Mara Turing: El Despertar de los Hackers – (Episodio #1) (SIN COLECCIÓN)

Mara Turing #1

by Javi Padilla, Alexis Vasquez (illustrator), Anna G. Sola (illustrator)

Mara Turing recibe un misterioso mensaje cuando está a punto de iniciar sus vacaciones de verano en Nueva York: “Necesito tu ayuda”. El enigmático llamamiento procede de su tío —miembro del peligroso grupo de hackers “Dirtee Loopers”—, que desapareció sin dejar rastro cuando ella tenía apenas cinco años, dejando en la joven un gran vacío que ha marcado su infancia.

El viaje para encontrar a su tío, Arnold Turing, llevará a Mara y a sus amigos a aprender programación en un garaje, a ver el mundo con ojos críticos y a enfrentarse con el diabólico tándem formado por Hermes, una inteligencia artificial muy avanzada, y Falko McKinnon, el hacker más peligroso de la historia que cumple condena en La Montaña Oculta.

Genres: Spanish Literature

324 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2022

Reviews

[Andriana Ristevska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Mara Turing receives a message from her uncle. There's nothing wrong with that, right? Except her uncle disappeared five years ago and he wasn't found. He was a member of the group of hackers called ,,Dirtee Loopers" that was led by the best hacker in the world, Falko McKinnon. After his disappearance Mara's mother found out that he was involved in some illegal act and she realized that they never knew the real him. Since then, she didn't let Mara use any technology, she feared that someone will find out that they're his family and come after them.

But yet, five years later, Mara receives a message from her uncle, Arnold, on her school tablet: ,,I need your help." She never meet her dad, so Arnold was her father figure. She loved spending time with him and going on many adventures. That's why when he disappeared Mara was devastated. But now, knowing that he needs her help made her heart dance. She is going to dive into the programming/hacking world that will lead her in New York, along with her two best friends. But will she be able to outsmart Falko and his artificial intelligence? Or her mother's fears will finally become reality?

I love how the author wrote story about programing and hacking, which are considered as 'male jobs', but he breaks those stereotypes and puts twelve-year-old girl as the intelligent main lead in the book. Mara is so brave and smart, her love for her uncle will encourage her to learn more about hacking, but that will bring it's own consequences.

I am in love with this book. The author's writing style is amazing, the characters are unique and interesting to read about. There are so many interesting information about the technology that is surrounding us. After reading this story the readers will be more aware of the world around them.

The genre is young adult, but everyone will enjoy the story and learn the message it gives. It has a lot of important topics that it touches, but my personal favorite is how the author encourages the reader to think outside the box, to work hard for their dreams and goals no matter what other people will say and to always aim for more. Like one of the characters, teacher Hermenegilda Wright, was teaching:

,,She was one of those teachers who forced her students to spend hours working with pen and paper. ,,Let your imagination guide you!" she'd say in her loud voice."

I had very high expectations before starting the book because I've never read about programing or hacking through twelve-year-old kids. And I absolutely love it! It's page-turning action with a lot of plot twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

[unravelingthepages · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi! Mara Turing series by J. Padilla is a series for middle-graders that follows Mara, an 11 year old and her friends. This is my review on the first two books of the series that I was completely immersed in and loved! Note- this series consists of 4 books originally written in Spanish by the author with the first three books having being translated to English by Virginia Zuñiga and edited by Sarah Lamb.

It is perfect for all kids above the age of 8! Considering that these books are relatively long (more than 300-400 pages each), the age would differ in relation to the specific reader. Keep reading to know more about these books!

The Plot/Summary

Mara Turing receives a mysterious message right before leaving for her summer vacations: “I need your help.” This cry for help comes from her uncle, a member of the famous group of hackers known as the “Dirtee Loopers”. He had disappeared without a trace five years ago, leaving a blank space in Mara’s life, which had a great impact on her childhood. Mara and her friends embark on an adventure to find her uncle, Arnold Turing, that leads them to learn how to program in a garage in Queens (New York), see the world through more critical eyes and face the evil duo: Hermes, an extremely advanced artificial intelligence, and Falko McKinnon, the most dangerous hacker in the world.

Why it’s worth reading by middle-graders

*Let’s start with the concept. I’ve read a lot of children’s books and it’s safe to say- never one with a concept like this. Most of them steer clear of electronic technology itself making them timeless reads. However, this series does the opposite. It takes us into the electronic world that has our planet so captivated and puts forth the benefits AND harmful effects of technology in a way that anyone will enjoy.

*This series involves the world of hacking. It’s important to know here that programming languages and other components of hacking were never very interesting to me. What’s even more important to note is that this book somehow made me enjoy reading about it and has left me with a lot more information than I expected to retain.

*Mara and her friends are great characters! With distinct personalities that made me love them equally, they were fleshed out and tangible with strengths and flaws. The side characters deserve a mention too and I can honestly tell you, this book will not have a negative impact on children in regards to electronic addiction. Rather the opposite!

All-in-all, I’ll say this is a series definitely worth checking out. I found myself loving it despite not being it’s intended audience (middle graders)!

Thank you to the author and bookstagrammers.com for my free digital copy of these books in exchange for my honest review.

[Empress of Bookingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐🌟

“They wanted to be part of a generation that would change the world. They dreamed of a more equal, generous society that worries about and cares for others' well being.”

The Rise Of the Hackers, Javi Padilla

~~~

'The Rise of the Hackers' follows 12 year old Mara Turing who has a deep affinity for tech, determined, curious, highly intelligent yet still malleable to outside forces. She receives a mysterious message from her uncle who vanished without a trace once asking for her help.

The young hacker and her two friends, Daniel and Noa, embark on an adventure to find her uncle, Arnold Turing, that leads them to learn how to program in a garage in Queens. Little did they know there were forces beyond their comprehension at play.

Who was his uncle? What did he do to go MIA? Is he still alive? Are things beyond their control? Who will come on top, the crackers or the hackers?'

This was a fascinating read about technology, how easily it can be used to manipulate your world, its effect on the younger generation, how awareness of its machinations can be beneficial to the society as a whole among other things...

Seems heavy huh? The author weaved the story in a way that's palpable to the young minds, making it fun and still educational. Alex Marley, the professor acted as a conduit between technology and morality that kids reading this book will take home deep lessons on how to,executed his part well.

The story which initially started in Liverpool crossed over to New York city and told in the third person point of view. The description of the city and the kids was immersive, filling and well researched. You came out of the read knowing more of the city than you went in.

For a story meant for kids coming of age, it was full of positive anecdotes about technology, how it shapes young minds and affect the society as a whole.

I wish I could connect with the characters more: felt some disconnect about how they were developed through the book. My other quarrel would be the length of some chapters :felt they were way too long. Now imagine how a kid would feel especially when they're being introduced to new things.

Overall, commentary about technology both positive and negative was highly appreciated and all in all this is a books I'd let my nieces and nephews enjoy.

[Fedythereader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for sharing this book and this characters with me through Bookstagrammers.com!!!

“I need your help”

“Program or be programmed”

“I’m not sure what’s going on, but that’s got to be nerve-wrecking”

This story was just great !!!
Fans of Tron and Tron Legacy, watch this one out !!!!
Yes, the main characters are definitely middle graders, between 11 and 12 years old, but you know what ???
The plot was so good, you really don’t care about the main characters’ age !!!
The amount of things I learned while reading this book, could make me start an encyclopaedia!!!
Mara’s curiosity about the digital and hacking world was mine too and I deeply appreciated the notes, at the bottom of the page, when a sudden, new, strange word was introduced !!!
The way the author explained all those concepts with a simplicity and calmness like he is speaking with children because … well he actually is, while also creating an inclusive space for everyone who wants to learn without feeling discriminated for their age … or sex for that matter!!
These characters and this story show how much people tend to rely on technologies in our everyday life. How much we’re controlled by it. And how much we’re making it evolve.

“Nothing nor anyone could put a stop to the suffering it wasn’t programmed to withstand”

And don’t let me start on the complexities of the coding process !!!
I loved every minute of trying to identify secret messages written in codes !!!
And the historical references (Alan Turning involved) were just great !!!
It even ended with a plot twist !!!!
Maybe I was expecting it, maybe not … it doesn’t really matter !!!
The only thing I know is that I’m glad I can read book two already !!!

“What can be so important on their screens that makes them completely ignore each other when they’re face to face?”

“We humans tend to think we’re all unique and different from the rest. But when it comes to choosing a password, we all go for the same ones”

“To hack and not be hacked”

[Evi · Rating 3 out of 5]

{bookstagrammers promotion}

The book is really interesting and I've learned a few things about hacking and technology now :)

I would actually give it 2 stars, because I'm a little bit too old for this book, so it was a bit childish. But that's totally okey and that's not a factor that has influence on my rating :)

I'm glad that I know a bit of physics already, because some terms would be really confusing if I would be younger.
I think this book is for smart little kids who are really interested in hacking and science.

Besides the hacking are the story and plot really impressive. Each character has its own flaws and perfections. Their personality is shown really well throughout the book! I've really gotten to know them.

The book had great action and is very educational! It portrays a real friendship that's not always going smoothly, but in the end they will definitely help each other out.

I'm curious about the next book!

[Aris Julio · Rating 4 out of 5]

La historia es buena y tiene una trama intrigante.

No le di 5 estrellas porque me parece que los temas informáticos pudieron abordarse de mejor manera y no tan superficialmente. Tampoco me gustó del todo el hecho de que haga parecer que pre-adolescentes puedan considerarse hackers. Sin embargo, dado el estilo de la narración, y que es una novela juvenil, se tocan temas importantes y se presentan antagonistas que muestran el lado oscuro de la informática y la computación, incluso tocando la fantasía, pero sin dejar de tener bases reales.

Este libro es una buena introducción para el resto de la saga, pues me quedaron ganas de saber cómo se desarrollaran las capacidades de los personajes a continuación.

[Marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ya es uno de mis libros favoritos ♥️♥️

[Igor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hainbeste gustatu zait alabari gomendtu diodala eta baiezkoa eman didala.
Informatikan, sare sozialak, mugikorrak, programatzea... guzti horietan modu atseginean hasteko

[Luna Corvere · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me da la sensación que en vez de tener 12 años tenían 23 y estaban en la universidad, se entiendo que son muy inteligentes pero me parece excesivo.
Por lo demás está bien

[Malena Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lo compré para regalárselo a mi ahijada por si 12 cumpleaños pero...me lo tuve que leer yo antes. Novela juvenil muy entretenida que muestra el mundo de la tecnología y la informática, con algunos conceptos básicos pero sobre todo con una reflexión sobre el buen y el mal uso. Engancha y enseña a la vez. Eso sí, muy precoces estos niños!!

[Maca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me encanta

[José Medina]

aquest llibre m'ha agradat molt i per aixó m'estic llegint la segona part

[ce · Rating 1 out of 5]

m acabo d acordar q mi madre m compró este libro hace como mil años lo lei un poco y a la mitad m lo dejé q nadie se lo lea por el bien de la humanidad

[Denny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seeing that (at the moment) I am one of only two scored reviews and the only slightly negative one at that, I feel compelled to qualify my impression.

Firstly, I am not the target audience of this book. I'm convinced that younger people might find it a lot more enjoyable than I did.

Secondly, I read this book in English. It was recommended to me as part of a sales offer. Had I realised that it was originally written in Spanish, I definitely would have preferred to pick up the original (and would have done so for the sequels, had I liked it) .

It is not guaranteed, but certainly a possibility that I would have liked the Spanish version a lot better, as I have found that problems with the plot and the writing stand out more in translations, when the eloquence of the author's voice isn't there to cover them up.

As it stands, I didn't connect with the plot or the characters. I found the flow of the dialogue oftentimes really strange and wondered more than a few times, why characters were behaving the way they did.

The programming angle of the novel was what attracted my interest in the first place and I still think that it was the strongest part of the whole work, but the inconsistent usage of terms and the, in my view, not very successful attempt to impart the ethics of hacking (I am referring to the original meaning of the word) along with the technological side and a very distrustful and conspiratorial worldview soured my experience significantly.

Just to clarify. I have no problem with politics, philosophies or outlooks on the world that differ from my own or are even anathema to them. But this particular blend didn't work for me, maybe because it didn't feel organic.

I hope you see where I am coming from and can judge my score accordingly. The book isn't bad, the technological side is interesting and the plot moves quickly. If you are interested, I urge you to pick it up. It wasn't for me, but neither was there anything in the book that would make me want to dissuade other people from reading it (which would in and of itself be a silly sentiment anyway).

[Afreen Khalil Inscribed Inklings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mara Turing Book 1: Rise of the Hackers by Javier Padilla 📚



Rise of the Hackers was a fun filled, middle grade fiction book which made me feel nostalgic. I loved all the illustrations in the book. Rise of the Hackers was first book of the Mara Turing series. The Spanish edition of the book has had a load of success and it has been translated to English recently.

The writing style of the book was fluent and conversational. The book had a third person narrative. The tone of the book was animated and curious. The plot was fast paced and had a solid story line. The three main characters were cheery, funny and great to read about. The three main characters were Mara, Noa and Daniel.

There was a lot of information in the book that took me some time to get used to, especially the information related hacking and coding. Mara Turing was apparently descended from Alan Turing who invented the Enigma machine. The three kids evolved and learnt a lot throughout the book.

The book was set in New York where the three of them had gone for vacation with Mara's mom Sandra. Mara got a secret message saying that her missing uncle, Arnold ( presumed to be dead) was still alive and needed her help. She goes to Alex Marley's garage to learn hacking along with her friends. Little do they know, an AI called Hermes was spying on them for his master Falko. Do they succeed in finding Uncle Arnold or does Hermes end them first? Read to find out!

-Afreen

[Vidhika Yadav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mara is the protagonist of the novel, and she receives a cryptic message from her Uncle who was considered dead till now. Her uncle used to work with the infamous Falko McKinnon as a hacker. And for all these reasons, Mara has always been guarded against technology by her Mother, who has tried to protect her from this computing world. Mara is even more determined to solve her Uncle's message. She has Noah and Daniel as friends and Professor Marley who teaches about hacking which is illuminating and enlightening part of the book. But how a sudden message???
What is behind this message is yours to check!
Do grab your copy today to get the answers and to go on a techy- hacky journey with Mara!

I would strongly suggest this book to young readers as well as adults. It is quite enlightening and very pertinent for children of age group 11 and above. It teaches them important lessons about Internet safety and can develop a perspective on technology. I could identify with Mara's characters since I, too, am fascinated by coding and hacking. Even though the characters were in the 11-12 age range, they were all admirable, especially Mara. She is an inspiration and dispels the stereotype that girls aren't capable of doing computer and tech-related tasks. The book effectively illustrates how technology has become more than just a part of our lives; it has become our lives themselves. All of the coding hacking complexity were woven into a simple language that our young readers could understand. The book also includes a glossary of difficult words and their definitions. Illustrations were also enticing.

The book was a fast-paced, enlightening and very very intriguing read as a whole!

[Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was gifted this book as well as the second book in the 'Mara Turing' series to promote from Bookstagrammers.com. The Mara Turing series has been translated and released in the UK after having success in Spain where it was originally published.

I highly enjoyed the characters, especially Mara, who is an excellent role model for young children (especially girls) who are looking to start a career in computing and coding.

The story follows Mara, who receives a mysterious message from her Uncle (who, she always was told, had died). Her Uncle was a Hacker and used to work with the infamous Falko McKinnon (who is now in jail for his hacking capabilities).

Mara has always been shielded from technology by her Mother, who has been trying to keep Mara safe from the world her Uncle worked in.

While on holiday to New York with her friends, Noa and Daniel, Mara is even more determined to solve her Uncle's message and enlists the help of Professor Marley. The Professor teaches them all about becoming Hackers and the pros and cons of taking it on as a job, and helping Mara to find her Uncle.

I feel as though the book could do with some more proof-reading to fine tune the language used to accommodate a slightly older children's reading age, as I feel this is the main target audience in the UK.

I would highly recommend this book to children aged 12 and older, as it teaches them valuable lessons about Internet safety and taking control of your Internet use to not become 'programmed'.

The story was fast paced, funny, informative and I can't wait to read the second book!

[Emma West · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me encanto la historia, aprendí algunas cosas sobre programación y la trama me pareció intrigante.