Catapult Chaos

Isabel "Bel" Maier, a sharp but disorganized high school senior, forgets her physics catapult project and scrambles to build one from scavenged materials. Her improvisation impresses her teacher, Ms. Voss, who recognizes Bel's raw engineering talent. Instead of punishment, Ms. Voss pushes Bel to join the school's elite robotics team and transfer into AP Physics. This moment of chaos sets Bel on a new path, challenging her self-perception and introducing her to a world where her creativity and problem-solving are valued, even if she's unsure she belongs.

Unexpected Teamwork

Bel's first encounters with Mateo "Teo" Luna, the robotics team captain, are prickly. Teo is brilliant, driven, and intimidating, with high expectations for himself and others. Their initial interactions are marked by misunderstandings and mutual skepticism, especially when Bel's unconventional approach clashes with the team's established methods. Yet, Teo is intrigued by Bel's ingenuity, and despite resistance from some team members—especially Neelam, the only other girl—Bel is voted onto the team. The stage is set for reluctant collaboration, with both Bel and Teo forced to confront their assumptions about each other.

Pressure Builds

As Bel navigates her new school's competitive environment, she feels the weight of expectations from teachers, family, and herself. The robotics team is a microcosm of these pressures: Teo is stretched thin as captain, balancing robotics, soccer, and college applications, while Bel struggles to prove herself in a male-dominated space. The team's dynamics are fraught, with Neelam's resentment simmering and Bel's confidence wavering. Outside robotics, Bel's family is fractured by divorce, and her friendships are tested by her shifting priorities.

Tryouts and Tension

During robotics tryouts, Bel's lack of experience with design software is offset by her inventive egg-drop design, which Teo recognizes as the best of the bunch. Despite Neelam's objections, the team votes Bel in, and she's thrust into a world of late-night builds and high-stakes competitions. The team's gender dynamics become more pronounced, with Bel feeling both isolated and scrutinized. Meanwhile, Teo's leadership is challenged as he tries to balance fairness, excellence, and his own perfectionism.

Making Space

Bel quickly realizes that being on the team doesn't guarantee acceptance. She faces subtle and overt sexism, is often underestimated, and struggles to find her voice. Neelam's hostility is rooted in her own battles for respect, and Bel's attempts to help are often misinterpreted. The boys, including Teo, are sometimes oblivious to the ways they benefit from unspoken privileges. Bel's frustration grows, but so does her determination to carve out her own space, both on the team and in her life.

Secrets and Skills

Bel's need for tools leads her back to her estranged father's workshop, where she rediscovers her love of building. She constructs a complex hydraulic mechanism for the team, blending her hands-on skills with newfound technical knowledge. This secret project is both a lifeline and a source of guilt, as Bel navigates the emotional minefield of her parents' divorce and her own divided loyalties. Her growing competence is matched by a deepening sense of isolation, as she keeps her achievements—and her struggles—hidden from both family and teammates.

Experiments in Trust

Teo offers to help Bel with the robotics software, and their after-school sessions become a space for vulnerability and growth. They challenge each other, argue, and slowly build trust. Their banter is laced with mutual respect and a budding attraction, though both are wary of complicating the team dynamic. As they collaborate on designs and share personal stories, they begin to see each other's strengths and insecurities. The line between rivalry and partnership blurs, setting the stage for something more.

Friends and Rivals

Outside the lab, friendships deepen. Bel finds support in Jamie and Lora, while Dash becomes a source of comic relief and unexpected wisdom. The team's social life—dances, parties, and late-night study sessions—provides moments of levity and connection. Yet, rivalries persist, especially with Neelam, whose own struggles for recognition mirror Bel's. The team's cohesion is tested by internal competition and the looming pressure of regional robotics tournaments.

Wrecks and Wins

At Regionals, the team faces fierce opponents and technical setbacks. Bel's design instincts prove crucial, but her last-minute changes spark conflict. Teo's leadership is both a strength and a source of tension, as he grapples with the burden of responsibility. The team's victory is hard-won, marked by moments of exhilaration and exhaustion. Bel and Teo's partnership is cemented in the heat of competition, but the cracks in their dynamic—and the team's—are exposed.

Family Fault Lines

Bel's family drama intensifies as her brother Luke moves out and her mother's expectations mount. Teo's relationship with his high-achieving parents is equally fraught, as he tries to live up to their standards while forging his own path. Both protagonists are haunted by questions of identity, loyalty, and the fear of letting others down. Their growing closeness is both a comfort and a complication, as they navigate the demands of family, school, and each other.

Outcomes and Opportunities

As college application results roll in, Teo is accepted to MIT, while Bel is rejected. The news is devastating, not just for Bel's self-esteem but for her relationship with Teo, who had imagined a shared future. The team's success at Nationals is bittersweet, as Bel's sense of belonging is undermined by her perceived failure. The couple's breakup is painful but necessary, forcing both to confront their own ambitions and limitations.

Color Bombs

A school Holi festival becomes a turning point. Amid color throws and dancing, Bel and Teo's chemistry reignites, culminating in a public kiss that signals their feelings are undeniable. Yet, the joy is tempered by the realities of their diverging paths. The festival is a microcosm of the book's themes: the messiness of love, the importance of friendship, and the courage to stand out.

Rejection and Resolve

Bel's MIT rejection forces her to reevaluate her goals. With encouragement from Neelam and Ms. Voss, she decides to attend community college and transfer later, determined to build a stronger foundation. She learns that success isn't about following someone else's path, but about forging her own. The experience galvanizes her, transforming disappointment into motivation.

Distances Grown

Bel and Teo's breakup is marked by pain, regret, and self-discovery. Both struggle with the distance—emotional and physical—that has grown between them. They focus on their respective futures, pouring energy into robotics, school, and personal development. The team's final competition is a triumph, with Bel and Neelam leading the charge and proving that girls belong at the top.

Girls Take the Lead

With Teo sidelined by illness, Bel and Neelam step up as drivers at Nationals. Their teamwork, resilience, and technical prowess lead the team to victory, earning them respect and recognition. The moment is a vindication for both girls, who have fought for their place in a male-dominated field. Their success inspires younger girls and signals a shift in the team's culture.

Second Chances

In the aftermath of Nationals, Bel and Teo reconnect, acknowledging their mistakes and the ways they've grown. They realize that love doesn't have to mean sacrificing ambition or identity. With a new sense of mutual respect, they commit to supporting each other's dreams, even if it means being apart. Their relationship is stronger for having weathered adversity.

Birds of a Feather

As graduation approaches, Bel embraces her path at community college, planning to transfer to a top engineering program. Teo heads to MIT, and the couple navigates a long-distance relationship with hope and humor. Two years later, they face off as rivals at a collegiate robotics competition, each having found their own space and strength. Their story ends not with a fairy-tale resolution, but with the promise of continued growth, love, and partnership—birds of a feather, flying on their own terms.

Characters

Isabel "Bel" Maier

Bel is a high school senior with a knack for building and improvisation, but little confidence in her academic or social standing. The child of divorced parents, she feels caught between worlds—her mother's expectations, her father's hands-on influence, and her brothers' contrasting paths. Bel's journey is one of self-discovery: she learns to claim her space in male-dominated STEM fields, confronts internalized doubts, and ultimately redefines success on her own terms. Her relationship with Teo is both a catalyst and a crucible, forcing her to balance love with ambition. By the end, Bel is transformed from a reluctant participant to a leader, mentor, and role model.

Mateo "Teo" Luna

Teo is the golden boy: robotics captain, soccer star, and MIT-bound overachiever. The son of a tech mogul and a former model, he's accustomed to high expectations and relentless pressure. Teo's outward confidence masks deep insecurities about worth, leadership, and the fear of letting others down. His relationship with Bel challenges his need for control and perfection, teaching him to trust, delegate, and accept imperfection. Teo's arc is about learning to share the spotlight, value collaboration, and recognize that leadership is as much about lifting others as it is about personal achievement.

Neelam Dasari

Neelam is the only girl on the robotics team before Bel's arrival, and her defensiveness is rooted in years of fighting for respect. She's brilliant but often abrasive, quick to call out bias and slow to trust. Neelam's rivalry with Bel is both personal and political, reflecting the scarcity of space for girls in STEM. Over time, she becomes an unexpected ally, pushing Bel to work harder and, eventually, sharing the driver's seat at Nationals. Neelam embodies the challenges and rewards of being a trailblazer, and her growth is mirrored in her willingness to mentor and collaborate.

Jamie Howard

Jamie is Bel's first friend at her new school, a future lawyer with a sharp wit and a big heart. She provides emotional support, practical advice, and much-needed levity. Jamie's own drive for success parallels Bel's journey, and her unwavering belief in her friend is a source of strength. She represents the importance of female friendship and solidarity in navigating competitive environments.

Lora Murphy

Lora is the team's business manager and social media maven, responsible for fundraising, outreach, and morale. She's relentlessly positive, inclusive, and supportive, often smoothing over conflicts and encouraging others. Lora's ambition is matched by her empathy, and she serves as a bridge between the technical and social aspects of the team.

Dash (Dariush)

Dash is Teo's best friend and the team's comic relief, but beneath the jokes lies a deep understanding of group dynamics and personal growth. He challenges Teo's tunnel vision, supports Bel, and ultimately chooses his own path, stepping away from engineering to pursue new interests. Dash's arc is about recognizing that passion and talent don't always align, and that it's okay to change course.

Kai

Kai is a key team member, known for his stress and attention to detail. He's academically driven and often caught between competing expectations from family and friends. Kai's journey is about learning to trust others, manage anxiety, and celebrate collective success.

Emmett

Emmett is a steady presence on the team, often mediating conflicts and providing practical solutions. He's academically strong and socially aware, navigating parental expectations and team politics with quiet competence.

Ms. Voss

Ms. Voss is the teacher who recognizes Bel's potential and pushes her to pursue engineering. She's tough but fair, offering both support and tough love. Ms. Voss's belief in Bel is transformative, and her advocacy for girls in STEM is a driving force in the narrative.

Mac (Mr. MacIntosh)

Mac is the robotics team's faculty advisor, a pun-loving teacher who champions Teo but is often blind to his own biases. He represents the well-intentioned but imperfect ally, learning from his students as much as he teaches them. Mac's growth is seen in his eventual recognition of Bel and Neelam's contributions.

Plot Devices

Dual Narration

The story is told in alternating first-person chapters from Bel and Teo's points of view. This structure allows readers to see the same events through different lenses, highlighting misunderstandings, internal conflicts, and the gradual development of trust and affection. The dual narration deepens the emotional resonance and underscores the theme of perspective—how we see ourselves versus how others see us.

STEM as Metaphor

Robotics, engineering, and problem-solving are not just plot elements but metaphors for the characters' journeys. Building, breaking, and repairing robots parallel the process of self-discovery, relationship-building, and overcoming obstacles. Technical challenges become stand-ins for personal and interpersonal struggles, reinforcing the message that growth is iterative, collaborative, and sometimes messy.

Gender and Belonging

The book foregrounds the challenges faced by girls in STEM, using Bel and Neelam's experiences to explore microaggressions, gatekeeping, and the importance of mentorship. The narrative structure highlights moments of exclusion and triumph, using foreshadowing and callbacks to earlier incidents to show progress and setbacks. The theme of "taking up space" recurs, both literally (in labs, competitions) and figuratively (in relationships, ambitions).

Foreshadowing and Symbolism

Recurring symbols—Bel's bird jeans, handmade tools, and the use of color (especially at the Holi festival)—underscore themes of individuality, creativity, and transformation. Birds represent freedom and partnership; tools signify agency and skill; color bombs at Holi symbolize joy, messiness, and the breaking of boundaries. These motifs are woven throughout, foreshadowing key moments of change and connection.

Realistic, Nonlinear Progress

The narrative resists tidy resolutions, instead embracing the reality of setbacks, rejections, and the need for second (and third) chances. Characters grow through failure as much as success, and the story's structure reflects this, with cycles of conflict, reconciliation, and renewed effort. The epilogue's time jump reinforces the idea that growth is ongoing and that the end of one chapter is the beginning of another.

Analysis

My Mechanical Romance is a vibrant, witty, and emotionally honest exploration of what it means to find your place—in STEM, in love, and in your own life. Through the intertwined journeys of Bel and Teo, the novel interrogates the pressures of perfectionism, the insidiousness of gender bias, and the messy, nonlinear process of self-discovery. It champions the importance of mentorship, friendship, and collaboration, showing that true success is not about individual genius but about building strong foundations—both in robots and in relationships. The book's modern relevance lies in its nuanced portrayal of girls in STEM, its refusal to offer easy answers, and its celebration of resilience, creativity, and the courage to take up space. Ultimately, it's a love story—not just between two people, but between young women and the worlds they are determined to claim as their own.

Last updated: May 8, 2025