Robots & Repeats
Secret Coders, Book #4
By Gene Luen Yang
ISBN: 9781626726062
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Summary:
Dr. One-Zero has added a new class to Stately Academy’s curriculum. But in “Advanced Chemistry,” they only teach one lesson: how to make Green Pop! While their classmates are manufacturing this dangerous soda, the Coders uncover a clue that may lead them to Hopper’s missing dad. Is it time to use Professor Bee’s most powerful weapon: The Turtle of Light?
From graphic novel superstar (and former computer-programming teacher) Gene Luen Yang, comes Robots & Repeats, the fourth volume of Secret Coders. This wildly entertaining series combines logic puzzles and basic coding instruction with a page-turning mystery plot! (Goodreads)
Review:
Secret Coders: Robots & Repeats is the fourth book in the Secret Coders series. Jumping in at the fourth book is probably not the best of plans if you are unfamiliar with coding at all. With respect to the storyline however, it was not a big distraction starting at the fourth book though I do recommend the young reader start from the beginning of the series.
I quite enjoyed how the concept of nesting was introduced along with a refresher on binary coding. A few stumbles but once the Coders thought about it (especially Hopper), they caught on and got the coding written correctly to accomplish their goal, which was trying to locate Hopper’s missing dad. I found Dr. One-Zero to be a palatable nemesis who in my mind, drove the Coders to learn and try harder to stop him in his nefarious ways.
The layout of the book is in a grid like manner and as such, very easy to read, geared towards a younger reader – the 8-12 age range. The colours used are basic: white, green and shades of grey and black and not distracting as to take away from the lessons being taught.
There is a cliffhanger, so reading the next in the series, Book 5 – Secret Coders: Potions & Parameters, would be the next logical step ☺