News from Youth Services Category: Bluestem Nominees

Grace Hopper Queen of the Computer Code by Laurie Wallmark

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Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code Book Cover“If you got a good idea and you know it’s going to work, go ahead and do it.” Grace Hopper 

This picture book biography is about the unknown queen of the computer code. As a young girl Grace’s brilliant mind for math and science led her to tinker with gadgets. It was no wonder that her personnel motto was: “Dare and Do.” She graduated Yale University as the only woman in her class and became a teacher at Vassar College but wanted to do more to help her country. At thirty six, she was too old and too skinny to join the Navy but her excellent math skills landed her a job writing programs for the very first computer ever built. Grace invented the term “computer bug,” and taught computers to recognize words. Hooper was truly, “Amazing Grace,” a female role model . This was a fun and inspiring book to read. 

Book reviewed by Marsha D., Youth Services Assistant 

Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code  by Laurie Wallmark

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Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code Book CoverGrace likes to think outside of the box. She takes apart clocks, and figures how to put them back together. She is always finding new ways of doing things. When Grace was older, one of her jobs was to write programs for one of the first computers ever built ! She worked on new computers, and continued to write new coding, so even other programmers could more easily read and follow these codes. Grace earned many well-deserved honors during her lifetime. She graduated with high honors, taught as a professor of mathematics, and served in the United States Navy. There were so many more accomplishments, that we just invite you to come by the Youth department and check out this book for yourself. Think of all the possibilities that you could do, with all your talent. You just have to think outside of the box!

Book reviewed by Darice C., Youth Services Assistant

Roller Girl  by Victoria Jamieson    

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Cover image for Roller girlOne night, Astrid’s mom takes her and her best friend to a roller derby, and this sets off a course of events that changes Astrid’s life.  Astrid becomes obsessed with everything roller derby and decides to join roller derby camp the summer before entering junior high.  This decision leads to some major problems with her best friend.  To add to her troubles, Astrid discovers that skating for the roller derbies is much harder than she ever imagined, and she can’t think of an awesome roller name like the other girls in the league.  How will she ever be as talented as her idol, Rainbow Bite?  Roller Girl is a fun, entertaining graphic novel with strong female role models.  It is a great choice for those who enjoyed reading Smile.

This title is also a 2018 Bluestem Award Nominee and Winner.

 

 

Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

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Cover image for Book scavengerA cross country move, secret puzzles, mysterious clues, bumbling bad guys, and a race to find the answers all equals one action filled book! In the Book Scavenger, Emily and her new friend James race around San Francisco as they solve clues and decode secret messages. It all started when Emily and James found a mysterious book in the subway. However, a couple of strange men want the book and are only a step or two behind. Read this book if you like puzzles, problem solving, and mysteries.

This title is also a 2018 Bluestem Award Nominee.

 

Hilo Book 1: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth by Judd Winick

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Cover image for Hilo. Book 1, The boy who crashed to EarthSuper powers? Check! Robots? Check? Aliens? Check! What else could you ask for in a graphic novel! The Hilo series has it all. D.J. and Gina find a mysterious boy, Hilo, who fell from the sky. Together the new friends help Hilo find out who he is and just what he might be capable of. Hilo will have to learn fast though since he wasn’t the only thing to fall to Earth! I loved reading about this modern boy super hero and the friendships he made.  Besides, who wouldn’t want to go to school with a super hero!

This title is also a 2018 Bluestem Award Nominee.