Girl Code Revolution

October 1, 2020

Gr 4-6-This guide spotlights computer coders and basic coding projects. Each short chapter begins with a profile of a woman who has contributed to the development and expansion of computer code, followed by two pages of a simple coding project. The projects teach basic coding, such as how to change the color of an image, move a drawing, or add emojis. Colorful pages with text boxes and bubbles are appealing. However, the text does not give nearly enough background information or instructional detail for readers to understand what they are doing. While the profiles provide some history, they do not explain the programming language used. JavaScript is named but not explained as the programming language (along with HTML and CSS) used to create web pages. Also, the instructional language assumes learners are equipped with prior math and computer knowledge, though the projects are for beginners. While there is a glossary, readers may still have questions. The source notes cite articles about the women profiled but do not provide resources for further coding study. VERDICT This brief book offers a great concept but is lacking in thorough explanations and robust resources.-Katherine Rao, Palos Verdes Lib. Dist., CA

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2020
A combination collective biography of women in computer science and JavaScript workbook. After opening on an upbeat note, highlighting women's historical roles in software development, the book then falls back on the dated trope of hammering in that these women were bucking sexism ("They loved what they did, and they did it well, disproving stereotypes that women were not suited for careers in STEM"), a defensive stance that won't resonate with modern girls, who find a world of STEM toys catered just for them. Alternating double-page spreads offer profiles of female computer science pioneers, from such standards as Ada Lovelace and Grace Hopper to influential scientists of color, like Annie Easley, Tracy Chou, and Lyndsey Scott--though some readers might not be impressed that her billing of "Top Model and App Developer" places beauty before brains. These are interleaved with JavaScript projects on manipulating images and videos, using a tie-in website hosted by Vidcode, a women-founded coding curriculum. The text's instructions are often vague, with poorly defined terms--readers must use it while on the website. Unfortunately, the website also offers instructions that frequently don't align with the book and miscalculates a beginner's background knowledge. The result is needlessly fussy and likely to push kids to rely heavily on copy-and-paste or transcribing the book's example code--if they don't just give up. Despite valuable profiles of individuals, more an exercise in frustration than coding. (source notes, glossary, about Vidcode, index) (Nonfiction. 11-14)

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November 13, 2020
Grades 3-5 This slight offering is intended for use with the Vidcode Lerner sandbox, an online tool that encourages playful exploration with coding. The text directs readers to the free URL, where users can register for personal accounts and code online in real time. The book alternates between six projects that explore coding basics (variables, objects, properties, arrays, loops, and conditionals) and sketches of prominent women computer programmers. The activities are simple and fun: create a meme, animate a rainbow, generate an emoji, produce some Pop Art. The website provides step-by-step directions, which are repeated verbatim in the text alongside extremely helpful screenshots. The profiles consist of a color portrait, a couple paragraphs of background information, and a direct quote, all intended to emphasize the contributions of women and encourage girls to get into coding. Beginners will require adult assistance at first, but the projects offer endless variations, and young users should be able to move to independent coding at some point. This will be a welcome resource for neophyte coders, including parents.

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