The Invention Club Meltdown

Success brings attention-and pressure breaks things that aren't ready.After saving the school science fair, Tommy, Billy, and Rey help launch Claremont Elementary's official Invention Club. More members join. Adults start watching. Rules appear. Expectations rise.
At first, it feels like a win. But as the club grows, creativity begins to crack. Projects take longer. Mistakes feel bigger. And Billy-brilliant, driven, and determined to protect what they built-starts taking on more responsibility than he realizes. Leadership begins to feel a lot like control. When a high-profile invention fails in front of everyone, the real meltdown isn't mechanical-it's personal. To keep the club together, the trio must face a hard truth: leading something you care about can push people away if you're not careful. The Invention Club Meltdown is a smart, character-driven middle-grade novel about leadership, burnout, and learning when to step back. Blending STEM creativity with humor and emotional depth, it's perfect for readers ages 8-12 who enjoy school-based stories about friendship, problem-solving, and growing up.