Coding is so new to me, but I love the idea of it. The Secret Coders series is a perfect introduction to coding and to a fun story. The graphic novel approach is excellent because it combines visual learning with storytelling, and I think young readers will find that combination very appealing.

What I love most about these books is that the main character, Hopper, is a young girl. Unfortunately, women still face obstacles in any sort of STEM or computer-related field, and young girls interested in either or both of those will love the focus on Hopper and her learning. It’s very encouraging, and her adventures in learning coding don’t feel forced. The author does a fantastic job of still giving Hopper a story beyond her education. She loves basketball, she argues with her mother, and she’s nervous making new friends at her new school.

The graphic novels have a self-learning component to them as well, allowing the reader to figure out a code before the answer is revealed. I tried a few of them myself, and it was really fun.

Originally posted at The Forest of Words and Pages: http://www.forestofwordsandpages.com/2016/09/reading-without-walls-blog-tour/