This is solid middle-grade sci-fi that respects its audience. The Construct concept is genuinely cool—giant machines powered by collective willpower, clans battling it out, a kid with prosthetic limbs trying to get home—and Chisholm doesn't dumb it down.

The disability representation is a real highlight. Coll's prosthetics aren't a tragic backstory or a superpower; they're just part of him, and the story explores how others' assumptions affect his self-esteem. That's rare and valuable.

The action is intense but age-appropriate, the themes of bias and identity give you something to talk about, and the pacing keeps reluctant readers hooked. It's not going to win literary awards, but it's exactly what middle-grade adventure should be: entertaining, thoughtful, and respectful of kids' intelligence.

If your kid loved Mortal Engines or is ready to graduate from Percy Jackson to something with a bit more edge, this is a strong pick.