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Ada Lovelace
In Ben Jeapes’s Ada Lovelace , part of the First Names series, readers meet the woman who made coding cool—and possible—with illustrations by Nick Ward.
Before she was a famous mathematician and the first computer programmer, Ada Lovelace was the daughter of the famous Lord Byron. Byron died when Ada was very young, and Ada’s mother encouraged her interest in mathematics in an attempt to prevent Ada from turning into a melancholy poet like her father.
Ada grew up and married a count, and as a countess, she was given access to some of England’s greatest scientists and authors, including Charles Babbage, who was working to develop an analytical engine. Seeing the potential in computers, Ada partnered with Charles and used her mathematical skills to create an algorithm that could make such a machine possible.
Fascinating and lively, Ada Lovelace tells the story of the woman who helped pioneer computing! It includes a timeline, a glossary, and an index.
First Names is a highly illustrated nonfiction series that puts readers on a first-name basis with some of the most incredible people in history and of today!
The First Names
Harry Houdini
Amelia Earhart
Ada Lovelace
Malala Yousafzai
Ferdinand Magellan
Beyoncé
Nelson Mandela
Greta Thunberg
Before she was a famous mathematician and the first computer programmer, Ada Lovelace was the daughter of the famous Lord Byron. Byron died when Ada was very young, and Ada’s mother encouraged her interest in mathematics in an attempt to prevent Ada from turning into a melancholy poet like her father.
Ada grew up and married a count, and as a countess, she was given access to some of England’s greatest scientists and authors, including Charles Babbage, who was working to develop an analytical engine. Seeing the potential in computers, Ada partnered with Charles and used her mathematical skills to create an algorithm that could make such a machine possible.
Fascinating and lively, Ada Lovelace tells the story of the woman who helped pioneer computing! It includes a timeline, a glossary, and an index.
First Names is a highly illustrated nonfiction series that puts readers on a first-name basis with some of the most incredible people in history and of today!
The First Names
Harry Houdini
Amelia Earhart
Ada Lovelace
Malala Yousafzai
Ferdinand Magellan
Beyoncé
Nelson Mandela
Greta Thunberg
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
176 pages, Paperback
Published March 16, 2021
18 people want to read
About the author
Ben Jeapes
32 books17 followersHis father's army postings sent them all over. At Dumpton, he "read his first Dr Who book (c. 1975), first suffered from hay fever (summer 1977) and first watched Blake’s 7 (January 1978). His parents also got the one interesting posting of his entire life, to Bangladesh. All these were to have effects on his life that still haven’t worn off.." After 12 years in publishing, Jan 2000 layoff started his writing career.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 24, 2023
This is the first biography I’ve read in this First Names series for middle grade.
Ada Lovelace was born in England and grew up in an environment where fairy tales were not allowed, only real stories.
Coming from upper class, she wasn’t allowed to play with village children. Her surroundings were carefully chosen by her mother that included teachers.
Ada from early age showed great interest in math. By twelve, she had knowledge beyond her age.
Her older friend, Charles Babbage, who was a scientist, was working on an Analytical Engine. Ada helped him solve an issue he struggled with. He was the one who called her Enchantress of Number. Later, she became known as the first computer programmer.
She had a brilliant mind and tried to use it to its fullest potential, coming up with different ideas for solving problems. Thus, her biography is a great inspiration for young minds.
There are some inserts, which I believe are meant to carry some humor. Some are in a style of cartoon. It might be more appealing to the target audience. I’d rather have that humor flowing within the body of the story.
The biography doesn’t have any dialogue in the main body, but it has the dialogue in the cartoon illustrations, which again might be more appealing to young readers. My personal preference would be to have it in the main body.
The white and black illustrations are appropriate for this age group.
Ada Lovelace was born in England and grew up in an environment where fairy tales were not allowed, only real stories.
Coming from upper class, she wasn’t allowed to play with village children. Her surroundings were carefully chosen by her mother that included teachers.
Ada from early age showed great interest in math. By twelve, she had knowledge beyond her age.
Her older friend, Charles Babbage, who was a scientist, was working on an Analytical Engine. Ada helped him solve an issue he struggled with. He was the one who called her Enchantress of Number. Later, she became known as the first computer programmer.
She had a brilliant mind and tried to use it to its fullest potential, coming up with different ideas for solving problems. Thus, her biography is a great inspiration for young minds.
There are some inserts, which I believe are meant to carry some humor. Some are in a style of cartoon. It might be more appealing to the target audience. I’d rather have that humor flowing within the body of the story.
The biography doesn’t have any dialogue in the main body, but it has the dialogue in the cartoon illustrations, which again might be more appealing to young readers. My personal preference would be to have it in the main body.
The white and black illustrations are appropriate for this age group.
March 13, 2021
A very good look into Ada Lovelace’s life.
October 12, 2021
Ada is my hero and I enjoy reading about her. This was fun and easy read. Good for elementary and middle schoolers.
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March 28, 2023Oldest loves it
June 9, 2021
An insightful account of Ads Lovelace
I never realised how hard Ada's life was, such an intelligent woman hampered by Victorian values. I love the parts about her father (Lord Byron) and how her mother tried to control her life.
I never realised how hard Ada's life was, such an intelligent woman hampered by Victorian values. I love the parts about her father (Lord Byron) and how her mother tried to control her life.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews