NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • This fun, accessible series is perfect for anyone interested in STEM and coding, published in partnership with the organization Girls Who Code. “The 'Baby-Sitters Club' for the internet age.”–Glamour.com Loops, variables, input/output – Lucy can’t wait to get started with the new coding club at school. Finally, an after school activity that she’s really interested in. But Lucy’s excitement turns to disappointment when she’s put into a work group with girls she barely knows. All she wanted to do was make an app that she believes will help someone very special to her. Suddenly, Lucy begins to get cryptic coding messages and needs some help translating them. She soon discovers that coding – and friendship – takes time, dedication, and some laughs! Gr 3–6—This fresh series starter from seasoned author Deutsch centers on a group of middle school friends who are learning the basics of computer code. Lucy is finally a sixth grader, which means that she can finally join Coding Club. She wants to figure out how to code so that she can make an app to help her sick uncle keep track of his medication. Unfortunately, the club members don't even get to use the computers during the first meeting! Plus, Lucy is put on a team with a former friend; an intimidating, sophisticated seventh grader; and the new girl who came into Coding Club sobbing. Over the course of a week, Lucy and her teammates are led on a mystery code—based scavenger hunt. Following the directions that are left in an envelope attached to her locker, Lucy relies on each of her teammates to help her decipher the messages, each of which teaches them the very basic elements of coding. Readers will appreciate the characters' diversity of interests and their love of coding. VERDICT A complex topic made accessible; recommended for elementary and middle school libraries and for collections that serve budding coders.—Kristin Unruh, Siersma Elementary School, Warren, MI “The 'Baby-Sitters Club' for the internet age.”– Glamour.com “Between the integrated logic and the consciously diverse cast, a wonderful series launch.” – Kirkus Reviews “An intriguing coding mystery.” —Scholastic Teacher “ The Baby-Sitters Club for Gen Z! ” –Parents “[A] chatty, information-packed reference guide peppered with real examples of women in technology.” – The Austin American-Statesman “[A] fresh series starter…Readers will appreciate the characters’ diversity of interests and their love of coding…. A complex topic made accessible; recommended for elementary and middle school libraries and for collections that serve ¬budding coders.” – School Library Journal “In addition to the computer science concepts, the book demonstrates different reasons girls may become interested in coding, as well as connecting it to other hobbies such as fashion, sports, and acting. The story also captures realistic friendship issues.” – School Library Connection “The series shows girls that anyone can code; it’s for anyone who sees a problem and has an idea about how to solve it.” –Colorado Kids “[A] fast read about a sixth-grade girl who can't wait to get started at her new coding club at school and works with her friends to solve a mystery. The story has a diverse group of characters and includes real-life struggles, such as an uncle battling cancer and a mother getting divorced. Parents who want to introduce their kids to coding/computer science might enjoy reading this, too.” – Common Sense Media Stacia Deutsch is the author of more than fifty children's books, including the award-winning chapter book series Blast to the Past. She also wrote the tween novel Mean Ghouls, as well as books for the Nancy Drew, Clue Crew, and The Boxcar Children series. Stacia has been on the New York Times Bestseller list for the novelizations of the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and The Smurfs movies. Visit her website at: www.StaciaDeutsch.com Chapter One     “Lucy . . . Lucy . . . Lucy . . .”   “What? Huh?” I was so excited for the bell to ring that I didn’t hear my teacher calling my name. “Oh.” I raised my head, glanced at the long, sprawling math problem written across the whiteboard, and said, “Four.”   Mrs. Clark stared at me for a moment, then looked over her shoulder at the numbers she’d written. “Correct . . .” She grabbed an eraser. “That’s all for today, class. No homework, so use your time to review today’s lesson.” The bell rang. “Have a good after—”   I missed the “—noon” because by the time she finished, I was already down the hall.   I’d been waiting for this moment since the day I saw the posting on the Halverston Middle School website, and now here it was. I was finally in sixth grade. I was finally going to my very first coding club meeting!   I waved hello to my best friend, Anjali, as I passed her in the hall. She was rushing to film club in the opposite direction. “Text me,” she called out, though she didn’t have to say