Joshua Davis, author of Washington State University Vancouver’s 2017 Common Reading Program book “Spare Parts: Four Undocumented Teenagers, One Ugly Robot, and the Battle for the American Dream” will speak at 4:15 p.m. Oct. 19 in the Dengerink Administration Building, Room 110. The event is free and open to the public.
“Spare Parts” is a moving story about four Mexican-American high school students living in Phoenix, Ariz., who overcome seemingly insurmountable odds as they learn about building robots and about surviving in the United States as undocumented students. Thanks to the guidance of a special teacher, these teenagers build a robot to compete in the Marine Advanced Technology Education Robotics Competition at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Davis learned about the team’s remarkable story from an account manager at Intel, who sent an email to tell him about the success of a robotics team in an impoverished area of Phoenix. He will talk about writing “Spare Parts,” answer questions from the audience and sign books. Copies of the book are available on campus at The Bookie.
“’Spare Parts’ is a compelling read that showcases the importance of hope, of having someone who believes in you and of believing in yourself,” said Suzanne Smith, special assistant to the vice chancellor of academic affairs, who is leading the Common Reading Program. “It sparks some interesting conversations around the issue of immigration and inspires students to reach for the stars.”
WSU’s Common Reading Program provides the community with a common intellectual experience to stimulate discussion and critical thinking.