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lawbooks600's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Score: Seven out of ten.
Shine On, Luz Véliz by Rebecca Balcárcel is everything In The Key of Code isn't. Surprisingly, this is only the second book I've read featuring a young protagonist who programs, and this one circled my recommendations until I saw it on a library display shelf and picked it up. When I closed the final page, it was enjoyable.
Did I mention this one got me out of a streak of okay or disappointing books? It starts with Luz Véliz having to stop playing soccer for a while after she injured her knee in the opening pages. She has to find something new to do after that, so she takes on programming (or coding as she calls it) for the first time. I liked many aspects, so I'm unsure where to start, but I'll try, first, I liked the theme of redefining yourself and the message that people can change. I enjoyed reading the characters, especially Luz, since Balcárcel put in the extra effort by developing her character. I appreciated that and the support networks she has. Shine On, Luz Véliz has a subplot where Luz discovers she has a half sister, Solana, adding intrigue and another layer of development, but I would've liked to see more of the side character with autism briefly mentioned for a few pages.
The pacing was engaging enough, with a length of less than 300 pages without being too overwhelming. Unlike In the Key of Code, this novel took time familiarising me with the two ways of programming used, one language on an old Apple computer and another called Scratch (I've heard of that before.) It feels realistic since there is no unfamiliar programming languages or ones that would be too complex to understand for a person aged similarly to Luz, like Java. On the contrary, there are some Spanish phrases. I don't understand Spanish, but adding a glossary would've helped and the conclusion involving a programming competition was worth the wait as I get to see Luz doing what she is most passionate about. Wow.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Murder, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Full trigger warnings: Death and murder of relatives and a disappearance of a child in the past, grief and loss depiction, physical injurystilesb's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
izedriftwood's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
anamazingday's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
cgsunit's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sara_hudson's review
4.0
Luz has had quite an early spring - blew out her knew and lost her identity as a soccer star, gained a half-sister from Guatemala that she didn't know existed, finds a new passion in coding. A neat intergenerational twist with an elderly neighbor filled with curiosity and love for Luz. A great STEM book with a great family story too. I want Luz to be friends with Merci from Meg Medina's Merci Suárez series.
z_brarian's review
5.0
I absolutely LOVED this book. When everything falls apart, there's nothing to do but pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try something new, which is what Luz has to do when her career in soccer falls apart. She turns to Robotics and Coding and discovers a whole new world thanks to her neighbor Mr. Mac. In addition to finding a new path in coding, her world is changed overnight when she learns that she has a half sister in Mexico who is coming to live with her and her parents. How will Luz learn to adjust to this new family unit? The author reflects Luz's struggle with trying to fit in, not just at school but at home. Not only is Luz trying to fit in, but Solana, her half sister is trying to navigate a new world, both family and school. Family drama, along with self discovery play a huge part in this story. I loved that Luz discovered Coding/Robotics. Young girls looking to step into this field need to read this book.
kelleemoye's review
5.0
I loved this story! So much! I cannot wait for it to be out, so I can recommend it to readers! I mean the book is all about overcoming a loss of a passion, redefining family, second language acquisition and conversing beyond languages, and STEM! So much girl power STEM! And all of this with a wonderful, fast-paces story!
zbrarian's review
5.0
I absolutely LOVED this book. When everything falls apart, there's nothing to do but pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try something new, which is what Luz has to do when her career in soccer falls apart. She turns to Robotics and Coding and discovers a whole new world thanks to her neighbor Mr. Mac. In addition to finding a new path in coding, her world is changed overnight when she learns that she has a half sister in Mexico who is coming to live with her and her parents. How will Luz learn to adjust to this new family unit? The author reflects Luz's struggle with trying to fit in, not just at school but at home. Not only is Luz trying to fit in, but Solana, her half sister is trying to navigate a new world, both family and school. Family drama, along with self discovery play a huge part in this story. I loved that Luz discovered Coding/Robotics. Young girls looking to step into this field need to read this book.