Road to Regionals: A S.T.E.A.M. Team Novel

Erin DiStefano

Abstract

This thesis is composed of two parts. First a full-length realistic fiction Middle Grade novel about a group of five girls who form a S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) team at their school and compete in multiple tournaments. Through the story they learn not only about themselves, but about each other and help each other to succeed. The second part is a critical paper on how girls are treated in the S.T.E.A.M. world and how more S.T.E.A.M. literature (along with other things) can help to guide girls to more S.T.E.A.M. related fields later in life. It also discusses the way S.T.E.A.M. topics are woven into the book to show girls how S.T.E.A.M. is part of their everyday lives.