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Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code
From the world of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls comes a story based on the exciting adventures of Ada Lovelace: one of the world’s first computer programmers.
Growing up in nineteenth century London, England, Ada is curious about absolutely everything. She is obsessed with machines and with creatures that fly. She even designs her own flying laboratory!
According to her mother, Ada is a bit too wild, so she encourages Ada to study math. At first Ada thinks: Bleh! Who can get excited about a subject without pictures? But she soon falls in love with it. One day she encounters a mysterious machine, and from that moment forward Ada imagines a future full of possibility—one that will eventually inspire the digital age nearly two hundred years later.
Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code is the story of a pioneer in the computer sciences, and a testament to women’s invaluable contributions to STEM throughout history.
Includes additional text on Ada Lovelace’s lasting legacy, as well as educational activities designed to teach simple coding and mathematical concepts.
Growing up in nineteenth century London, England, Ada is curious about absolutely everything. She is obsessed with machines and with creatures that fly. She even designs her own flying laboratory!
According to her mother, Ada is a bit too wild, so she encourages Ada to study math. At first Ada thinks: Bleh! Who can get excited about a subject without pictures? But she soon falls in love with it. One day she encounters a mysterious machine, and from that moment forward Ada imagines a future full of possibility—one that will eventually inspire the digital age nearly two hundred years later.
Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code is the story of a pioneer in the computer sciences, and a testament to women’s invaluable contributions to STEM throughout history.
Includes additional text on Ada Lovelace’s lasting legacy, as well as educational activities designed to teach simple coding and mathematical concepts.
128 pages, Hardcover
Published November 12, 2019
28 people are currently reading
480 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
October 21, 2020
This one is cleverly written.
The life of Ada has been portrayed and penned well.
The words are so alive and in tune with the illustrations. I do love the illustrations!
Ada has been described as a child who was thoroughly interested in subjects she loved and not forcing herself to like the subjects she did not enjoy. She is being represented well as someone with strong personality.
What I could relate well with Ada was the way her ideas and interests being ignored or rejected by the very people she felt her own. But what made Ada different from the rest of us was the fact that she was never afraid of being her true self and be herself no matter what unfavourable situations she was in.
This was beautifully written. But I enjoyed and loved the first half more as it was more accurate and detailed and the writing style was more lyrical.
Thank you #NetGallet for providing me a copy of #AdaLovelaceCracksTheCode
The life of Ada has been portrayed and penned well.
The words are so alive and in tune with the illustrations. I do love the illustrations!
Ada has been described as a child who was thoroughly interested in subjects she loved and not forcing herself to like the subjects she did not enjoy. She is being represented well as someone with strong personality.
What I could relate well with Ada was the way her ideas and interests being ignored or rejected by the very people she felt her own. But what made Ada different from the rest of us was the fact that she was never afraid of being her true self and be herself no matter what unfavourable situations she was in.
This was beautifully written. But I enjoyed and loved the first half more as it was more accurate and detailed and the writing style was more lyrical.
Thank you #NetGallet for providing me a copy of #AdaLovelaceCracksTheCode
December 20, 2022
This book is perfect, it is well paced, I liked the length of the chapters and the way that Ada's life was told. I loved the cover and the illustrations in the book.
This story is about a woman who was intrigued by math and science at a time when this was not a field women were allowed to be part of.
She loved learning about machines and computers and even designed machines that used coding and programming. While she was unable to create these machines, she was posthumously recognized for her efforts and her designs were fulfilled in recent decades by engineers and scientists who were amazed by her ability to understand these concepts well before computers and technology were created.
This story is about a woman who was intrigued by math and science at a time when this was not a field women were allowed to be part of.
She loved learning about machines and computers and even designed machines that used coding and programming. While she was unable to create these machines, she was posthumously recognized for her efforts and her designs were fulfilled in recent decades by engineers and scientists who were amazed by her ability to understand these concepts well before computers and technology were created.
April 1, 2020
Ada Lovelace’s story really reminds you how important it is that educators are passionate about what they’re doing, cultivating young minds and their interests rather than trying to stifle them and fit them in a box. We all need a Ms Stamp or Mary Somerville in our lives! Although Ada was immensely privileged as a white woman of high class, she went against all social conventions to pursue her passion for mathematics. Her story is also a great reminder for young girls that, if you do want a partner, that someone should encourage you to chase your passions, even if they don’t necessarily share them exactly.
January 21, 2023
This is another publication by the Rebel Girls who show girls how they can become everything they want to, this time in the biography of Ada Lovelace, daughter of the poet Lord Byron and later getting her husband´s surname. Many girls (or children on the whole) will identify with the girl Ada who´s more interested in geography because of the places, and literature and everything fantastic. With the right teacher she realises that mathematics can also lead to inventions, as she became well known for writing the first computer code. The story is described with nice details as her cat, but also shows the lonely life of a single girl living in a rich house. I´m not sure if children will understand everything technical, but if so, Ada´s development of the codes should be explained in detail. The end is a bit rushed.
Thanks to Rebel Girls and Netgalley for a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Rebel Girls and Netgalley for a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2023
This was a very well written book for middle school age. It tells the story of Ada with facts, but in an entertaining way. It will keep the reader engaged and interested in her story. There are also fun activities and games in the back of the book. A great read for young girls or people interested in women's history in science and mathematics.
December 27, 2022
I received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Ada Lovelace was the Countess of Lovelace born in 1815. Her contributions to computer science have since been widely recognised! Her pioneering vision paved the way for making a space for women in computer science before computer scientists even existed. I never knew about Ada Lovelace growing up – or indeed any women in computing! Now I know her story, it’s exciting to see it shared and to reiterate that women have been involved in computing all along! I loved her because her life was so interesting and unusual, and she had such a great character. Passionate and determined, but also an imaginative rebel and a spirited rule-breaker!
Ada Lovelace was the Countess of Lovelace born in 1815. Her contributions to computer science have since been widely recognised! Her pioneering vision paved the way for making a space for women in computer science before computer scientists even existed. I never knew about Ada Lovelace growing up – or indeed any women in computing! Now I know her story, it’s exciting to see it shared and to reiterate that women have been involved in computing all along! I loved her because her life was so interesting and unusual, and she had such a great character. Passionate and determined, but also an imaginative rebel and a spirited rule-breaker!
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April 26, 2020I’ve always been fascinated with Ada Lovelace, so this was a nice and simple look into her life and the ambitions she had for future computation.
February 8, 2025
You know what, this was delightful. I'm going to have to try more of the Rebel Girls books in the future.
January 8, 2023
Why haven’t I come across the Rebel Girls stable before? This is a brilliant initiative to raise the profile of STEM among girls of the right age. My girls of the right age are rapidly growing out of it.
This engaging story takes the few facts we have about Ada Lovelace and turns it into a biography. It may be based on very little, but invents a believable and accurately imagined world. She may have had some of these adventures, and definitely did have others. It’s an excellent mix of cause and effect. I found it all the more believable because the young Ada suffered so many of the same problems I would have done in her era. My mind would also leap on a piece of information in a geography lesson and go off into a reverie of how the local people might have lived, worked, and what the countryside was like.
I had been somewhat confused by how the young Ada Byron managed to turn into Lovelace. She married someone else entirely. That was solved near the end. Having finished with childhood, the book skipped over marriage and children (many!) to the point Ada got her name linked to computing. By that time she had become Lady Lovelace (hubby inherited the title).
Some reviewers disliked the amount of ‘invention’ required. But to me it was perfectly ‘right’ for the age and for the little we actually know. The rest is deduction, Dr Watson, and very well done indeed.
This engaging story takes the few facts we have about Ada Lovelace and turns it into a biography. It may be based on very little, but invents a believable and accurately imagined world. She may have had some of these adventures, and definitely did have others. It’s an excellent mix of cause and effect. I found it all the more believable because the young Ada suffered so many of the same problems I would have done in her era. My mind would also leap on a piece of information in a geography lesson and go off into a reverie of how the local people might have lived, worked, and what the countryside was like.
I had been somewhat confused by how the young Ada Byron managed to turn into Lovelace. She married someone else entirely. That was solved near the end. Having finished with childhood, the book skipped over marriage and children (many!) to the point Ada got her name linked to computing. By that time she had become Lady Lovelace (hubby inherited the title).
Some reviewers disliked the amount of ‘invention’ required. But to me it was perfectly ‘right’ for the age and for the little we actually know. The rest is deduction, Dr Watson, and very well done indeed.
March 1, 2020
I love Ada Lovelace a lot—she's one of my idols, even though I'm not a mathematically minded person myself. I've read quite a bit about her, but I really enjoyed how this one was set out. There are some really gorgeous illustrations inside, and I think this would make a wonderful gift for any little (or big) kid.
July 6, 2021
I've been reading a lot of short stories from the Rebel Girls book. These stories focus on success of women, and their story from the beginning.
I think... I enjoyed this story the least out of all of the stories I've read so far..
I was a bit confused on where the story was going, and what her profession was, it was a bit unclear.
I thought she would be an author, then I thought she assisted in the development of airplanes, And finally I thought she assisted with development of the computers...
Which I guess in a way she did? Assist with coding.
I have a robotics background, and im very interested in pursuing coding so I was nice to follow the story. she seemed like a very hard worker and determined no matter what. But the direction of the story was lost to me at times.
I think... I enjoyed this story the least out of all of the stories I've read so far..
I was a bit confused on where the story was going, and what her profession was, it was a bit unclear.
I thought she would be an author, then I thought she assisted in the development of airplanes, And finally I thought she assisted with development of the computers...
Which I guess in a way she did? Assist with coding.
I have a robotics background, and im very interested in pursuing coding so I was nice to follow the story. she seemed like a very hard worker and determined no matter what. But the direction of the story was lost to me at times.
December 15, 2022
This short chapter book will introduce Ada Lovelace to today’s young girls (and some boys, I’m sure). Lovelace lived in the 19th century, long before the computer age, but she saw the potential for calculating machines and is considered one of the earliest inventors of what we now call the computer and the very first computer programmer! I loved the idea that she was inspired by the Jacquard loom that used punch cards to create complex fabric designs!
The illustrations are charming and colorful. Plus there are a few fun activities at the end of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Rebel Girls for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
The illustrations are charming and colorful. Plus there are a few fun activities at the end of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Rebel Girls for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
January 27, 2020
"Ada had spent a lifetime ignoring people's whispers and curiosity. It rarely bothered her when people made fun of her or stared as she walked into a room."
It was these years of confidence and imagination that led Ada Lovelace to create the first published computer program. For a woman in the 1800s, she did not get much credit for her gift to modern technology, but 2019 brings the chance for her story to be told.
Ada Byron lived in England in the 19th century. She was poet Lord Byron's daughter, though she didn't really know her father. Ada was an imaginative and creative child who often got in trouble for letting her mind wander during school lessons. Through the help of her governess Miss Stamp, she learned to channel this imagination into math and science. Ada did not personally get a chance to share her ideas and discoveries, but was able to work with friend Charles Babbage to write the first scientific article about computer programming.
Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code does a great job of sharing one woman's story of creativity and perseverance in a way that is relatable and interesting to Rebel Girls of all sorts. The book has illustrations, perfectly-sized chapters, and interactive questions at the back. It gives Rebel Girls the chance to have a hero in the computer science industry and readers of all ages the opportunity to thank Ada for her contributions to the technology that rules our modern world. This book left me wanting more information about Ada and her invention, but I suppose that makes it a perfect book for young readers to get interested in learning more.
"'I think you have too much imagination, Lady Lovelace,' Charles chuckled.
'I think you don't have enough,' she shot back."
...
Big thanks to NetGalley and Rebel Girls for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book for free, in exchange for an honest review.
It was these years of confidence and imagination that led Ada Lovelace to create the first published computer program. For a woman in the 1800s, she did not get much credit for her gift to modern technology, but 2019 brings the chance for her story to be told.
Ada Byron lived in England in the 19th century. She was poet Lord Byron's daughter, though she didn't really know her father. Ada was an imaginative and creative child who often got in trouble for letting her mind wander during school lessons. Through the help of her governess Miss Stamp, she learned to channel this imagination into math and science. Ada did not personally get a chance to share her ideas and discoveries, but was able to work with friend Charles Babbage to write the first scientific article about computer programming.
Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code does a great job of sharing one woman's story of creativity and perseverance in a way that is relatable and interesting to Rebel Girls of all sorts. The book has illustrations, perfectly-sized chapters, and interactive questions at the back. It gives Rebel Girls the chance to have a hero in the computer science industry and readers of all ages the opportunity to thank Ada for her contributions to the technology that rules our modern world. This book left me wanting more information about Ada and her invention, but I suppose that makes it a perfect book for young readers to get interested in learning more.
"'I think you have too much imagination, Lady Lovelace,' Charles chuckled.
'I think you don't have enough,' she shot back."
...
Big thanks to NetGalley and Rebel Girls for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book for free, in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2019
I didn’t know much about Ada Lovelace before reading this book. For instance, I didn’t know that she was the only legitimate daughter of Lord Byron. I only vaguely knew that she had written computer code long before the first computers were even made.
What I do know is that hers was not a name I ever learned in school. In fact, I was nearly thirty when I first learned about her, and it was on Tumblr that I first read her name. That’s the main reason that I love the Rebel Girl series so much, and I love that they are releasing these new biographical novels about important women in history. Because of Rebel Girls, my daughter will grow up knowing the important contributions women have made to our society throughout history.
This book was a cute little biography. I loved the characterization of Ada, both as a young girl and later as a young woman. I loved that the author showcased her frustrations in how a woman was never taken seriously in the scientific fields during her lifetime. Her disdain in the expectations that she should take a husband and run his household once she came of age leave her ambitions behind. I love the women she met who mentored her and showed her that that wasn’t the only direction her life could take.
Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code is due to be released on November 12, 2019. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
What I do know is that hers was not a name I ever learned in school. In fact, I was nearly thirty when I first learned about her, and it was on Tumblr that I first read her name. That’s the main reason that I love the Rebel Girl series so much, and I love that they are releasing these new biographical novels about important women in history. Because of Rebel Girls, my daughter will grow up knowing the important contributions women have made to our society throughout history.
This book was a cute little biography. I loved the characterization of Ada, both as a young girl and later as a young woman. I loved that the author showcased her frustrations in how a woman was never taken seriously in the scientific fields during her lifetime. Her disdain in the expectations that she should take a husband and run his household once she came of age leave her ambitions behind. I love the women she met who mentored her and showed her that that wasn’t the only direction her life could take.
Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code is due to be released on November 12, 2019. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 12, 2023
This was brilliant! I have always loved reading about Ada Lovelace and her friend Charles Babbage and their work, and even though this is written for early chapter readers, it's up there with some of my favorite stories about them.
The writing is SO good. It's easy to read and understand, and my third grader would have no trouble with it. At the same time, it tells Ada's story in a really powerful way that sucks you in and has you instantly empathizing with her as she struggles with her loneliness and her mother's strict rules and frequent changes of governess.
When she is struck with a new idea, you can really feel her excitement and eagerness and brilliance. For most of the book it felt like being dragged breathlessly along behind as she charged ahead with new ideas.
The author chooses to end the story with her feeling sharp pains but imagining what the future of computers will look like. Then in a note at the end, it says she died very shortly thereafter. I like this choice because sensitive kids can read it and not be too upset by it (in my experience, kids don't particularly like reading the notes at the end). And even if they do read it, it is related in a very dry factual way that is less impactful than ending the story (which is quite emotional) with it.
Even so I found myself tearing up a little at the end -- and when was the last time that happened with an early chapter book? Not for a Very long time.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Rebel Girls for providing an early copy for review.
The writing is SO good. It's easy to read and understand, and my third grader would have no trouble with it. At the same time, it tells Ada's story in a really powerful way that sucks you in and has you instantly empathizing with her as she struggles with her loneliness and her mother's strict rules and frequent changes of governess.
When she is struck with a new idea, you can really feel her excitement and eagerness and brilliance. For most of the book it felt like being dragged breathlessly along behind as she charged ahead with new ideas.
The author chooses to end the story with her feeling sharp pains but imagining what the future of computers will look like. Then in a note at the end, it says she died very shortly thereafter. I like this choice because sensitive kids can read it and not be too upset by it (in my experience, kids don't particularly like reading the notes at the end). And even if they do read it, it is related in a very dry factual way that is less impactful than ending the story (which is quite emotional) with it.
Even so I found myself tearing up a little at the end -- and when was the last time that happened with an early chapter book? Not for a Very long time.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Rebel Girls for providing an early copy for review.
February 25, 2023
As my daughter started getting interested in coding, I found myself doing some research on early coders and I was fascinated to learn about Ava Lovelace. All I could find were a few short videos and articles so I was delighted to find this new book and have a chance to read an advance copy. The story is engaging and well paced and the historical details of the era are woven into the story in an age-appropriate manner. The concept of early computer programming can be confusing but the author does an excellent job of building up to the explanation and using analogies and easy to understand language to explain the concept to young readers. Rebel Girls has an excellent mission and my daughter and I were both happy to see that the first computer programmer (not just first female but first ever), Ada Lovelace, is finally starting to get the attention she deserves, inspiring today’s girls with her story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Rebel Girls for the chance to read and review an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Rebel Girls for the chance to read and review an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
December 20, 2022
A lovely chapter book from Rebel Girls!
I have heard of Ada Lovelace before but I actually had no idea she was the daughter of Lord Byron! This is a great middle grade book to learn about a woman in STEM in the 19th century who was way ahead of her time. It's nonfiction but is engaging and reads easy like a fiction novel.
Thank you to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
I have heard of Ada Lovelace before but I actually had no idea she was the daughter of Lord Byron! This is a great middle grade book to learn about a woman in STEM in the 19th century who was way ahead of her time. It's nonfiction but is engaging and reads easy like a fiction novel.
Thank you to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
January 31, 2023
I enjoyed learning more about Ada Lovelace and her life. The writing and illustrations really suit the audience.
I really loved this quote:
"There is no need to choose between a family life and a life of the mind. Those who think there is probably don't have much of the second."
This resonated with me as a young woman at the start of her career. It is one of the inspiring lessons young children can take from Ada's life.
I really loved this quote:
"There is no need to choose between a family life and a life of the mind. Those who think there is probably don't have much of the second."
This resonated with me as a young woman at the start of her career. It is one of the inspiring lessons young children can take from Ada's life.
April 28, 2020
The life of Ada Lovelace is fairly complex but Purtill does a good job of weeding out the complexities and offering up a story that makes sense to kids and offers motivation for girls who are interested in mathematics and science. This is a good biography to give kids an overview of an important scientist.
December 29, 2022
I had a wonderful time reading this! It’s such an accessible and empowering way to learn about Ada Lovelace. The games included at the back of the book are also interesting ways to get girls involved in programming.
As a software programmer myself, I’m beyond empowered by the story of Lovelace and how she’d held on to her ideas vehemently even when they seemed impossible. A brilliant book!
As a software programmer myself, I’m beyond empowered by the story of Lovelace and how she’d held on to her ideas vehemently even when they seemed impossible. A brilliant book!
December 29, 2022
This is a lovely little novelisation about the life of Ada Lovelace. Beautiful illustrations add a little extra to the story. Perfect for middle grade readers or anyone who has read other Rebel Girls books.
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January 5, 2024women in stem always land on🔛🔝
January 17, 2023
“Forge your own path,
and make it your truth.”
You can find the full review on my blog!
February 28, 2024
Very, very cute children book.
Suited me very well, to learn Spanish and also learned some cool stuff about the first female programmer from the 19th century.
💖💖💖💖
Suited me very well, to learn Spanish and also learned some cool stuff about the first female programmer from the 19th century.
💖💖💖💖
November 10, 2019
A heavily fictionalised biography of a woman who was the first of her gender to theorise about computer programming. (That's not to say it features anything that's untrue, but the everyday actions and dialogue are right out the novel genre.) It's a reasonable book, but felt rather long for me – the original Rebel Girls compilations had a lot more brevity, and while this is admittedly for a young audience, the story featured very little in the way of dramatic colour. Yes, sexism and so on raises its ugly head, but even though Babbage's key machines and Engines never got produced, the story is very much set at a permanently rising angle. And in taking us up to the halfway mark before introducing Babbage, surely gunning for the feminist sales too hard.
October 8, 2019
This book is excellent, it is well paced, I liked the length of the chapters and the way that Ada's life was told. I think the cover is perfect for the book too.
I didn't realise when I finished the book last night that today was Ada Lovelace Day until I heard it on the radio this afternoon, she was a fascinating lady and one I certainly want to read more about.
I thought that this book was excellent, it is 4.5 stars from me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon - very highly recommended and looking forward to seeing what else the Rebel Girls release!!
I didn't realise when I finished the book last night that today was Ada Lovelace Day until I heard it on the radio this afternoon, she was a fascinating lady and one I certainly want to read more about.
I thought that this book was excellent, it is 4.5 stars from me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon - very highly recommended and looking forward to seeing what else the Rebel Girls release!!
February 25, 2020
Short but excellent look into the life of Ada Lovelace.
December 21, 2022
Publication Jan.17,2023
First, About the Rebel Girls Chapter Book Series
"Meet extraordinary real-life heroines in the Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls chapter book series! Introducing stories based on the lives and times of extraordinary women in global history, each stunningly designed chapter book features beautiful illustrations from a female artist as well as bonus activities in the backmatter to encourage kids to explore the various fields in which each of these women thrived. The perfect gift to inspire any young reader!"
As I read, I realized how little I actually know about Ada Lovelace. I mean, early on, I found myself wondering, "She was Lord Byron's daughter? For real?" A side- excursion to Google answered that question for me, "Yes, she was his only legitimate daughter." She seems to have been an intriguing combo of her father's more poetic, imaginative side and her mother's more math, reality based soul, with the remarkable intellect of both magnified in her. Sadly, it seems she really never knew her father. Anyway....
Although this series seems to be aimed at middle-grader level, I found it an intriguing, thoughtful read. Although I don't share any of Lovelace's analytical math abilities, it was fascinating to read about the early days of what we now consider computers/calculators. She was lucky enough to have an excellent teacher, Miss Stamp, who encouraged both imagination and study, and later find a friend and mentor who encouraged her work. This was Charles Babbage, who she met in 1833 when she was still in her teens, a man who was devising a calculator, albeit far from the small tool we now think of as a calculator.
With his encouragement and that of friends, Ada Lovelace learned to fly, metaphorically speaking, of course, although she would have dearly loved to have solved the question of human flight. Trust me, she tried. Bottom line, this was an interesting look at one of the pioneers of computer programming, beginning with her early days of asking questions for which there were no answers yet, learning to harness her energy and diverse interests, and, yes, even marrying while pursuing those interests.
I definitely recommend this book (and surely the entire series) to both young and older readers, like me, who will find there is still much to learn. Thanks to #NetGalley and #RebelGirls for giving me a more thorough introduction to this incredible woman. I'll definitely be checking out others in the Rebel Girls series.
First, About the Rebel Girls Chapter Book Series
"Meet extraordinary real-life heroines in the Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls chapter book series! Introducing stories based on the lives and times of extraordinary women in global history, each stunningly designed chapter book features beautiful illustrations from a female artist as well as bonus activities in the backmatter to encourage kids to explore the various fields in which each of these women thrived. The perfect gift to inspire any young reader!"
As I read, I realized how little I actually know about Ada Lovelace. I mean, early on, I found myself wondering, "She was Lord Byron's daughter? For real?" A side- excursion to Google answered that question for me, "Yes, she was his only legitimate daughter." She seems to have been an intriguing combo of her father's more poetic, imaginative side and her mother's more math, reality based soul, with the remarkable intellect of both magnified in her. Sadly, it seems she really never knew her father. Anyway....
Although this series seems to be aimed at middle-grader level, I found it an intriguing, thoughtful read. Although I don't share any of Lovelace's analytical math abilities, it was fascinating to read about the early days of what we now consider computers/calculators. She was lucky enough to have an excellent teacher, Miss Stamp, who encouraged both imagination and study, and later find a friend and mentor who encouraged her work. This was Charles Babbage, who she met in 1833 when she was still in her teens, a man who was devising a calculator, albeit far from the small tool we now think of as a calculator.
With his encouragement and that of friends, Ada Lovelace learned to fly, metaphorically speaking, of course, although she would have dearly loved to have solved the question of human flight. Trust me, she tried. Bottom line, this was an interesting look at one of the pioneers of computer programming, beginning with her early days of asking questions for which there were no answers yet, learning to harness her energy and diverse interests, and, yes, even marrying while pursuing those interests.
I definitely recommend this book (and surely the entire series) to both young and older readers, like me, who will find there is still much to learn. Thanks to #NetGalley and #RebelGirls for giving me a more thorough introduction to this incredible woman. I'll definitely be checking out others in the Rebel Girls series.
December 14, 2022
This new Middle Grade series is one that you will definitely need to watch out for! Rebel Girls have come out with a fantastic new set of chapter books about women from the past who stood up for rights, fought for change and made a difference in their communities. These chapter books are about 100 pages long, and include multiple full and part page illustrations per chapter. The text is a really good size and is well spaced. The language used is relatively easy to comprehend and is written in narrative form rather than using non-fiction text features. In a way, these books are somewhere between a picture book biography and an early chapter book historical fiction. Between the pictures and the narrative text it will be much facilitate comprehension and keep readers interested. They are super cool and I can definitely think of Middle Grade (Grades 3-7) students who would love these books! There are also fun activities at the end of the book meant to empower and inspire readers to dig deeper, ask questions and learn more about the ideas in the story.
In Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code, readers will learn about a woman who was intrigued by math and science at a time when this was not a field women were allowed to be part of. She loved learning about machines and computers and even designed machines that used coding and programming. While she was unable to create these machines, she was posthumously recognized for her efforts and her designs were fulfilled in recent decades by engineers and scientists who were amazed by her ability to understand these concepts well before computers and technology were created. I think that girls who enjoy STEM will love to learn more about this trailblazer and the challenges she faced as a woman in her time period.
I would highly recommend this book to parents and teachers of Middle Grade readers looking for chapter books that feature inspiring women, teach about history and science and create openings for future inquiry. I will definitely be purchasing this series when it is published so that I can add it to my classroom library! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book!
In Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code, readers will learn about a woman who was intrigued by math and science at a time when this was not a field women were allowed to be part of. She loved learning about machines and computers and even designed machines that used coding and programming. While she was unable to create these machines, she was posthumously recognized for her efforts and her designs were fulfilled in recent decades by engineers and scientists who were amazed by her ability to understand these concepts well before computers and technology were created. I think that girls who enjoy STEM will love to learn more about this trailblazer and the challenges she faced as a woman in her time period.
I would highly recommend this book to parents and teachers of Middle Grade readers looking for chapter books that feature inspiring women, teach about history and science and create openings for future inquiry. I will definitely be purchasing this series when it is published so that I can add it to my classroom library! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book!
December 27, 2022
Ada grew up near London, England, in the 19th century, when most girls’ educations consisted of reading, painting, dancing, deportment, music, and perhaps a language such as French. Ada prefers more engaging pursuits—reading, learning languages, inventing, and maybe even doing math.
Ada has a famous poet for her father, but she’s never met him. Her mother insists that Ada study math and science—the subjects furthest from poetry. But as Ada grows up, she decides math has its own sense of poetry.
Her mother wants Ada to get married and have children, but Ada can’t envision a world without studying math and thinking of poetical ways to apply the knowledge to the world around her. It would take a rare man to understand Ada’s mind and heart and allow her to pursue both work and motherhood in an era where people measured a woman’s highest achievement as their household and offspring.
Fortunately, she meets and falls in love with a man secure enough to support Ada in her passion for knowledge and her love of motherhood. As she studies and helps an inventor friend, Ada realizes the possibility of using machines to solve mathematical problems. Her designs and calculations form the basis for modern-day coding and computing.
Why I Loved This Book
While classified as historical fiction, Rebel Girls does a wonderful job of inviting young readers into the life and times of a little-known pioneer in computing. The Rebel Girls Chapter Book Series reminds me of the ‘biographies’ (today, we’d classify them as historical fiction) of famous Americans I read back in the 70s. Only the books have colorful artwork and highlight little-known but incredibly important women from history.
Parents, teachers, librarians, grandparents, and students will love this book and the others in the series.
Ada has a famous poet for her father, but she’s never met him. Her mother insists that Ada study math and science—the subjects furthest from poetry. But as Ada grows up, she decides math has its own sense of poetry.
Her mother wants Ada to get married and have children, but Ada can’t envision a world without studying math and thinking of poetical ways to apply the knowledge to the world around her. It would take a rare man to understand Ada’s mind and heart and allow her to pursue both work and motherhood in an era where people measured a woman’s highest achievement as their household and offspring.
Fortunately, she meets and falls in love with a man secure enough to support Ada in her passion for knowledge and her love of motherhood. As she studies and helps an inventor friend, Ada realizes the possibility of using machines to solve mathematical problems. Her designs and calculations form the basis for modern-day coding and computing.
Why I Loved This Book
While classified as historical fiction, Rebel Girls does a wonderful job of inviting young readers into the life and times of a little-known pioneer in computing. The Rebel Girls Chapter Book Series reminds me of the ‘biographies’ (today, we’d classify them as historical fiction) of famous Americans I read back in the 70s. Only the books have colorful artwork and highlight little-known but incredibly important women from history.
Parents, teachers, librarians, grandparents, and students will love this book and the others in the series.
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