Tinker (RoboTales, book 1) in Bloomington, MN

"Recycle and create." That's Tinker's motto. He's an inventor, who lives with his uncle and cousins on planet Kitz. The Invention Institute is having a Recycle Race to choose a new apprentice for their boarding school for young inventors. Tinker builds an airbike for the contest. When Tinker's cruel cousins destroy it, a robot dog helps Tinker fix his entry in time to compete.