Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World by Reshma Saujani

Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World Reviews

• 
  ☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣

  Good:
  - Easy to understand.
  - Rich with ideas (for what one can get done with programming).
  - Probably will inspire some really young girls.
  - A good and accessible table of various languages and their uses.
  Bad:
  - Too simple.
  - For people who have seen any computer from very far.
  - Too many pics, too little info.
  - All the hype about girls not doing enough programming will probably backfire in our stereotype-laden society.
• 
  Mkittysamom

  This is an amazing simple intro into coding computer science! I love the idea of creating classes for girls in middle school to teach them how to code and also to show the many wondeful things computer science can do! It features all women in science who are professionals, and the women in history that created coding! Such a wonderful guide even I (as an adult) learned something and it sparked a interest in creating something new with coding! I am afraid I too have fallen into the stereotype of coding = guys in hoodies living in basements apart from the few awesome women hackers I’ve seen in movies (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo..!). Also that it includes math or is too hard or above me to even try. In my generation we had Apple Computer Labs in the late 80’s... I remember taking a Graphic Design Class In HS, but the tech was just starting by the time I graduated in 2003. Some of my friends went to technical colleges and I thought they were trade school for like electricians and welders.. had no idea! The world is changing fast. The author says that 50% of the world’s population are women.. and why are there 50% women as CEO’s and Scientists.. and I think she is right to point that out. I don’t have any daughters, but if I do I will make sure she gets a chance to discover Girls who Code! It’s a great community as well, in a world where it’s already hard enough to connect with people! Amazing Insiteful Honest Creative Inspiring and all around Cool BOOK!! I reccommend actually to anyone no matter your age or sex because the material presented, is attractive!
• 
  Hanalei1208 Be

  It took a long time until coding came up in the book and to me there was to much text and not enough guided help.
• 
  Sarah DiMento

  Read this for work because I teach a Girls Who Code class. This book is a great way to introduce coding to girls- it's fun and easy to read.
• 
  Varshini Kaithapuram

  Being a coder myself, I didn't learn anything new in this book. It is purely a beginner level book. The idea of manifesting the technical aspects of coding as the daily life things , and the attempt to let readers perceive coding as fun, adventurous, and an easy element, is good. This book mainly aims to put the beginners to get a hang around the jargon used in programming.
  
  This book definitely gets a newbie out of the fear of large chunks of codes or the confusion around the twisted logics , and lets them embrace the process of learning how to code.
  
  So, this is for a beginner, to find motivation and fun around coding.
• 
  salma

  i read this book although it doesn't target my age group, and i am so glad i did!
  i was so happy to see the diversity in the characters, especially the Muslim girl who i can relate to. the book's drawings were so cute, and i loved how visual everything was! this is a great book to get younger girls interested in coding. i feel like at times the code did get a bit confusing, but nothing i couldn't handle. anyways i feel like this book is more just to teach basic concepts of coding in a simple way to get girls interested. loved it!
• 
  Diana

  It's like a $20 book trying to sell something. Maybe it's because I bought it as a gift and am thinking of the girl I'm going to give it to but I don't see her reading through it completely. I was hoping it would be something that would get her excited to try coding out but... I really don't think it'll get more than a bored "that's interesting."
  This seems more like a book for someone who already knows about it. And even then it doesn't really bring the reader into what they could be doing. I do like the encouragement telling girls to not be intimidated but it could have been done better because like I said above it kind of comes off like when they try to get kids to sell the most candy for whatever prize they can win.
  You can code! (But this isn't the book where we'll teach you how.)
• 
  David Johnston

  This is not a particularly good book.
  
  For a book that is intended for children - it is far too long and overwritten. I think this book is more likely to put people off coding than encourage them.
  
  It could do with less words, and more quizzes.
  
  I think the theme of appealing to girls is good - but I don't think the book does a very effective job of communicating the concepts.
• 
  Grace P

  When I was at ALA, and I saw ARCs of this, I had to pick one up! I am very interested in coding and found this book to be super informative and inspiring!
• 
  Jeanne Boyarsky

  I received an advanced reader edition from BookExpo. It contains a disclaimer that the art work is not finished and the text is uncorrected. While there were a small handful of “artwork goes here” references, the text was good and clear. I feel 100% comfortable giving this copy to a 5th grader or middle schooler in the neighborhood. Plus it is signed by the author so comes with extra coolness.
  
  “Girls who Code” is intended to be a series. The book I have is the non-fiction entry. There's also going to be some fiction stories that use the same characters and tell stories that involve code.
  
  The book reminds me of head First Java, but for kids. It has cartoons/thought bubbles, is fun and easy to read. It doesn't assume any background knowledge. There are fun examples. Some are more gender specific than others. The LED headband is certainly girly. But microwaving mac and cheese is not. I like this balance. When everything is pink, it feels like catering/fake to me. Not that I don't like pink, but still.
  
  The author defines terms like coding and software. The explanations of variables, loops and conditions using a bead necklace is excellent. The process of brainstorming, designing algorithms and pseudocode is nice and approachable. As are the flowcharts. I think adding an actual flowchart would have helped. Feature creep was even mentioned – never to early to worry about that!
  
  The book is pretty conceptual until page 55 when we have a first code example. Shortly after that was a great table showing Hello World in a variety of languages including Python, JavaScript, Swift, Maya and Java. The two page table describing each language and what it is for is great too. FIRST is even in the table for lego. The glossary is excellent too.
  
  There are great timelines. It's weird seeing Google/Amazon/ebay as history on a timeline! I liked the profiles of famous women such as Ada Lovelace, Margret Hamilton (Apollo) and Grace Hopper.
  
  The book includes how you'd teach a robot how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I still remember this example/game from a trip to the Computer Museum in Boston (since closed) from when I was a kid. It's a great way to think about being detailed, specific and literal. I also like that explaining to a rubber duck is in there as advice. I explain things to a teddy bear, not a rubber duck. But it works.
  
  “Don't be perfect; be brave” - this is great advice towards the end. We all make mistakes when learning. And forever because we never stop learning. This is natural and ok. Jobs where you never make mistakes are boring. Because it means you've mastered what you are doing and that's all you do.
  
  In general, I have mixed feelings about “Girls in CS” stuff. I understand why it is necessary. And I struggle with organizations that merge correlation with causation. So claiming credit for all Girls who Code participants who majored in CS in college rubs me the wrong way. But creating passion and more majors, she totally deserves credit for.
  
  Regardless, this is a fun book. I enjoyed reading it as an adult. And I'm looking forward to handing it to a girl who is starting to code.
  
• 
  Kirsten

  A great intro to the possibilities and opportunities that learning to code offers specifically to girls.
• 
  Francis

  Great book that I wish everyone would read.
• 
  Miranda

  So inspiring and empowering!!! I WANT TO CODE NOW!!!!
  
  *This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *
  
  MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
  
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  Zahnii (Suzanne) Artis

  I listen to this on a playaway during a long drive And enjoyed it. I learn the difference between programming language in markup language as well as some other techniques to use with coding. Will definitely get this for the library and feel really inspired to try coding as well as maker space again.
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  Nan

  I've been thinking about how coding might sharpen reading and math skills. This may be a great introduction for middle school girls (and for this old girl), but it's not something that would appeal to the kids I work with.
• 
  Priyanka B

  great book. inspiring and motivating.
• 
  Mary

  Cute nonfiction book to encourage girl to get into coding and the STEM field.
• 
  Karen

  This book is spot on!  Fantastic explanation of coding, definition of terms, and examples of women in the field.
  
  
  grade:  B
  audience:  middle grade, middle school, junior high
  
  
  Quotes/Author:
  Girls Who Code is an organization helping middle school girls "learn to write code that's used program" and "get inspired by all the amazing ideas, skills, and opportunities that learning to code can bring"
  
  "By 2020, there will be 1.4 million open jobs in computing."
  
  computers are the "highest-paying and fastest-growing"
  
  
  
  Possible Cautions:
  none
  
  Detailed Notes:
  /////// SPOILERS /////// SPOILERS /////// SPOILERS ///////
  Girls Who Code is an organization helping middle school girls "learn to write code that's used program" and "get inspired by all the amazing ideas, skills, and opportunities that learning to code can bring"
  in past there were many boys in computer labs but few girls
  women are 1/2 of college graduates, but few women in computer fields
  "By 2020, there will be 1.4 million open jobs in computing."
  computers are the "highest-paying and fastest-growing"
  only 4% of those jobs will currently be filled  by females
  women believe they're "not good" at math/science classes, fields, jobs
  believe STEM jobs are for boys
  Girls Who Code has 100 summer programs and 1000's of after school clubs for girls to learn coding
  Why Coding?
  fun
  collaborating
  creating
  imagining
  inventing
  Computer Coding is
  problem solving
  writing commands to instruct a computer to do something
  hundreds of different languages
  learn to speak one of these languages
  communicate directly with the computer
  can build own apps and programs
  Software = programs and applications to make a computer run, collection of code, designed and written by programmers
  software is apps, games
  Hardware is the physical part of the computer, screen, keyboard, camera, etc.  designed and built by engineers
  computer in most things
  keyboard lets you input letters and numbers
  output is typed text
  input is digital pen, video cameras, microphones, scanners, sensors
  program is the job you are asking the computer to do
  process you are asking the computer to run on the data you input
  output is the result, what you get
  think about how the person needs computer to operate, design software, write code, run it, test
  calculating and tabulating devices for 1000s of years
  1822 first fully mechanized computer to take input and output a result, never fully completed
  then Analytical Engine which then became basis for modern computer
  Ada Lovelace, world's first programmer
  124 years before team could bring these ideas to life
  Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer, first fully functioning general-use electronic computer to not rely on moving mechanical parts
  World War II, team of six women created programming as they went
  landed on moon with the calculating power of today's calculator
  NASA and MIT take computer size of 7 refrigerators and shrink to 70 pounds and size of microwave
  astronauts could type simple programming to not need a programmer
  Coding, learn a programming language, understand how computer thinks
  Computational thinking - planning, problem solving, and analyzing info the way a computer does
  computers are good at repetition, boring tasks, simple decisions, and remembering things
  Data is any info you put into a computer and use to perform a task or make a calculation
  Logic is the rules you want the computer to follow when it processes data
  Variable is info you want the computer to remember, store different kinds of changing data, numbers, short sentences, sequences, and true/false statements
  loop is code that tells the computer to repeat something
  conditionals for computer to decide something
  If Else
  Core4 = variables, loops, conditionals, functions
  Algorithms is a set of instructions you follow to complete a task, not the actual code, it's steps you will turn into code
  Pseudocode is normal everyday writing to spell out what you will code
  DRY - don't repeat yourself
  code simple, clear, and streamlined
  functions are little bunches of code that do specific jobs in a larger program, don't have to repeat same code
  parameters are like variables in a function
  functions can be buttons or shortcuts on the user side, like print button or back button
  code libraries store algorithms code that others can use
  application programming interfaces to share information with another applicaiton
  break projects down into smaller tasks
  design build test cycle
  brainstorming
  collaboration
  design
  do we need it
  does it already exist
  will they want it
  do i want to do it
  visualize idea
  wireframing drawing pages of what it will look like
  storyboards, sketches, diagrams, drawing
  avoid feature creep - when you keep adding more and more
  simple and focus on features needed
  application flow is a flow chart that outlines all steps
  objective is the task to complete
  Logic is the steps you need to get from beginning to end
  syntax is the spelling, spacing, and formatting part of writing code
  coding is problem solving - take a big task and break into smaller pieces
  binary code turns numbers, words, images into series of 0s and 1s
  each digit is a bit
  compiler, 1952, program that translate alphanumeric input into binary language of computer
  Grace Murray Hopper, invented compilers
  Cobol
  Scratch Visual coding system
  so many languages
  start code
  keep files organized
  back up work daily
  debugging
  find, identify, and fix problems
  created when actual moth was in computer
  syntax error is problem with how you wrote cod
  logic error is problem with the flow of the applicaiton
  use double equal signs with if statements, is that new?  I don't remember that?
  error message shows where and why error is happening
  what kind of error did you make
  if your code runs but doesn't do what you want = logic error
  code doesn't run because of typo = syntax error
  ask for help, self, internet, documentation, friends, teacher or mentor, talk through it outloud
  start at beginning of code and trace through line by line with finger
  print - show values at various places
  IDE - helps write code, text editor, compiler, debugging, usually catch syntax errors
  Video Games, adventure, role-playing puzzles, action, driving/racing, strategy
  games can raise awareness
  Generative Art, design, fashion, smart clothing, music, algorithmic composition
  book not completed (at page 141 of 167 72%)
• 
  Ceal Clem

  I wish I’d read this when I was a lass
• 
  Ashley Holcomb

  This book was so fun but I wish it had included more coding basics (rather than just inspiration).
• 
  Miss Kelly

  I listened to the book and know I am going to read it. This is a good intro book to try and encourage young women to learn to code. I found the book inspirational, but technology wise I don't think just from reading or listening to this book I could create an App or website. I would need more instructions. The audio book kept mentioning pdf files. When I ordered the book I couldn't seem to find illustrations or a disk to find the pdf files. Maybe I am missing something. Syntax error ;-)
• 
  Steph

  Super cool coding info and full of inspiration to excite our girls into understanding more about , and wanting to try, coding!
• 
  Sunday

  If you are new to coding, you will not finish this book knowing how to code, but you will have a much better idea of what is involved and how you might start. Even if you decide not to start, you will at least be inspired. This book was written by the woman who started Girls Who Code--an organization that has touched the lives of 90,000 girls.
  
  One of the goals of this book is to provide insight into what's involved in coding (think variables, loops, conditionals) and the process coders go through (think "design-build-text cycle") to make an idea become an app, robot, game, etc. I knew nothing about coding when I started the book and I definitely felt enlightened at the end - but not overwhelmed. NOTE: When I first started reading, I really thought I'd learn how to code based on the subtitle of the book - "Learn to Code" but once I let go of this and realized I was learning "about" coding, the contents worked for me.
  
  Another one of the author's important goals in this book is to emphasize that women have a part to play in this field. Saujani addresses this issue from the first page of the book when she talks about how she didn't see herself as belonging in this field and how statistically women are not playing a very large role in this growing field. She makes the case that we have to change this. Women played a role in the coding field in the past (think Ada Lovelace, Margaret Hamilton, Grace Hopper and more) and they play a role now (think Ayanna Howard, Danielle Feinberg and more). Saujani includes short bios in sidebars on historical figures and Q/A formatted interviews with current female coders. She also highlights the work of girls who code teams--creating a robot that can see for someone, an app that lets guardians know where you if you are not feeling safe, etc. You can't help but finish this book inspired.
  
  There is a light thread or running theme of encouragement with notes about "be kind to yourself" if your coding falls apart somehow and "you can do it." Another theme woven into the book is the idea that we can do more together than alone or there is power in collaboration. Suggestions for brainstorming and creating and debugging all include working with others or consulting others. And "others" includes a diverse group of players--as revealed in the choice of illustrations, the names of coders, the experiences storied and the coders featured.
  
  I'd recommend this as a great title to read with girls who have just joined girls who code, who are in after school clubs, who are in STEM programs, who are even contemplating or are good candidates for contemplating a place in the field of coding. Questions like "What's important to consider if you are thinking about starting to code?" and "As you get started, what do you need to keep in mind? Why?" might spark thoughtful conversation. There's also lots of room for girls to ask questions--about historical figures or people currently in the field, about careers, and about coding--questions that could spur additional research.
• 
  Annika Brock

  A good book for young girls to learn about what coding is, how it works, and what you can do with it, though I think younger kids will need to go through it with a parent; language- and content-wise, it's more oriented toward upper middle/early high school girls than anyone else.
  
  Doesn't go into detail about coding in any specific languages, though, so if you're looking for that I would pair this with another young adult nonfiction coding resource.
• 
  Kate

  A must read book for young women wanting to learn how to code and change the world. A librarian's choice all the way!!!!
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  Joella

  I liked the narrator for the audio...but there were so many pdfs that were talked about that I think this book needs to be read or be available when listening (so kids can see what they are talking about in the pdfs). But it was a great introduction to coding. And I liked how all the examples were things that kids (especially girls) would actually care about.
• 
  Cyndi

  Solid introduction and overview for anyone who is new to coding, has an interest in learning to code and/or teaches coding to K-12 students.