{"id":31312,"date":"2018-07-07T23:17:40","date_gmt":"2018-07-08T03:17:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=31312"},"modified":"2021-09-11T13:14:07","modified_gmt":"2021-09-11T17:14:07","slug":"review-of-paths-and-portals-by-gene-luen-yang-and-mike-holmes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=31312","title":{"rendered":"Review of Paths and Portals, by Gene Luen Yang and Mike Holmes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Paths and Portals<\/p>\n

Secret Coders, Book 2<\/em><\/p>\n

by Gene Luen Yang & Mike Holmes<\/p>\n

First Second, 2016. 92 pages.
\nReview written in 2016.<\/p>\n

This is very much part two of a longer story \u2013 not really a stand-alone book at all. But I like what they\u2019re doing here.<\/p>\n

This graphic novel is a vehicle for teaching readers how to code using the LOGO programming language \u2013 but the story is fun and engaging.<\/p>\n

There are puzzles along the way \u2013 coding challenges are presented and the reader\u2019s given a chance to figure out the solution before each step is explained. In fact, like the first book, this one ends with a coding challenge. And this one begins with the solution to the problem posed at the end of book one.<\/p>\n

The story will keep kids\u2019 interest. There are even villains introduced in this book \u2013 a sinister principal and a whole rugby team doing his bidding to get new uniforms. So now their coding activities with the old janitor, Mr. Bee, who used to be a professor, are threatened. There are lots of secret rooms and something sinister going on.<\/p>\n

With this second book, I\u2019m impressed where the authors take things. They show how to generate random numbers and then make beautiful patterns with code. The progression is straightforward \u2013 but so interesting. The story makes it more than just a coding textbook, and the fact that it\u2019s a graphic novel makes the instructions and examples much easier to understand.<\/p>\n

secret-coders.com<\/a>
\nfirstsecondbooks.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Fiction\/paths_and_portals.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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