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Cool Code #1
The Cool Code
In this funny and heartfelt slice-of-life graphic novel for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Kayla Miller, when coding whiz Zoey goes from homeschooled to new school, she develops an app to help her make friends. Will the Cool Code help Zoey fit in? Or will it completely crash her social life? In an attempt to fit in, Zoey develops an app called the Cool Code with a cute llama avatar that will tell her everything from what to say to what to wear based on pop culture algorithms she’s uploaded. But when the app gives her ridiculous advice, awkwardness and hilarity ensues. With a few upgrades and a bit of debugging from the coding club, the app actually works—Zoey gets really popular . . . and gets her pulled in all kinds of directions, including away from her real friends. Life’s most complicated choices. . . is there a code for that?
224 pages, Paperback
First published November 8, 2022
About the author
Deirdre Langeland
13 books30 followersDeirdre Langeland has been a children's book editor and writer for more than twenty years. She currently freelances as an editor and ghost writer, focusing on science and nature explainers for young readers. Her own books include Octopus' Den and Kangaroo Island. She lives in New York's Hudson River valley.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
October 24, 2022
This was one of my favorite graphic novels that I've read this year. In this, we follow Zoe who has been homeschooled up until this point in her life by her parents who are both coders. Zoe has to deal with a lot of firsts - first school, first bus ride, first cafeteria, and many more. To deal with all of these things, Zoe has created an app called the Cool Code. It has a cute llama interface that analyzes situations and gives advice based on the info available. Zoe ends up joining the Coding Club and makes two friends that are also part of the club. Using the Cool Code, they try to make Zoe more popular and she ends up running for Student Council President. Will the Cool Code actually help make Zoe popular? Or will she stay true to herself and her friends? You'll have to read and find out for yourself!
December 8, 2022
8th-grade coder, Zoe, goes from homeschool to public school when her parents decide to start their own business. To help, she develops an app that allows her to identify the clothes to wear, and where to sit among other things to fit in and get into the cool kid club. Becoming a cool kid begins to cloud her vision. What she doesn’t realize is that she doesn’t need an app to find true friends.
I believe the struggle to fit in is one everyone can identify with, especially middle-schoolers who are already dealing with A LOT. This graphic novel had some great themes about being yourself and finding value in the close friendships you have. I also loved the missed communication aspect with Zoe and her parents. She feels left out and ignored by her parents, but after expressing her feelings, they all begin to understand each other a little better.
I’d recommend this to everyone, especially those looking for gifts for the middle-schooler (or fans of graphic novels) in your life.
I believe the struggle to fit in is one everyone can identify with, especially middle-schoolers who are already dealing with A LOT. This graphic novel had some great themes about being yourself and finding value in the close friendships you have. I also loved the missed communication aspect with Zoe and her parents. She feels left out and ignored by her parents, but after expressing her feelings, they all begin to understand each other a little better.
I’d recommend this to everyone, especially those looking for gifts for the middle-schooler (or fans of graphic novels) in your life.
May 7, 2024
Thank you so much to Harper Collins for sending this to me!
I really loved Sarah Mai's art, after reading Freshman year this was a treat. This features Zoey, a newly-minted middle schooler trying to make a good impression. She's also a wiz kid with a computer, using her own Cool Code app in order to fit in!
But at what cost?
I liked this for the way Zoey found a group quickly, however I wasn't really a fan of the way Morgan kinda disliked her from the start? Even when they were hanging out I was like....I'm not buying it.
I hope that some of this is resolved in volume two when Morgan gets her turn with the Cool Code app!
I really loved Sarah Mai's art, after reading Freshman year this was a treat. This features Zoey, a newly-minted middle schooler trying to make a good impression. She's also a wiz kid with a computer, using her own Cool Code app in order to fit in!
But at what cost?
I liked this for the way Zoey found a group quickly, however I wasn't really a fan of the way Morgan kinda disliked her from the start? Even when they were hanging out I was like....I'm not buying it.
I hope that some of this is resolved in volume two when Morgan gets her turn with the Cool Code app!
January 20, 2023
Cute!
3.5 Stars
3.5 Stars
May 30, 2023
We went to a library, I finished the book before we even left. This book does a good job in showing the desires that many people have in fitting in. Except, not everyone would use their awesome coding skills and make an app to alter their middle school experiences.
October 12, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Clarion publishing for allowing me to read the eARC of this title.
Zoey has been homeschooled her entire life. Her parents are coders and have taught her to code. But now, her parents are starting their own company and have decided to send her to public school. The idea of 8th grade terrifies her. She creates an app to help her be "cool" and fit in the students of her new school.
I enjoyed this graphic novel and so will your students. There is a diverse cast of characters and a snarky llama!
Zoey has been homeschooled her entire life. Her parents are coders and have taught her to code. But now, her parents are starting their own company and have decided to send her to public school. The idea of 8th grade terrifies her. She creates an app to help her be "cool" and fit in the students of her new school.
I enjoyed this graphic novel and so will your students. There is a diverse cast of characters and a snarky llama!
January 17, 2023
Awesome, unique graphic novel with a coding spin! Love it!
The characters were all diverse and interesting, and I really enjoyed their friendship as it evolved. I felt there wasn’t a ton of drama to this story (in a GOOD way), but a great plot to follow. The illustrations were really great- I loved the faces of the characters with their big eyes & changing expressions!
The perfect read for grades 4-7 I would say, and anyone interested in coding & app development would especially enjoy!
The characters were all diverse and interesting, and I really enjoyed their friendship as it evolved. I felt there wasn’t a ton of drama to this story (in a GOOD way), but a great plot to follow. The illustrations were really great- I loved the faces of the characters with their big eyes & changing expressions!
The perfect read for grades 4-7 I would say, and anyone interested in coding & app development would especially enjoy!
May 9, 2024
4.5 because the end message/moral to the story could have been portrayed better. Maybe they could have changed the coding to give advice on how to be true to yourself. Also I love that AI was an actual character in the book.
December 9, 2023
definitely not me reading middle grade graphic novels to catch up on my reading goal 🙈
also guys zoey was so autism coded and i loved her so much. this is the autism rep we need in books (:
also guys zoey was so autism coded and i loved her so much. this is the autism rep we need in books (:
April 7, 2024
Funny and cute. I particularly liked how the story demonstrated the amount of work needed to be popular instead of just dismissing cool-ness in favour of “being yourself”.
June 25, 2024
Sweet, low stakes, middle school storyline about popularity and CODING
May 22, 2024
I lllllllloooooooovvvvvvvveeeeeeee this book 📖. I wish they made a 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9……..and so on. I loved the way the cool 😎 code 👩💻 was.I especially loved the lama.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2024
So cute, wholesome, and fun! The illustrations were really great. I absolutely loved it!
October 16, 2023
i probably would have enjoyed this more if i was into coding but as it happens, i'm not.
June 13, 2023
3.5 rounded up
November 28, 2023
cute art, solid story, good vibes
personal notes:
- luv zoey’s character design. cute hair streaks: makes sense for a homeschooled tween + logically fits into story
- good friendship dynamics!!!
- morgan is a great example of a less traditionally likeable but still endearing character
- main 3 are sooo autistic coded <3
personal notes:
- luv zoey’s character design. cute hair streaks: makes sense for a homeschooled tween + logically fits into story
- good friendship dynamics!!!
- morgan is a great example of a less traditionally likeable but still endearing character
- main 3 are sooo autistic coded <3
July 18, 2022
Mandatory Reading for ALL Middle Schoolers!!!
This middle grade graphic novel was terrific from page 1 right through to page 228. The illustrations were crisp, colorful and they draw the reader into the story. I enjoyed the storyline it was a unique view on fitting in, learning to be yourself, self-confidence and just how to be a middle schooler. As readers we follow the main character, Zoey, as she transitions from home schooling to attending school in person starting off in middle school. Zoey is also working on programming an app to help her become “cool”.
I loved the valuable life lessons told in such a fun, though provoking way!! Can't say enough about how terrific this middle grade graphic novel is 😊
Grateful to have received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley & HarperCollins Children's Books, Clarion Books
This middle grade graphic novel was terrific from page 1 right through to page 228. The illustrations were crisp, colorful and they draw the reader into the story. I enjoyed the storyline it was a unique view on fitting in, learning to be yourself, self-confidence and just how to be a middle schooler. As readers we follow the main character, Zoey, as she transitions from home schooling to attending school in person starting off in middle school. Zoey is also working on programming an app to help her become “cool”.
I loved the valuable life lessons told in such a fun, though provoking way!! Can't say enough about how terrific this middle grade graphic novel is 😊
Grateful to have received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley & HarperCollins Children's Books, Clarion Books
August 18, 2022
I didn’t love this one. I found this graphic novel’s illustrations distracting and unsettling rather than supportive of the text. The story felt too far-fetched to be believable—some middle school kids in an after school coding club develop an app that helps kids become popular at the expense of meaningful relationships. Although I appreciated the girl coding theme, this book missed the mark for me.
March 12, 2023
What a fun, cute graphic novel that is so unique & creative, as well as having some great underlying messages. In an attempt to fit in, Zoey develops an app called the Cool Code with a cute llama avatar that will tell her everything from what to say to what to wear based on pop culture algorithms she's uploaded. But when the app gives her ridiculous advice, awkwardness & hilarity ensues. With a few upgrades & a bit of debugging from the coding club, the app actually works--Zoey gets really popular . .. & gets her pulled in all kinds of directions, including away from her real friends. Life's most complicated choices... is there a code for that? Fitting in is one of the big struggles of being a kid. Add in that this is our MC Zoe's 1st time going to a school after being home schooled before then?? Even bigger crisis for a kid. Middle school is hard. So the idea that you could have an app tell you all the things to say, wear, & do to become popular sounds great-or is it too good to be true? Great messages in being true to yourself, being yourself & being happy with who you are. & that real friends who love you for you are the ones that really matter. All the coding & everything was so intriguing, & I loved our cast of characters. I loved the real friends Zoey makes, & really enjoyed this. BEAUTIFUL art by Sarah Mai too.💜
March 29, 2024
I thought this book was pretty good. I liked the message of the story and overall I could find myself reading deeper into the book. I liked how the author showed people's personalities without saying it straight up.
July 10, 2024
BCFL checkout. A didn’t really like the story or illustrator.
November 18, 2022
The Cool Code is a book about a formerly-homeschooled 8th grade girl who is now attending a public school for the first time. She worries about fitting in and - due to her love for coding that she gained from her parents - she creates an app to help her navigate social scenarios. This app is the Cool Code.
The Cool Code app itself is a cute concept. I think a lot of people have had the desire for some sort of program that would help them to socialize better (see: Be More Chill) - and the middle school years are the worst for many. The glimpses we got at the making of the app were cool, such as seeing them gathering information from books to be downloaded by the app's system. I initially wasn't sure what to make of how the program was shown in the art. On one hand, I sometimes felt confused on how the app was supposed to be functioning and was wondering what the characters were actually seeing. On the other hand, I can see how the little rude animated llama is more amusing (especially to younger readers) than the alternatives. The art in general is adorable and was a highlight for me.
The plot was straightforward, but felt a bit anticlimactic to me. There were some plot points that I expected the story to reach that it didn't. The ending was as I expected, but I thought there'd be more drama before we came to that point.
I didn't feel a strong connection with the main character's best friends. They weren't bad by any means; just could have been fleshed out more. It would have been interesting to see a more serious discussion with her parents, as well as some focus on the girl's other friends near the end. I do appreciate the lack of romantic relationships and/or "crushes" that are focused on in the story. Speaking of friends…
Near the beginning of the book, we're given this line: "I've been homeschooled my whole life, so I just never hung out with a lot of kids". I'm rather tired of this trope. A school building, during regular school hours, is not the only place where someone can make friends. The authors make sure to state that the main character didn't have any friends before attending public school though. There is a vast range of experiences from homeschoolers, but the fact that the character's parents seemed to have been caring and attentive people back when they were homeschooling her makes it an odd choice for them to have neglected this area.
Despite some aspects that I wasn't a fan of, I do think this is a fun book for the demographic it was intended for. This is listed as a middle grade book (aimed towards readers who are 8-12 years old). I can picture myself reading through this fast when I was that age. It also has some interesting topics for thought, or ones that parents/teachers could use to spark conversations. Bonus: girls coding!
The Cool Code app itself is a cute concept. I think a lot of people have had the desire for some sort of program that would help them to socialize better (see: Be More Chill) - and the middle school years are the worst for many. The glimpses we got at the making of the app were cool, such as seeing them gathering information from books to be downloaded by the app's system. I initially wasn't sure what to make of how the program was shown in the art. On one hand, I sometimes felt confused on how the app was supposed to be functioning and was wondering what the characters were actually seeing. On the other hand, I can see how the little rude animated llama is more amusing (especially to younger readers) than the alternatives. The art in general is adorable and was a highlight for me.
The plot was straightforward, but felt a bit anticlimactic to me. There were some plot points that I expected the story to reach that it didn't. The ending was as I expected, but I thought there'd be more drama before we came to that point.
I didn't feel a strong connection with the main character's best friends. They weren't bad by any means; just could have been fleshed out more. It would have been interesting to see a more serious discussion with her parents, as well as some focus on the girl's other friends near the end. I do appreciate the lack of romantic relationships and/or "crushes" that are focused on in the story. Speaking of friends…
Near the beginning of the book, we're given this line: "I've been homeschooled my whole life, so I just never hung out with a lot of kids". I'm rather tired of this trope. A school building, during regular school hours, is not the only place where someone can make friends. The authors make sure to state that the main character didn't have any friends before attending public school though. There is a vast range of experiences from homeschoolers, but the fact that the character's parents seemed to have been caring and attentive people back when they were homeschooling her makes it an odd choice for them to have neglected this area.
Despite some aspects that I wasn't a fan of, I do think this is a fun book for the demographic it was intended for. This is listed as a middle grade book (aimed towards readers who are 8-12 years old). I can picture myself reading through this fast when I was that age. It also has some interesting topics for thought, or ones that parents/teachers could use to spark conversations. Bonus: girls coding!
November 11, 2022
‘The Cool Code; by Deirdre Langeland, illustrated by Sarah Mai, is a graphic novel that does a nice job capturing not only the angst of being a teenager, but the desire to find a way out of that angst. For her whole life, main character Zoey has been homeschooled, but several weeks after school starts, she starts her own new school life, joining the eighth grade class at her local middle school. All she wants is to fit in, but figuring out how to do that isn’t as easy as she wishes it to be.
She thinks that she has found something that can help her—a secret weapon of sorts. Thanks to her aptitude for coding, she has created “the cool code,” an app that will help her figure out how to be popular, from how to dress to how to talk to the cool kids. Little does she know that the app will take on a mind of its own, convincing her to do things that she might not have otherwise done, and allowing her to realize that sometimes the answers aren’t as straightforward as they might seem. Achieving one’s goal is all well and good, but doing it the right way, without stepping on anyone’s toes in the process, is often more important, and a harder balance to maintain.
As Zoey realizes that her friends may be more important to her than the popularity she so desperately sought when starting at her new school, she decides to take matters into her own hands. In doing so, she learns that “cool” is all in the eyes of the beholder, and while friendship can be messy, and people unpredictable, the spontaneity of it all might just be what makes it all worthwhile.
Beth Rodgers, Author of ‘Welcome to Chanu-Con!,’ a Children's Picture Book, and ‘Freshman Fourteen’ and ‘Sweet Fifteen,’ Young Adult Novels
*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*
She thinks that she has found something that can help her—a secret weapon of sorts. Thanks to her aptitude for coding, she has created “the cool code,” an app that will help her figure out how to be popular, from how to dress to how to talk to the cool kids. Little does she know that the app will take on a mind of its own, convincing her to do things that she might not have otherwise done, and allowing her to realize that sometimes the answers aren’t as straightforward as they might seem. Achieving one’s goal is all well and good, but doing it the right way, without stepping on anyone’s toes in the process, is often more important, and a harder balance to maintain.
As Zoey realizes that her friends may be more important to her than the popularity she so desperately sought when starting at her new school, she decides to take matters into her own hands. In doing so, she learns that “cool” is all in the eyes of the beholder, and while friendship can be messy, and people unpredictable, the spontaneity of it all might just be what makes it all worthwhile.
Beth Rodgers, Author of ‘Welcome to Chanu-Con!,’ a Children's Picture Book, and ‘Freshman Fourteen’ and ‘Sweet Fifteen,’ Young Adult Novels
*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*
September 24, 2022
This was a really fun graphic novel about Zoey who has been homeschooled her whole life and her parents decide to send her to school in the middle of her 8th grade year. Her parents are computer coders who are starting a company so they don’t have time to teach her at home anymore so she codes an app to help her be cool and make friends at her new school. It ends up being pretty glitchy and people think she is weird because she is always getting caught talking to herself but she’s really talking to that app since it’s a learning app and will advise her while gathering more date to advise her better. She meets Daniel and Morgan and joins the coding club where they take her app as their yearlong project to make it actually work and make Zoey popular. The apps avatar is a Llama called CC and it is a learning AI so it is very sassy and keeps telling Zoey what she shouldn’t do if she wants to be popular and that she shouldn’t hang out with her friends since they aren’t cool enough. Zoey does get wrapped into being popular and going for student council president but eventually decides that the test of the app is complete since it did make her popular and they reset it and she goes back to hanging out with Morgan and Daniel. Really cute novel, it gave me Mean Girl vibes with Zoey getting sucked in to the Popular clique and Morgan being jealous about it. Really fast read and really cute story about friendship and that being popular isn’t the answer when you already have true friends.
Thanks to Clarion Books and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book in e-book form. All opinions in this review are my own.
Thanks to Clarion Books and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book in e-book form. All opinions in this review are my own.
July 10, 2022
Miigweetch to Netgalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and Clarion Books for the DRC.
I adore middle-grade graphic novels and have read extensively in this genre. Raina Telgemeier and Kayla Miller are two of my favorites when it comes to this type of story, so when I saw them referenced in the blurb, I requested it immediately. I was not disappointed.
The art style is very clean, bright, and easy on the eyes. There is not a whole lot of character development before we get thrown into the crux of the story, which centers around a girl who has been homeschooled her entire life going to a brick-and-mortar school for the first time.
As an adult and educator I had some questions, most glaringly: why is this child starting school in the middle of the semester? Whose (terrible) idea was this? However, if you can get past that leap in logic, it’s an enjoyable tale.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was how Zoe’s app talks back to her, and when Zoe questions the effectiveness of the app’s suggestions, the app snaps, “You programmed me, didn’t you?” Zoe’s anxiety at starting a new school, for the very first time, is relatable. The story is straightforward and easy to follow. I (obviously!) recommend it to fans of Raina Telgemeier and Kayla Miller, as well as any student I see struggling with social anxiety. I would also recommend this book to readers interested in coding, computers, and social media.
I adore middle-grade graphic novels and have read extensively in this genre. Raina Telgemeier and Kayla Miller are two of my favorites when it comes to this type of story, so when I saw them referenced in the blurb, I requested it immediately. I was not disappointed.
The art style is very clean, bright, and easy on the eyes. There is not a whole lot of character development before we get thrown into the crux of the story, which centers around a girl who has been homeschooled her entire life going to a brick-and-mortar school for the first time.
As an adult and educator I had some questions, most glaringly: why is this child starting school in the middle of the semester? Whose (terrible) idea was this? However, if you can get past that leap in logic, it’s an enjoyable tale.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was how Zoe’s app talks back to her, and when Zoe questions the effectiveness of the app’s suggestions, the app snaps, “You programmed me, didn’t you?” Zoe’s anxiety at starting a new school, for the very first time, is relatable. The story is straightforward and easy to follow. I (obviously!) recommend it to fans of Raina Telgemeier and Kayla Miller, as well as any student I see struggling with social anxiety. I would also recommend this book to readers interested in coding, computers, and social media.
June 10, 2023
I have recently become a bookseller (three cheers for me!), so I'm making a point of reading more books outside of my age range/normal interests. I'll be honest, before reading this, I have never been a huge fan of graphic novels - I'm not sure why, but past the childhood Captain Underpantses of it all, I pretty much just avoided them.
So, I've been trying lately to find some with interesting synopses, and The Cool Code immediately drew me in. It was such a unique take on the whole "trying to become cool" idea, and it was so awesome to see a kid be able to use her smarts in such a big way. I have NO DOUBT that nerdy kids will find this and feel seen, and that's one of the best parts about reading, isn't it?
In terms of the actual story and writing themselves, I absolutely loved it. I started reading the physical book while I was still at work, and finished with the digital copy the SECOND I got home. It was the perfect length, and the characters' personalities were so perfect.
I felt like I could see part of myself in Zoey with her nerdiness, part of myself in Morgan with her feeling a bit left out as Zoey was getting "cooler", and part of myself in Daniel with just his complete and utter "himness".
TLDR, I would highly recommend this for kids and adults alike - for kids, it'll be great read to relate to on their level, and for adults it'll be a nice flashback to middle school days, even if you weren't necessarily a "nerd".
So, I've been trying lately to find some with interesting synopses, and The Cool Code immediately drew me in. It was such a unique take on the whole "trying to become cool" idea, and it was so awesome to see a kid be able to use her smarts in such a big way. I have NO DOUBT that nerdy kids will find this and feel seen, and that's one of the best parts about reading, isn't it?
In terms of the actual story and writing themselves, I absolutely loved it. I started reading the physical book while I was still at work, and finished with the digital copy the SECOND I got home. It was the perfect length, and the characters' personalities were so perfect.
I felt like I could see part of myself in Zoey with her nerdiness, part of myself in Morgan with her feeling a bit left out as Zoey was getting "cooler", and part of myself in Daniel with just his complete and utter "himness".
TLDR, I would highly recommend this for kids and adults alike - for kids, it'll be great read to relate to on their level, and for adults it'll be a nice flashback to middle school days, even if you weren't necessarily a "nerd".
September 9, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this. I enjoyed this graphic novel and think it’s a great read for upper elementary and middle school. It addresses the awkward challenges of being a new student but also the challenges faced by preteens and young teenagers in school. I really enjoyed the premise of the book- learning to navigate socially while staying true to yourself. However, I felt like the story was building up to a bit more conflict between Zoey and her friends but then just quickly and pretty abruptly wrapped up neatly. I think it would’ve been helpful for her friends to articulate their hurt over their mistreatment instead of it being largely implied. There also needed to be a bit more character development - Dan seemed to take center stage at the beginning but then faded into the background, which was unfortunate. It definitely had a “Mean Girls” vibe, and I was expecting the CC rankings to get leaked to the school because it seemed to be setting up that way. There were so many ways that the story could have gone to make it a bit more nuanced and rich, but the moral of the story is made clear. This is definitely a middle grade book and would be a bit too young for 8th grade, I think. The illustrations were eye catching, vibrant, and kept the reader’s attention. Overall, I’d recommend this for my 6th graders and possibly 7th graders.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2022
Zoey is starting in a new school. Not only is it a new school, but it is the first time she has ever been in public school. Luckily Zoey has someone on her side to help her crack the Cool Code. While her parents may not have prepared her for public school, they have taught her how to write an impressive computer code giving birth to the Cool Code. An amazing program that Zoey can place on her phone, and it will assess what is going on around her and advise her how to come off as Cool. But can a code really break how to be cool in one of the toughest places on the planet, middle school. Only time will tell.
I really enjoyed this story. I love how it truly shows Zoey’s integration into the middle school world. And how in the end Zoey can set aside what the Cool Code says and find what truly matters to her. Being a teen is hard enough without having to worry all the time about always looking cool. Teens are going to love this story. The artwork is fun and who doesn’t love a cute little llama. Plus, the llama’s personality is just stunning, and the artwork makes it come to life in such a fun way. I am truly looking forward to recommending this title to patrons.
Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books, Clarion Books, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.
I really enjoyed this story. I love how it truly shows Zoey’s integration into the middle school world. And how in the end Zoey can set aside what the Cool Code says and find what truly matters to her. Being a teen is hard enough without having to worry all the time about always looking cool. Teens are going to love this story. The artwork is fun and who doesn’t love a cute little llama. Plus, the llama’s personality is just stunning, and the artwork makes it come to life in such a fun way. I am truly looking forward to recommending this title to patrons.
Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books, Clarion Books, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.
November 9, 2022
“Sometimes I wish everything could be as simple as programming. On the computer, you can make anything happen. You just have to write the code. It doesn’t work out how you want it? Go back and fix it. In real life, there are no do-overs.”
Zoey has been homeschooled by her two parents until 8th grade. As the daughter of programmers, Zoey is really skilled at writing code. So strong in fact that she created her own app called The Cool Code (C.C. for short). The app is designed to help you “be cool” at school. The app helps you do things like choose outfits and makes suggestions on people to talk to, what to say, and activities to do.
Zoey quickly builds a connection with the two students on the Coding Club at school and a friendship blossoms as they learn to navigate middle school and work through the apps glitches as a team! However, when the Cool Code started slowly pushing Zoey away from her friends and becoming too much, she is forced to examine what it really means to be “cool” and “be yourself”
I personally LOVED this graphic novel. I think it will be highly enjoyed by middle school students! The themes of self-acceptance, finding your people, and perseverance are seen in the characters. Overall, this was a well-written graphic novel, and I cannot wait to add it to my Middle School Library collection!
Zoey has been homeschooled by her two parents until 8th grade. As the daughter of programmers, Zoey is really skilled at writing code. So strong in fact that she created her own app called The Cool Code (C.C. for short). The app is designed to help you “be cool” at school. The app helps you do things like choose outfits and makes suggestions on people to talk to, what to say, and activities to do.
Zoey quickly builds a connection with the two students on the Coding Club at school and a friendship blossoms as they learn to navigate middle school and work through the apps glitches as a team! However, when the Cool Code started slowly pushing Zoey away from her friends and becoming too much, she is forced to examine what it really means to be “cool” and “be yourself”
I personally LOVED this graphic novel. I think it will be highly enjoyed by middle school students! The themes of self-acceptance, finding your people, and perseverance are seen in the characters. Overall, this was a well-written graphic novel, and I cannot wait to add it to my Middle School Library collection!
November 9, 2022
“Sometimes I wish everything could be as simple as programming. On the computer, you can make anything happen. You just have to write the code. It doesn’t work out how you want it? Go back and fix it. In real life, there are no do-overs.”
Zoey has been homeschooled by her two parents until 8th grade. As the daughter of programmers, Zoey is really skilled at writing code. So strong in fact that she created her own app called The Cool Code (C.C. for short). The app is designed to help you “be cool” at school. The app helps you do things like choose outfits and makes suggestions on people to talk to, what to say, and activities to do.
Zoey quickly builds a connection with the two students on the Coding Club at school and a friendship blossoms as they learn to navigate middle school and work through the apps glitches as a team! However, when the Cool Code started slowly pushing Zoey away from her friends and becoming too much, she is forced to examine what it really means to be “cool” and “be yourself”
I personally LOVED this graphic novel. I think it will be highly enjoyed by middle school students! The themes of self-acceptance, finding your people, and perseverance are seen in the characters. Overall, this was a well-written graphic novel, and I cannot wait to add it to my Middle School Library collection!
Zoey has been homeschooled by her two parents until 8th grade. As the daughter of programmers, Zoey is really skilled at writing code. So strong in fact that she created her own app called The Cool Code (C.C. for short). The app is designed to help you “be cool” at school. The app helps you do things like choose outfits and makes suggestions on people to talk to, what to say, and activities to do.
Zoey quickly builds a connection with the two students on the Coding Club at school and a friendship blossoms as they learn to navigate middle school and work through the apps glitches as a team! However, when the Cool Code started slowly pushing Zoey away from her friends and becoming too much, she is forced to examine what it really means to be “cool” and “be yourself”
I personally LOVED this graphic novel. I think it will be highly enjoyed by middle school students! The themes of self-acceptance, finding your people, and perseverance are seen in the characters. Overall, this was a well-written graphic novel, and I cannot wait to add it to my Middle School Library collection!
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