I don’t normally post book reviews, but I am so impressed with Lauren Ipsum that I feel compelled to plug it. It is a great book for young readers – and the rest of us too!
Most importantly, it is a fun book. My 7-year old daughter and I are reading it together, and she loves it. (So do I!) As Lauren (aka Laurie) explores a handful of towns with a lizard named Xor whom she has befriended, the reader explores a broad range of fundamental computing principals. The book offers many layers of computing references. Just reading the book will introduce the reader to basic coding (in a simple and fun way), security, algorithms, the negative impact of jargon, etc. An older reader can refer to the chapter notes in the back, which provide interesting context for some of the ideas that are briefly mentioned but not really explored. And geeks will be amused by the endless subtle (or blatant) allusions in the names, places, and objects, such Hugh Ristic and Lauren herself (see Lorem Ipsum). These references are cleverly inserted in a way that will amuse those “in the know” without being distracting for others.
To enter several of the towns, Laurie needs to tell guards her name and password, but she isn’t “in the system.” So, she guesses those of others she has met along the way by exploiting the weaknesses she notices in the guards’ processes. It presents great lessons in password security, but also offers an opportunity to discuss hacking and ethics, should you choose to. Is it appropriate for Lauren to use someone else’s name and password? In the story’s context it is harmless and the ethics are barely addressed, but it is something my daughter and I have chatted about, and I intend to dig deeper into.
The story carries itself. Even if there were no ulterior lessons, this would be a great chapter book for 7-12 year olds. Given the additional depth the book offers, I expect we’ll continue to re-read it over the years and appreciate it in different ways. Definitely one for the home library.
As a bonus – the publishers are offering a “get one give one” program – if you buy a retail copy, they’ll donate a copy to a library, school, or other educational organization.
Thanks big sister, for giving my daughter Lauren Ipsum for Christmas! Great gift! Next maybe I’ll write about the Kano.
A Stich in Time 