Innovation in Technology
Essentially the novel follows the four Latino teens as they compete in the 2004 Marine Advanced Technology Education Robotics Competition at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The competition centers on innovative prototypes for the purpose of contributing to robotics and marine technology. In the competition, the teenagers meet other participants from public universities and high schools with the same desire for innovation. They face off with reputable institutions such as MIT who have a larger budget from large corporations up to $10,000. So while the narrative is about four teenagers defying great odds, it shows the world of innovation and how it is nurtured in all domains. The competition involves building underwater robotic prototypes that aim to advance marine technology and robotics in general. It shows young minds being inventive with the main characters using junk material and a small budget at their disposal to create a prototype that surpasses all others. Put together by NASA and involving teams from various backgrounds the national robotics contest sees large sums of money and creative minds go to work.
Immigration
The novel focuses on the immigration laws and policies that make it hard for undocumented immigrants to navigate logistically and in social domains. The four teenagers Oscar, Cristian, Luis, or Lorenzo are undocumented high school students who were raised in Phoenix, Arizona but born in Mexico. The book demonstrates the complications and bureaucracy in immigration policies that cause obstacles. Whilst the cultural bias and prejudice that also accompanies the label of an illegal immigrant. For instance, Luis attempts to join the Army but because he does not possess a green card he is not illegible. Even though he has been raised in the country and studied in the public schools, as an undocumented immigrant it is near impossible. As winners in the competition and impacting the DREAMers movement, the immigration policies gradually became softened to make it easier to get citizenship or residency.
American Dream
The spirit of the book is the viability of the American Dream regardless of the social background, personal obstacles, and stiff competition. The concept of the American Dream has been a glorified construct among both born citizens and immigrants. However, the concept became an illusion in the eyes of many since it was seen as a rather elusive objective. Factors such as financial privilege, cultural bias, and systemic hurdles have rendered the Dream as such. The boys exhibited determination, dedication, and ingenuity in the competition making their dream valid despite the challenges. Thus, the story is a powerful one about showing willpower in overcoming the hardships of achieving objectives.
