Lucy Lopez

September 1, 2020
Everyone in third grader Lucy Lopez's family has a "special thing": Her mom practices salsa dancing, her dad loves gardening, and her older sister, Elena, is obsessed with computer coding. Lucy's not sure what her "thing" is yet, but the sisters have a club in which they try their hands at different skills to earn self-awarded merit badges, and Lucy can't wait to find out what her "thing" will turn out to be! Lately, however, it seems as though all Elena wants to do is sit in front of a computer and work on her coding projects. Looking to connect, Lucy enrolls in an after-school coding camp with kids readers will recognize from other installments in the After-School Superstars series. Lucy is introduced to basic computer coding terms and concepts like algorithms, loops, and conditional statements. She is surprised when, instead of being excited about another activity to do together, Elena is mad that her little sister is copying her newfound hobby. Lucy is torn between excitement about her knack for coding and her sister's irritation. Can Lucy code a game for the end-of-camp Coding Expo that will change her sister's feelings about having two coders in the family? Chapter-book readers will enjoy watching Lucy navigate the exciting world of computer coding and the complexities of having an older sister. Illustrations depict characters of color, and Lucy and her family are coded Latinx, though ethnicities are not specifically named in the text. Explore sister dynamics in this gentle read. (coding resources) (Fiction. 7-9)

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September 25, 2020

Gr 2-5- Third-grader Lucy will warm readers' hearts from the first chapter. Lucy desperately wants to be part of her older sister Elena's life. Elena used to be interested in the same things as Lucy-but now that Elena is in fifth grade, she is more interested in new friends and new things like coding than playing with Lucy. If Lucy wants to keep earning badges for the sisters' "Let's Have Fun Club," she will have to find another way to break through to Elena. But what if Lucy's contentious sister is right, and coding just isn't her thing? The sisters experience growing pains and search for their individual identities while preserving their sisterly love. The theme of sibling rivalry is intertwined with themes of trying new things and perseverance. Mills uses a thoughtful narrative style with rigorous vocabulary added, which makes it perfect for young readers. Illustrations are scattered throughout, which support the text and make learning readers feel confident. The chapters are appropriate in length for those transitioning to longer novels without illustrations. Coding is a relevant topic for children today, but this book will be loved by coders and non-coders alike. VERDICT A relevant STEM tale that touches on growth and family, this book is perfect for young readers who have advanced past beginning chapter books, but are not quite ready for middle grade novels. -Kelly Finan Richards, Baltimore County Public Sch.

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 8, 2021
Lucy Lopez is a third grader whose older sister, Elena, has been spending a lot of time coding with her friends. To try to get more time with Elena herself, Lucy creates the Let's Have Fun Club, so they can work together and earn badges that they create. At first it works great and both girls have fun, but Elena becomes annoyed anytime Lucy turns out to be good at the same things she is. Lucy doesn't understand why sharing interests or talents is a problem, so she joins the after-school coding club. Unfortunately, Elena does not like this, especially when Lucy discovers she is as good as, if not better than, Elena at coding. Not to worry, the sisters eventually turn their rift into a bonding opportunity. This illustrated early-chapter book takes on sibling rivalry and STEM themes in a way that will resonate with many readers and encourage them to try new things. A natural pick for fans of Andrea Beaty's Questioneers series or Gene Luen Yang's Secret Coders books.

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