, with short chapters, interspersed with illustrations by Rucha Phadnis, perfect for a reluctant young reader. The theme is interesting and contemporary. Makes for a perfect summer read! Pick this one up today!