The New Cool

The New Cool follows four high school robotics teams during the 2009 FIRST Robotics Competition season, with primary focus on Team 1717 from California's Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy and their teacher-mentor Amir Abo-Shaeer. The narrative tracks the teams through their six-week build season as they design and construct robots for competition, facing technical challenges, resource limitations, and personal obstacles. Each team brings its own approach to the competition - from military-style precision to inner-city innovation. The book chronicles the regional competitions leading up to the FIRST Championship in Atlanta, documenting the triumphs and setbacks of Team 1717 as they progress through qualifying rounds and elimination matches. This account of technological education speaks to broader themes about the future of American innovation, the role of hands-on learning, and the potential for engineering to inspire a new generation of problem-solvers.

Readers found this book captured the spirit and intensity of high school robotics competitions while highlighting the value of hands-on engineering education. Many appreciated the focus on dedicated teacher Amir Abo-Shaeer and his mission to transform STEM learning. Liked: - Detailed accounts of the engineering process and technical challenges - Strong character development of the students - Shows real-world application of classroom concepts - Illuminates importance of mentorship in STEM Disliked: - Technical descriptions too complex for non-engineers - Narrative pacing uneven in middle sections - Some found it focused too heavily on the teacher vs students - Competition details became repetitive Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (687 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (89 ratings) "Reads like a sports thriller but with robots" - Goodreads reviewer "Too much engineering jargon for general readers" - Amazon reviewer "Shows why we need more programs like this in schools" - Common Sense Media

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🔧 FIRST Robotics Competition was founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen, who also invented the Segway and portable insulin pump. 🏆 Amir Abo-Shaeer, featured prominently in the book, became the first public school teacher to receive a MacArthur "Genius" Grant in 2010. 🤖 Team 1717, known as the D'Penguineers, managed to raise over $100,000 for their robotics program through community support and corporate sponsorships. 📚 Author Neal Bascomb is renowned for his works on historical topics, including hunting Nazi war criminals and Olympic athletes, making this STEM-focused book a departure from his usual subjects. 🎓 The Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy's program became so successful that it inspired similar programs across the country, with a waiting list of hundreds of students each year.