Book Reviews Computers

Do you love figuring out how things work and dreaming up new ideas? If you want to build the future, stepping into the shoes of an engineer is a fantastic place to start. When a young child's big brother goes off to school for engineering, they discover that building bridges and designing giant rockets are just the beginning. You will be amazed to learn about the huge variety of engineering jobs out there. Environmental engineers find clever ways to keep our planet clean, plumbing engineers design complex water systems for big cities, and robotic engineers create incredible machines that can move and think. This engaging look behind the scenes introduces you to the brilliant problem solvers who help our communities run smoothly. Explore the exciting world of design and invention, and see if you might want to become an amazing engineer, too.

The Invisible Inc. gang is on a mission! They are working hard making computer greeting cards to raise enough money to invite their favorite author, D. B. Spooks, to visit their school. But when the class goes online to send the invitation, terrifying messages start appearing on the school computer screen. Who is sending these spooky threats, and are they coming from inside the building? Justin, Charlene, and their invisible friend Chip must team up to unravel the clues and discover the true identity of the mysterious chatter. Join the clever trio in this high-tech mystery full of suspense and fun!

Have you ever wondered who the mastermind was behind the smartphone in your pocket or the animated movies you love? Long before Apple and Pixar were household names, Steve Jobs was just a kid growing up in San Francisco with a massive obsession for computers and technology. He was not your typical student, either. In fact, he dropped out of college to follow his own unique path. This engaging biography takes you straight into the life of the man who changed the way we communicate, work, and play. You will discover how his early fascination with electronics led him to co-found Apple in a garage and eventually turn Pixar into a groundbreaking animation studio. Jobs took unconventional steps and faced plenty of challenges, but his vision inspired the brightest minds to help him change the world. Packed with fascinating details about his fifty-six years of life, this book shows exactly how a curious kid with big ideas transformed the future of technology.

Best friends Josh Lewis and Aaron Zimmer are back for another wild technological adventure. Aaron is a computer genius who has managed to design an incredible new program that turns his regular laptop into a working wish granting machine. At first, it seems like the ultimate dream come true, but the boys quickly realize the software has some major glitches. The machine is not just granting the wishes of Josh and Aaron; it has accidentally started granting the silent wishes of Aaron's mother's demanding pet poodle. As things spiral out of control, they draw the attention of a creepy spy who is desperate to get his hands on the dangerous technology. Now, the boys must race against time to fix the buggy code, dodge the mysterious stranger, and clean up the hilarious mess before the wish granting machine causes permanent chaos.

Jake McQuade is officially the Smartest Kid in the Universe, and now he has to defend his title. Thanks to a handful of knowledge-enhancing jelly beans, Jake is heading off to an exclusive genius camp sponsored by the eccentric billionaire tech mogul Zane Zinkle. But this is not your average summer camp. Jake and his brilliant friends are surrounded by limo buses, robotic polar bears, and ultra-high-tech cabins. The fun takes a serious turn when Jake is forced to go head-to-head against Virtuoso, an artificially intelligent quantum computer designed by Zinkle himself. Virtuoso is the smartest machine in existence, and it is ready to prove that no human can match its processing power. It is boy versus bot in an epic, brain-bending showdown. Jake will need more than just jelly beans to outsmart a supercomputer; he will need creativity, teamwork, and a lot of courage. Packed with hilarious antics, clever puzzles, and non-stop adventure, this action-packed sequel delivers a thrilling ride through the wild world of competitive genius.

Writing computer code is supposed to be a fun, harmless hobby. Jenny only wanted to build a simple program to help pick out birthday presents for her friends. Instead, her seemingly innocent invention unleashes total chaos. Now, Jenny and her brother Adam are on the run across the globe, desperately trying to escape sinister magical fairy dolls, relentless robot forklifts, and an entirely unhinged party planner. To save the children of the world from turning into mindless, toy-buying zombies, the siblings will have to pull off impossible feats. You will learn exactly how to code a hypnotic artificial intelligence, construct a massive magnetic liquid monster, and even hijack a train. This incredibly funny, fast-paced chapter book drops you straight into an explosive global chase where programming skills are the only thing standing between normal life and absolute disaster.

A blanket of fresh white snow has covered the city, but the cold weather is not enough to freeze the brilliant mind of Cam Jansen. When Cam arrives at school on a freezing winter morning, she discovers a shocking crime has taken place right under everyone's noses. Several valuable computers have been stolen from the school, and the thief has left very few traces behind. Now, Cam and her best friend Eric must brave the freezing temperatures to track down the culprit. You can join the investigation as Cam uses her famous photographic memory to scan the snowy scene for the smallest details that the police might have missed. Will the melting snow wash away the evidence, or can you help Cam piece together the puzzle in time? Bundle up and get ready for a chilly, thrilling adventure full of unexpected twists and clever detective work.

Imagine a world where doing your homework is a thing of the past. For four fifth graders at the Grand Canyon School, that dream has just become a reality. Meet the D Squad: a geek, a class clown, a teacher's pet, and a slacker. On paper, they have absolutely nothing in common. But they are bound together by one massive, top-secret invention—a computer programmed to do all their homework for them. Code-named Belch, the machine works perfectly at first. The kids start spending all their free time together, enjoying their newfound freedom. However, their unusual friendship quickly attracts unwanted attention from their teacher and parents. And when you are hiding the greatest secret in school history, attention is the last thing you want. Before long, the situation spirals completely out of control. Belch becomes much more powerful and unpredictable than they ever imagined. Now, the D Squad is in a desperate race against their own creation. Can they pull the plug on the homework machine before they end up in jail—or worse?

Everything at Ella Mentry School is suddenly breaking down, and even the teachers are completely losing their minds! Luckily, the school has a secret weapon. Mr. Harrison is the ultimate tech guy, and he can fix absolutely anything, from glitchy computers to broken phones and jammed pencil sharpeners. You will be amazed as he builds wild new inventions, including an umbrella powered completely by the sun. But when a massive power outage plunges the entire school into total darkness, the halls instantly erupt into yelling, screaming, and hilarious chaos. You and A.J. will have to navigate the frantic madness in the dark while hoping the tech guy can work his magic. Will Mr. Harrison be able to fix the school before the students totally take over? Join the gang for a laugh-out-loud chapter book packed with wacky technology, silly freak-outs, and incredible fun.

Do you love playing computer games? Arthur sure does, and he can't wait to play "Deep Dark Sea" on his mom's computer! The only problem is, he's not supposed to touch it without permission. One day, Arthur just can't resist. He sneaks onto the computer for a quick game, but then something goes terribly wrong, and the computer screen goes blank! Oh no! What will Arthur do now? Will he tell his mom what happened? Join Arthur as he faces a big computer disaster and learns an important lesson about following rules and taking responsibility for his actions. It's a relatable story about making mistakes and finding the courage to fix them, even when it's hard.