Girls Who Code

Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World

Written and Read by Reshma Saujani

Listening Library

Publication Date: August 22, 2017

ISBN: 1524778222

This is an item that inspires and cajoles young woman to confound expectations and jump with both feet into the world of coding and computer-science. Writer Reshma Saujani makes a compelling case to pursue a passion for computer coding and combine it with other interests to create a synergy of creative potential. It’s all about empowerment and building confidence and flagging that nerd flag high.

The audiobook offers a succinct little primer and introduction into the world of coding. She takes our hand and walks us through the history of the field and the innovations and advancements that women have contributed over the years to computer-science. The writer provides us with several historical figures and a multitude of case studies of the unsung female heroes blazing a trail in the world of tech. And shows that inspiring young girls to explore the world of coding is the future and how imperative it is to close the gender gap in the tech industry. 

Reshma Saujani also gives us a pretty comprehensive play by play into the basics of coding. She goes over the terminology and cobbles a sturdy scaffolding in which to frame a better understanding of coding. She manages to take a sometimes abstruse subject and make it relatable and palatable to digest. She uses an assortment of real-world scenarios and always endeavors to make the topic engaging and approachable. Though the work is largely skewed toward a female audience of a certain age, the information conveyed about rudimentary coding skills can be useful for a wide demographic of people just interested in the course of study.

This work is a big advocate of eschewing stereotypes and impels young audiences to augment their thinking of what’s expected and what’s possible. She reminds us that encouraging STEM and useful computer fundamentals will serve young girls for years to come and that the field is ready and receptive to a whole generation of groundbreaking tech pioneers. The possibilities are nigh boundless. Put the right string of code in the right girl’s hands and she could make a sizeable impact from social justice champion to canny entrepreneur.

This work earns a wholehearted recommendation. The content is delivered in an enthused and infectiously effusive manner. And the range of topics covered impressive from beginning to end and the overall message of empowerment delivered with precision. The item also includes a bonus disc with PDFs of images, computer-history timelines, flowcharts, lines of code, and a handy glossary. All fine fodder for any coding connoisseur. 

Get coding, kids. Plain and simple.

Tommy Bui, Inglewood Public Library