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“Technical concepts such as functions, parallelism, and queues are interwoven throughout, emphasizing how coding can be used both creatively and in service of community needs. . . . The outcome is a refreshing series opener centered around inclusion and accessibility in STEM spaces.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Joining a racially diverse student body in Alvarado’s cleanly drawn panels, [Sama] displays lively intelligence, a vivid personality, and strong emotions. At once an engaging school story and a testimonial to the social and scientific value of coding.”
—Kirkus Reviews

Sama Crushes the Code: A Graphic Novel

Written by Samaira Mehta and Brin Stevens
Illustrated by Jenny Alvarado
Published by MIT Kids Press

Sama’s starting middle school! Maybe Tech Club will be a good place to fit in. She’s into solving problems, building clever machines, and collecting beautiful data, plus her friend Nancy has given her a cool book on coding. But everyone at Tech Club is already so good at coding—will Sama’s contributions be enough for her to be included in the Code Crusher championship?

Sama proposes a project to help a stressed-out bus driver develop a time-saving route, but the club leader thinks the coding isn’t complex enough. When Sama befriends new neighbor Zoe (who built her own hovercraft!), however, the two girls inspire each other, and soon Sama bounces back with a bunny-based board game that teaches kids how to code while having fun. Could this game be the key to getting to the championship?

Precise coding vocabulary and examples are woven seamlessly into this lively story, based on the real-life computer science adventures of its author, young tech entrepreneur Samaira Mehta.

Primary ISBN: 9781536233612
Publication Date: July 2026
Available As: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
Middle Grade, Graphic Novel, Age 08 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , ,

Setting: United States (California)

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Unknown Arrival

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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Engagement Materials:

An Introduction with the Author

Source: Candlewick Press