Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code (People Who Shaped Our World #1)

In an upbeat biography, Wallmark (Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine) introduces readers to self-assured tech pioneer Grace Hopper. From the time Hopper was a girl, she "wanted to understand how things worked so she could make them better." After becoming an engineer for the Navy and being assigned to work as a computer programmer, Hopper developed a new (and time-saving) method of writing code. Newcomer Wu's digital illustrations are rendered in a vivid and appealing cartoon style that harmonizes with Wallmark's enthusiastic writing, which emphasizes how Hopper's accomplishments arose as much from her intuition as her number sense. Quotes from Hopper, scattered throughout, further amplify the personality and drive of a trailblazing programmer. Ages 5-up. Author's agent: Liza Fleissig, Liza Royce Agency. Illustrator's agent: Jennifer Mattson, Andrea Brown Literary. (May)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 2-4-Grace Hopper (nee Murray), a girl with a keen mind and a determined attitude, grows up to become the "queen of computer code." Wallmark shares incidents and stories from the scientist's remarkable life that illustrate "Grace being Grace," and with these anecdotes, the author paints an engaging portrait of a unique woman in this bright and informative biography. At age seven, Hopper dismantled several clocks in her house to find out what made them tick. Finishing high school two years early, she overcame difficulties with Latin before she was admitted to Vassar College. Convinced she could make a difference to the war effort, Hopper enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and embarked on a lifelong military career writing computer programs. After finding a moth trapped inside a navy computer, she coined the phrase computer bug. Colorful and crisp digital illustrations accompany the text. The vibrant palette and straightforward composition are eye-catching, and Hopper's curiosity, love of learning, and ambition shine through in her expressive features. Be sure to examine the endpapers, which offer supplemental information. VERDICT Inquisitive readers who, like Hopper, "want to understand how things work" will appreciate this upbeat biography of a woman who was ahead of her time. A sound purchase for most collections.--Linda L. Walkins, Saint Joseph Preparatory High School, Boston

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

*"Wallmark's tone is admiring, even awestruck, describing Hopper's skill, inventiveness, and strength of character in straightforward, accessible language, introducing a neglected heroine to a new generation of readers. Wu's strong, bright digital illustrations perfectly complement the text while incorporating Hopper's own words in a variety of bold, eye-catching pull quotes scattered throughout the pages. Amazing Grace indeed." —Kirkus Reviews (Starred review)

"Well-chosen anecdotes and quotes offer a sense of [Grace's] personality . . . Wu's digital illustrations feature rich colors, strong structure, and unexpected but accurate details. An inviting picture-book biography." —Booklist

"[T]he author paints an engaging portrait of a unique woman in this bright and informative biography. . . .The vibrant palette and straightforward composition are eye-catching, and Hopper's curiosity, love of learning, and ambition shine through in her expressive features. . . . VERDICT Inquisitive readers who, like Hopper, 'want to understand how things work' will appreciate this upbeat biography of a woman who was ahead of her time.A sound purchase for most collections." —School Library Journal

." . . an upbeat biography . . . Newcomer Wu's digital illustrations are rendered in a vivid and appealing cartoon style that harmonizes with Wallmark's enthusiastic writing, which emphasizes how Hopper's accomplishments arose as much from her intuition as her number sense. Quotes from Hopper, scattered throughout, further amplify the personality and drive of a trailblazing programmer." —Publishers Weekly

"Grace Hopper was mechanically, scientifically, and mathematically minded since childhood, as this biography playfully explains via several anecdotes. Then, while serving almost fifty years in the Navy, she broke barriers for women—and for computer science. A biographical poem graces the front endpapers; the back endpapers mention Hopper's honors. Kid-appealing digital cartoons are reminiscent of Hopper's own propensity for doodling. Reading list, timeline. Bib." —Horn Book