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Spare Parts: Four Undocumented Teenagers, One Ugly Robot, and the Battle for the American Dream Paperback – December 2, 2014

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Joshua Davis (Author)
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Joshua Davis (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars 177 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: FSG Originals; 1 edition (December 2, 2014)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0374534985
  • ISBN-13: 978-0374534981
  • Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.7 x 8.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (177 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,936 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsShould be required reading
By T. Corson on August 21, 2015
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
The DVD movie of the same name is an entertaining feel good story. However, this book reveals all the details and the true reality of these young men's lives. After reading this, it's plain to me that we need a more realistic plan for handling immigrants who came to this country illegally. The largely conservative voices on this matter would paint all illegal immigrants with a broad brush as criminals and undesirable. When some of those same illegal immigrants prove to be talented engineers who could contribute much to the U.S., yet they still have no path to becoming productive U.S. citizens, something is seriously wrong with our laws. Joshua Davis has written both a great story and an eye-opening view into our immigration laws. For those who think that illegal immigration is a black and white matter, I think this book will show you the shades of gray.

I highly recommend this inspiring, thoughtfully told story of going against the odds. I hope it inspires people to be kinder to each other and reach out a hand to help a fellow human being.
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4.0 out of 5 starsGreat but the omniscience detracts
By Ted Timmons on December 24, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
The premise is great, and it's cool that Davis doesn't paint an overly rosy picture. He also did a good job weaving the immigration worries into the story, as it's an important angle. The only thing that detracts is the omniscient perspective of the narrator, who seems to know substantially more than could be determined even with years of interviews.
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5.0 out of 5 starsOutstanding "can do"!
By Jose Solera on January 2, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Well worth reading this inspiring story. A good companion to the movie, it does go deeper into the challenges the team members faced during and after the ROV competition. It also showcases how a challenge, in this case a robotics challenge, can help a team coalesce and succeed.
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5.0 out of 5 starsThe "ROCKY" story in the Robotics Universe
By C. Doerner-McCary on December 27, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
You will root for the four heroes from beginning to end. This story reminds me of Homer Hickam's "Rocket Boys" in the sense that no one ever expected them to gel into a team that could compete with nationally esteemed and funded powerhouses. If you are a fan of the underdog rising to the top theme, as I always have been, you will be uplifted and inspired by the journey. Severely underfunded, the drive to achieve and learn with the focus of an omniscient and supportive teacher advisor, brings these young men to heights they never dreamed were possible. A WORTHY READ.
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5.0 out of 5 starsI heard about this story from Science Friday on my ...
By Amazon Customer on March 19, 2015
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I heard about this story from Science Friday on my public radio station. A movie has just been released based on this book, and Ira Flatow interviewed several of the boys who were involved. I quickly ordered the book, read it, and ordered another copy. I gave one to a Hispanic high schooler who needs to get fired up, and the other to a nonprofit that works with kids who have dropped out of school.

What the book teaches us is this: The way to re-engage marginal students is not to offer them remedial classes, but to stimulate them with a challenge that doesn't rely upon classroom skills. As soon as they decide that a mental challenge is interesting and important, they will discover all sorts of intellectual skills as they try to solve the puzzle. This is a must read.
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5.0 out of 5 starsHis own story was funny and inspiring
By MHC on January 6, 2017
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
My book club read "Spare Parts". It was a story inspired me and made me think about the problems encountered by the boys, and their success building "Stinky". My daughter and I were lucky to get to Joshua Davis speak. His own story was funny and inspiring. I highly recommend this book for adults and older youth, as a matter of fact, I gave my copy to my oldest grandson.
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4.0 out of 5 starsPoignant story
By Lynn Maui on August 12, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
The story of these boys is both heartwarming and heartbreaking .The characters are well fleshed out.Their intelligence and drive to be accepted as Americans is a sharp contrast to the LA Raza Hispanics who do not seem to want to truly become Americans.
It was wonderful the support they got from certain companies and individuals.The 2 teachers who sponsored the team gave so much of themselves to these young men.
The hardships they went through after graduating from high school were so disheartening.Even Oscar with a college degree went thru hell.
This story puts a real face to some of the problems resulting from our immigration laws.
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5.0 out of 5 starsNon-fiction PAGE TURNER!
By L.B. on January 24, 2015
Format: Paperback
Great book - a total page turner! That is unusual for a non-fiction. Wonderful story about a couple of kids who were really unlikely to be successful in a robotics competition. The most meaningful part to me is the very real story of what happened to them after they won. You won't see that in the movie.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsFriggin Awesome!!

Friggin Awesome !!! Or as Lorenzo would say (one of the characters in the book), "Bad ass". Loved it. So glad I read it. It was inspirational. Read more

Published 6 days ago by Robert L. Hebert
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

The first 100 pages is background plain material. The rest of the book is GOLD.

Published 8 days ago by william gentner
5.0 out of 5 starsA must read

An interesting true story about a controversial subject that shows both sides of the immigration war. Read more

Published 18 days ago by SuziQ
5.0 out of 5 starsthis is excellent; a gift for all the men in my ...

this is excellent; a gift for all the men in my life~ so glad a movie to follow! so hope it does justice to the writers as well as the individuals who lived it!

Published 20 days ago by B. K. Stinson
3.0 out of 5 starsNew Article

The book is a decent read but it is written more like a news article than an actual biographical book.

Published 1 month ago by Anton
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Great read...

Published 2 months ago by dmajor
4.0 out of 5 starsA nice look into real people and maybe how we have immigration wrong.

I feel the book portrays the background of lives of the kids and their teachers, so you get a real sense of what it takes to make life work for everyone involved. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Part of my home city's Hillsboro Reads-interesting and inspiring..

Published 2 months ago by Edith Lippert
4.0 out of 5 starsGreat True Story!

The story is both heart breaking and inspiring. I was an adult when this took place and had no idea that unducumented immigrants were being rounded up and sent back to Mexico.

Published 2 months ago by Natalie Jean Brown

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