High school student and tech founder of CoderBunnyz, CoderMindz, and CoderMarz Samaira Mehta debuts with Sama Crushes the Code, an inspiring and inviting middle-grade graphic novel coauthored by Brin Stevens, with illustrations by Jenny Alvarado (Pencil & Eraser series).
Brown-skinned, round-eyed Sama loves coding and problem solving and is nervous about starting middle school ("I don't think they have recess in middle school.... Or lunch."). Although best friend Nancy assures her middle school has both recess and lunch, Sama isn't sure: "Without fresh air and food, how am I supposed to remember anything?" On her first day, Sama decides to join the Tech Club, "two-time Code Crusher regional runner up." Almost immediately, though, Sama realizes the other club members are much more experienced. As Sama faces changing friendships, feelings of exclusion, and repeated disappointments, she channels her creativity into projects that help her community, such as designing a more efficient route for her brother's bus driver and creating a board game that teaches children to code.
Sama Crushes the Code is a sweet, motivating, and highly comprehensible graphic novel. Mehta and Stevens include coding vocabulary and STEM concepts directly in the text, giving readers access to the coding content as Sama learns it herself. Alvarado's digital illustrations have a classic comics appeal through a clever use of white space, a thick outline, and gridded panels. The artwork captures emotion and leaves room to center the technical aspects of coding in a visually exciting manner that is easy to follow. Mehta and Stevens's text moves at a rapid pace and covers topics of inclusion, resilience, and self-confidence. --Natasha Harris, freelance reviewer