About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is navigating the messy transition of moving to a new place or feeling the pressure to choose between a loyal old friend and a 'cool' new social circle. It is a gentle story about Penny Rose, a lonely girl who builds tiny robots out of junk. When her creations come to life through a touch of neighborhood magic, she finds a kindred spirit in her neighbor Lark. However, the story takes a poignant turn when Penny Rose is invited to join a prestigious secret science club that excludes Lark. This is a beautiful exploration of integrity and the guilt that comes from betraying a friend to fit in. It balances the wonder of STEM creativity with the grounded reality of middle-grade social dynamics. Parents will appreciate how it validates the difficulty of peer pressure while modeling how to take responsibility for social mistakes. It is perfectly pitched for ages 8 to 12, offering a safe space to discuss the weight of 'secret' clubs and the value of staying true to oneself.
