therearenobadbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
5 plus
This is an amazing book that combines science and emotions cleverly and creatively. An amazing space-exploration middle grade that will appeal to all ages.
This is an amazing book that combines science and emotions cleverly and creatively. An amazing space-exploration middle grade that will appeal to all ages.
We have different points of view, but the main character is a Rover based on the one on Mars (Perseverance which is collecting samples and sending us photos and that at this time (2023) still doesn't have an assured return schedule may or may to Earth, but maybe in the 2030s it will). The Rover in this novel is Resilience and the author humanized this machine and companions by giving them an understanding and learning capacity of feeling emotions, building relationships, unique personalities, and caring.
It's adventurous and exciting, I couldn't stop reading and it made me want to learn and research all about the ones working there on Mars right now and NASA's efforts.
At the same time, we get access to the life of a 12-year-old who corresponds to Rover (Res) as her daily journal sharing her struggles and joys, choices, changes in her life, and moments of sadness and bliss. The format is great.
I've also listened to the audiobook after reading and the different narrators are a great choice for the characters.
yarydoll's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
bookbrig's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
dlberglund's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this smart and funny interpretation of what a Rover, intended for Mars exploration, might think behind the code and missions it is given. Yes, they are a bit anthropomorphicized, but it was lovable while not being over the top.
I think the author did enough research to make the science feel sciencey while giving the book lots of heart, both in its tech characters and the human ones.
I think the author did enough research to make the science feel sciencey while giving the book lots of heart, both in its tech characters and the human ones.
lillygabriella's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
sandraagee's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really interesting read. Based loosely on the real Mars rover Perseverance, Jasmine Warga tells a story largely from the perspective of the rover describing what it might do, think, and even feel over the course of its mission.
This book is a Pixar movie waiting to happen.
Our rover in this story, Resilience, has a lot of feelings for a robot. The other rovers, satellites, and other electronics that Resilience interacts with often comment on how unusual this is, some even advising it to dispose of those feelings so that it can be a better rover. Of course, the rover who wrestles with his emotions because he doesn't know what to do with them is an infinitely more compelling story, and I definitely enjoyed myself more once I let the unrealistic nature of the emotions thing go. It's really the emotions that make this story, both those of Resilience and the human girl Sophie, whose mother is on the team who builds and manages the rover and who periodically writes letters to it as a way of trying to process her feelings.
This book is a Pixar movie waiting to happen.
Our rover in this story, Resilience, has a lot of feelings for a robot. The other rovers, satellites, and other electronics that Resilience interacts with often comment on how unusual this is, some even advising it to dispose of those feelings so that it can be a better rover. Of course, the rover who wrestles with his emotions because he doesn't know what to do with them is an infinitely more compelling story, and I definitely enjoyed myself more once I let the unrealistic nature of the emotions thing go. It's really the emotions that make this story, both those of Resilience and the human girl Sophie, whose mother is on the team who builds and manages the rover and who periodically writes letters to it as a way of trying to process her feelings.
katpeterson06's review against another edition
3.0
Such a unique story premise. While I enjoyed reading the story to my daughter, I felt some of th ewriting was dry. And it just seemed a bit pointless for Sophie to write to the rover if the rover never actually gets them.
helloakosisam's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jce's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0