Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life Review

Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life: Hollywood Legend and Brilliant Inventor by Laurie Wallmark; illustrated by Katy Wu

Sterling Children’s Books, 2019. 978-1454926917

Synopsis: To her adoring public, Hedy Lamarr was a glamorous movie star, widely considered the most beautiful woman in the world. But in private, she was something more: a brilliant inventor. And for many years only her closest friends knew her secret. – from Amazon.com

Why I picked it up: STEM! Women in science!

Why I finished it: Hedy Lamarr is one of many Hollywood stars that is celebrated for being talented and beautiful, but she also had a brilliant mind to match. Though she worked hard over the course of her lifetime on several inventions and developed one of the most important technologies of the modern age, it was hard to convince people that she was more than just a pretty face. I feel like this is a challenge common to women trying to break into what are traditionally masculine professions. Lamarr’s dedication to her work and her perseverance are an inspiration for all of us. The idea that we should to continue to think big and do good in the face of adversity and rejection is a message that comes across well for readers of all ages. Wu’s illustrations are fanciful and realistic to match the narrative. The contrasts of the Hollywood sepia tones with the bright colors of Lamarr’s workshop help to give the story a larger-than-life feel that seems to match the book’s subject. This is a fun read that is sure to inspire inventors and scientists of all ages.

Other related materials: Hedy Lamarr and a Secret Communication System by Trina Robbins, illustrated by Cynthia Martin; Hedy and her Amazing Invention by Jan Wahl, illustrated by Morgana Wallace; Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code by Laurie Wallmark, illustrated by Katy Wu; Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine by Laurie Wallmark, illustrated by April Chu; Lauren Ipsum: A Story about Computer Science and Other Improbable Things by Carlos Bueno; Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women by Catherine Thimmesh, illustrated by Melissa Sweet; Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts-; Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science – and the World by Rachel Swaby; Amelia to Zora: Twenty-Six Women who Changed the World by Cynthia Chin-Lee, illustrated by Megan Hasley and Sean Addy; Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World by Rachel Ignotofsky; Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around The World by Vashti Harrison

Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code Review

Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code by Laurie Wallmark; illustrated by Katy Wu

Sterling Children’s Books, 2017. 978-1454920007

Synopsis: Grace Hopper coined the term “computer bug” and taught computers to “speak English.” Throughout her life, Hopper succeeded in doing what no one had ever done before. Delighting in difficult ideas and in defying expectations, the insatiably curious Hopper truly was “Amazing Grace” . . . and a role model for science- and math-minded girls and boys. With a wealth of witty quotes, and richly detailed illustrations, this book brings Hopper’s incredible accomplishments to life. – from Amazon.com

Why I picked it up: Another book blog that I follow did an interview with Wallmark about this book that sparked my interest.

Why I finished it: Computing and coding are nothing new for the modern reader and the idea that there was a lot of trial and error to get us where we are today is somewhat mind blowing to me. In the twentieth century alone, computer users have gone from needing to switch out programs to perform a given task (for example, switching between a program that would perform addition and one that would perform multiplication) to having all those same programs being just a click away. What inspired me the most about Hopper’s story is that she continued to push forward in the face of adversity and fought the idea that we needed to keep doing things the same way. Hopper did a lot of thinking outside the box, and today we benefit from many of those off-the-wall ideas that perhaps no one else thought would work. I admire Hopper’s perseverance and passion, and how she never let things like her age, or her gender get in the way; it’s a wonderful example of never being too old to do what you want to do. Wu’s illustrations give the larger-than-life figure a softer side, giving the story a sense of whimsy without losing its seriousness. I love the free-flowing style that uses contrast to outline the drawings rather than relying on thick lines to distinguish between objects/people/etc. Though this is a picture book, the story and its message will resound with readers of all ages and surely capture the hearts and minds of a future generation of scientists.

Other related materials: Mathematician and Computer Scientist Grace Hopper by Andrea Pelleschi; Women Who Launched the Computer Age by Laurie Calkhoven, illustrated by Alyssa Petersen; Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine by Laurie Wallmark, illustrated by April Chu; Lauren Ipsum: A Story about Computer Science and Other Improbable Things by Carlos Bueno; Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women by Catherine Thimmesh, illustrated by Melissa Sweet; Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts; Hello Ruby: Adventures in Coding by Linda Liukas; If: A Mind-Bending New Way of Looking at Big Ideas and Numbers by David J. Smith, illustrated by Steve Adams; Hedy Lamarr and a Secret Communication System by Trina Robbins, illustrated by Cynthia Martin; Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life by Laurie Wallmark, illustrated by Katy Wu; Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science – and the World by Rachel Swaby; Amelia to Zora: Twenty-Six Women who Changed the World by Cynthia Chin-Lee, illustrated by Megan Hasley and Sean Addy