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Aimee Lucido
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Emmy in the Key of Code Kindle Edition

by Aimee Lucido (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 125 ratings
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In this innovative middle grade novel, coding and music take center stage as new girl Emmy tries to find her place in a new school. Perfect for fans of the Girls Who Code series and The Crossover.

In a new city, at a new school, twelve-year-old Emmy has never felt more out of tune.

Things start to look up when she takes her first coding class, unexpectedly connecting with the material—and Abigail, a new friend—through a shared language: music. But when Emmy gets bad news about their computer teacher, and finds out Abigail isn’t being entirely honest about their friendship, she feels like her new life is screeching to a halt.

Despite these obstacles, Emmy is determined to prove one thing: that, for the first time ever, she isn’t a wrong note, but a musician in the world’s most beautiful symphony.

Shortlisted for a Trinity Schools Book Award (TSBA) 2023

Previous page
  1. Reading age
    9 - 12 years, from customers
  2. Print length
    443 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Preschool - 6
  5. Lexile measure
    NP0L
  6. Publisher
    Versify
  7. Publication date
    September 24, 2019
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  12. ISBN-13
    978-0358434627
  13. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

? "As Emmy learns Java, the language and structure of programming seep into her poems. Music and code interweave…. and readers will cheer to see them work collectively…to create something beautiful.”—Kirkus, STARRED review "Music, coding, strong female techie role models—this engaging first novel should attract a wide audience."—Booklist "This timely debut...champions girls in STEM and delivers a positive message about being 'always exactly yourself'....Through the author’s creative mesh of coding, music, poetry, and narrative, this story uniquely conveys the art and beauty that can be found in multiple disciplines.... relatable and relevant." —Publishers Weekly "This unusual tale seamlessly weaves basic computer coding concepts into a compelling story about middle schoolers struggling to forge their own identities in spite of the expectations of their families and society."—School Library Journal —

About the Author

Aimee Lucido is a software engineer and the author of EMMY IN THE KEY OF CODE. She got her MFA in writing for children and young adults at Hamline University and lives with her husband and dog in Berkeley, CA where she likes to bake, run, and write crossword puzzles.  www.aimeelucido.com  Twitter: @AimeeLucido   Instagram: @AimeeLucido

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07LC94KBK
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Versify (September 24, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 24, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 10708 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 443 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 125 ratings

About the author

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Aimee Lucido

Aimee Lucido

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Aimee Lucido is the author of EMMY IN THE KEY OF CODE, RECIPE FOR DISASTER, the upcoming WORDS APART (Versify, 2024), and her picture book debut, PASTA PASTA LOTSA PASTA (Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster). She got her MFA in writing for children and young adults at Hamline University and lives with her husband and dog in Berkeley, CA where she likes to do trivia, run, and write crossword puzzles.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
125 global ratings
3rd Grader LOVED this story!
5 Stars
3rd Grader LOVED this story!
This book is written in abstract poetry which is a wonderfully engaging format, told from Emmy's 12-year-old view. There's a lot of white space on the pages which helps a young reader feel encouraged to read because the reading is not daunting. Feelings are explored in ways that are incredibly accessible. They're many metaphors of music and coding, which are delightful. Included are themes such as finding friends, bullying, a favorite teacher, and family. A worthy read for adolescents. Recommended age 10-12, grades 5-7. My daughter is great with language and she chose this book to read to complete her first ever book report. That kids will be on o this book was an understatement in my home.
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Top reviews from the United States

Sean Igo
5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning and refreshing.
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2019
Verified Purchase
Anything but ordinary! I hadn't known it was a novel in verse - indeed, that such a thing existed - until I got to the second page and realized the opening poem wasn't just an introduction. Seamlessly blends music, poetry, and computer programming through the point of view of a bright young girl adjusting to a new home and school. Sweet and not cloying, clever and not snaky. I enjoyed it far more than I expected to, which was a high bar to clear. A very impressive book, especially for a debut. Absolutely wonderful.
4 people found this helpful
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lillijohnson9
5.0 out of 5 stars A Truly Unique Kid Lit Book for EVERYONE
Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2020
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I bought Emmy in the Key of Code as a gift for a middle school girl. I was so intrigued by the blurbs and the fascinating layout of the text I read it cover to cover. I’m way older than the intended reader but I absolutely loved it! The combination of preteen angst and the beauty of music, poetry and coding is brilliant! Ms. Lucido uses musical terms to describe human emotions and moods in such an amazing way you can FEEL it! Disappointed at not sharing the family’s musical abilities, Emmy learns to program computers to play beautiful music and finds her instrument along with her self-worth. The poetry is placed on the pages in varying fonts and often in the style of computer coding, bringing us strangers into a world many of us have no knowledge of. I recommend this book for all ages but especially Middle Schoolers who may not be sure how they fit in in their families, their schools and their world!
One person found this helpful
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A. K. Strohman
5.0 out of 5 stars A lovely story of discovering who you are
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2019
Verified Purchase
Emmy in the Key of Code uses poetry to explore music, coding, and identity. Emmy is trying to figure out who she is, where she might find friends, and how to become her own person, apart from her professional-musician parents. The coding elective class she's placed in becomes that refuge for her. I loved Ms. Delaney, coding teacher extraordinaire, and Emmy's emerging friendship with Abigail. The form (poetry, coding) enhanced the story and engaged me as a reader. This is a great book for kids aged 8-11.
3 people found this helpful
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SilverSurfer
4.0 out of 5 stars Good story, very short
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2020
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This is a good story, and has lessons for a kid around pre-teen age. The main character is working out how to make friends and figure out what she wants to do. The story is told well without sounding preachy. It's written in the style of computer code, which is slick, but the result is this book would have about 1/4 as many pages if it were printed in normal style. It's way shorter than a typical novel.
3 people found this helpful
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Lisa Riddiough
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is for everyone!
Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2019
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EMMY IN THE KEY OF CODE is a book for everyone, not just girls interested in coding. It's for anyone who has ever wondered where they fit in - even within their own family. It is certainly for anyone who likes music. When Emmy moves to San Francisco with her pianist father and her opera singing mother, she finds her own personalized connection to music in coding, and it changes the way she sees herself. This book is about friendship and connections found in the most unlikely of places. Bonus: it will make you feel super smart because you will learn about things like "public, static, void, main, string, bracket, bracket, args!!"
One person found this helpful
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Maxica
5.0 out of 5 stars A unique companion to girls entering male-dominated professions
Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2019
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As someone who tries hard to motivate middle-school girls to keep their passion for STEM, I am absolutely delighted with this book. Emmy is a companion who paints the picture and answers the tough questions adults usually struggle with, such as what do I do when the group doesn't accept me, why are there so few women in programming, is programming for me? I opened the book to take a look and less than 3h later I was at the last page. The rhythm of the book picks you up even at an adult age. Emmy in the Key of Code is a unique and an inclusive book. I highly recommend it as a gift for teenagers instead of sweets, clothes or even money.
4 people found this helpful
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Kate OShaughnessy
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliantly crafted middle grade novel-in-verse
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2020
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This book is truly wonderful. It's a fun, fast read with charming and loveable characters. It's a brilliantly crafted novel-in-verse, with many fun "easter eggs" for music-lovers or coding aficionados hidden in the text. What's even more wonderful about this book is that you don't have to have any experience with coding or music to thoroughly enjoy it. Kids who like fish-out-of-water narratives or STEM themes will definitely flock to this title. Highly recommend--10/10!!
One person found this helpful
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Jeff Wilke
5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful (and novel) combination of verse and code
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2019
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First off, the novel has well drawn characters, and packs a strong emotional punch; I found myself tearing through it.

The combination of verse and code — somewhat surprisingly — really works! At the same time, it illuminates the core conflicts and character moments in the novel AND gives an intuitive guide for how coding works. This would be a great novel to introduce a voracious reader to code, or a code lover to verse.
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Top reviews from other countries

John
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful story that will inspire so many
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 14, 2020
Verified Purchase
What an amazing story. I think so many people can relate to this story. A well laid out book that inspires people to learn Java. What a great book. Aimee, super work.
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