An excellent introduction to what coding is, what sorts of careers might use coding, how computers impact every facet of our lives, and why girls should give coding a try. Everything from the basics of input and output, to debugging programs, to the uses for programming skills are covered. Along the way there are profiles of famous females in the field of computers - Ada Lovelace, Margaret Hamilton, and Grace Hopper, to name a few. There are also interviews with people from fields like video game development to show how the skills are used in different careers. Plenty of graphics keep the text from overwhelming the eyes, there is a wonderful timeline of developments from the earliest tools like the abacus to the release of the first iPhone, as well as a chart listing the various programming languages and how they are generally used.
One of the best things about the book is that it makes comparisons between everyday activities and programming so that the terms make sense. For instance, a loop is a repeated action, like what happens when you make a pattern in a beaded necklace. Also, the images of the various girls who are interested in code show a variety of ethnic backgrounds, an inclusive approach to representation which many readers will appreciate. Whether young readers are looking for a discussion of terms and actions related to programming, or they want to find out what sort of fields depend on programmers, they will find plenty of information. The fact that the info is shared with humor and down to earth examples makes it especially attractive.
A great addition to school and classroom libraries, or a perfect gift for a young woman in your life who has an interest in technology of any sort.
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