Emmy in the Key of Code

June 3, 2019
Written in verse and JavaScript, this timely debut from author and software engineer Lucido champions girls in STEM and delivers a positive message about being “always exactly yourself.” Sixth-grader Emmy has just moved with her musical parents from Wisconsin to San Francisco so her pianist father can play with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. Despite a love of music and talented parents, Emmy lacks musical ability and fears being on stage. When she is placed in an Introduction to Computer Coding class at school, Emmy meets Abigail, a gifted singer who secretly prefers coding to performing. Together, and with the help of an encouraging teacher, the two girls become fluent in Java and share a growing love of computer science. But when their teacher reveals that she’s gravely ill, Emmy fears that she will lose the one place where she truly belongs. Through the author’s creative mesh of coding, music, poetry, and narrative, this story uniquely conveys the art and beauty that can be found in multiple disciplines. Emmy’s desperate search for both friendship and affirmation is relatable and relevant, as is the powerful message that computer programming is for anyone interested. Ages 10–12. Agent: Kathleen Rushall, Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

Narrator Suzy Jackson's youthful voice brings out the poignancy in a story that celebrates the joys of coding, creating, and trusting in new friendships. Although her parents are both talented musicians, new kid Emmy chooses a different path, signing up for computer coding instead of music. Right away, she realizes that coding is special. She is able to be beautiful and articulate in this exciting language, and she creates code-based symphonies that are stunning in their own right. This audiobook is told in free verse, with coding syntax and musical terms woven throughout. Some of the coding language doesn't translate perfectly into audio, but what listeners will remember is Jackson's deft handling of rhythm and timing and her affecting portrayal of Emmy's journey of self-discovery. S.A.H. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine