While Ada Lovelace is heralded as the first computer programmer and has a programming language named after her, the woman who has had the greatest impact on computing was Grace Hopper. In the vast collection of role models for young women, there is none better. She was not only a pioneer in expanding the roles of women, but also in the development of what computing is today. Considered to be the grandmother of the language COBOL, much of her early work formed the basis for computing as we know it. And yet, she was a no-nonsense career officer in the Navy.
To understand her approach, consider what she did when assigned a Pentagon office with no furniture or supplies. Rather than waste time filling out the required forms she told her staff. "If you need something, 'liberate' or borrow it from the Air Force . . . If you can't get it from there, get it from the Army. They have almost everything, and they don't know how to count." Her two distinctive office symbols were a skull-and-crossbones flag and a clock that ran backwards.
A truly inspiring story that shows the value of determination and non-conformity, this book should be required reading of all early adolescents. Maybe someday justice will be served and there will be a programming language named after Grace Hopper. Without question, it is an honor she deserves.

Originally published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission.

we'll all im going to say is that i look up to ms.hopper because she is a strong willed woman and is not afraid of anything.i want to be just like grace hopper.

Nancy Whitelaw's A BEAUTIFUL PEARL is a masterfully written, sensitvive story of a young girl visiting her grandmother who is in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Imagine the poor grandaughter's apprehension at seeing this confused old woman who can't even remember where she put the girl's birthday present. Eventually the grandmother regains enough lucidity to remember her grandaughter's present: a beautiful pearl. Yet as the old woman gives the gift to her grandaughter the reader is left wondering if it's not really the grandmother rather than the gift who is the more beautiful pearl. With so many children experiencing just such situations in their lives today this book is a must.

Hearst was the king of 'yellow journalism', using his newspapers as a public forum for swaying political opinions. This biography for teens considers his influence and newspaper involvements and provides a little over a hundred pages of biographical and social background.

It was a joy to use this book for a History Day presentation because there were comments in Barton's own words from her thoughts and diaries. There were little known facts to keep the interest of the young adult reader, and these facts tied Barton to the historical background. I would highly recommend this book.

The author tries to capture the essence of Diana, Princess of Wales. All one has to do is read of couple of British and American magazine articles, and one has the book. There are by far too many "A widely circulately rumor" and "Next came the story." One begins to question the authenicity when one uses these types of statements too frequently. This book relies heavily on magazine articles and Andrew Morton.

All pictures are in black and white which detract from the book especially when one has seen them and has them in other books and magazines in color. Diana is must too beautiful, too glamorous, and too charismatic to use black and white when the pictures used were originally in color. This book was probably written for the young, and they are attracted to beautiful colored pictures, not dull black and white.

This refers to the hardcover edition which contains 112 pages and measures 5x83/4 inches.

Every little girl dreams of being a princess (at least I did) and when I watched Princess Diana walk down the isle, and watched it again, and again all night long since it was on for days....I never imagined the sorrow that would follow her or the tragedy which would send her beautiful soul to the next life. This book will take you on Diana's journey. She was at first hopeful, happy then completely consumed by her weaknesses yet showed an incredible strength. Her choices may not always been the right ones. She did try to be happy and the most important aspect of her life was her final triumph. She gave her sons an incredible gift. She taught them to love others and not treat them mearly as subjects. She showed the world that if you are going to live you had better do it well. If you are going to be on this earth, you have to look past your own pain, put on a happy face and do something for others. I think in this respect she has so much to teach us. The other lesson is to never marry someone who does not love you. That is the greatest tragedy of her life. Imagine what she could have done for the world if her husband had treated her as she truly was - an angel sent to teach us so many lessons. I hope this book will help you to see who she was and who you want to be. How will your life be remembered?

Nancy Whitelaw's biography paints Margaret Sanger's life in broad strokes only; it is the type of book I would use to introduce a child to an important historical figure but it is not suitable for adult reading. As an example of the problem, the various men in Margaret's life who were not husbands are referred to as "Escorts" and no attempt is made to discuss these involvements. In fact, little in-depth discussion of any aspect of Margaret's life is attempted; there is so little detail that she emerges as a cardboard character.