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The Code Breaker -- Young Readers Edition: Jennifer Doudna and the Race to Understand Our Genetic Code
Walter Isaacson’s #1 New York Times bestselling history of our third scientific CRISPR, gene editing, and the quest to understand the code of life itself, is now adapted for young readers!
When Jennifer Doudna was a sixth grader in Hilo, Hawaii, she came home from school one afternoon and found a book on her bed. It was The Double Helix , James Watson’s account of how he and Francis Crick had discovered the structure of DNA, the spiral-staircase molecule that carries the genetic instruction code for all forms of life.
This book guided Jennifer Doudna to focus her studies not on DNA, but on what seemed to take a backseat in figuring out the structure of RNA, a closely related molecule that enables the genetic instructions coded in DNA to express themselves. Doudna became an expert in determining the shapes and structures of these RNA molecules—an expertise that led her to develop a revolutionary new technique that could edit human genes.
Today gene-editing technologies such as CRISPR are already being used to eliminate simple genetic defects that cause disorders such as Tay-Sachs and sickle cell anemia. For now, however, Jennifer and her team are being deployed against our most immediate threat—the coronavirus—and you have just been given a front row seat to that race.
When Jennifer Doudna was a sixth grader in Hilo, Hawaii, she came home from school one afternoon and found a book on her bed. It was The Double Helix , James Watson’s account of how he and Francis Crick had discovered the structure of DNA, the spiral-staircase molecule that carries the genetic instruction code for all forms of life.
This book guided Jennifer Doudna to focus her studies not on DNA, but on what seemed to take a backseat in figuring out the structure of RNA, a closely related molecule that enables the genetic instructions coded in DNA to express themselves. Doudna became an expert in determining the shapes and structures of these RNA molecules—an expertise that led her to develop a revolutionary new technique that could edit human genes.
Today gene-editing technologies such as CRISPR are already being used to eliminate simple genetic defects that cause disorders such as Tay-Sachs and sickle cell anemia. For now, however, Jennifer and her team are being deployed against our most immediate threat—the coronavirus—and you have just been given a front row seat to that race.
336 pages, Paperback
Published March 28, 2023
83 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
About the author
Walter Isaacson
103 books22.9k followersWalter Isaacson, a professor of history at Tulane, has been CEO of the Aspen Institute, chair of CNN, and editor of Time. He is the author of 'Leonardo da Vinci; The Innovators; Steve Jobs; Einstein: His Life and Universe; Benjamin Franklin: An American Life; and Kissinger: A Biography, and the coauthor of The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made. Visit him at Isaacson.Tulane.edu and on Twitter at @WalterIsaacson
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 14, 2022
I'll admit that I hadn't heard of Jennifer Doudna until picking this book up, but that's exactly what makes books like this wonderful...introducing little-known figures, who made an impact in their field.
The original version of this book was released for the adult audience. This one attempts to present the same material and make it understandable for a younger audience, ages 10 and up. Chapter by chapter, Jennifer Doudna's history, and then, contributions in DNA/RNA research are introduced. It goes into detail, not only explaining the circumstances of society and the institutions where she worked/attended, but also dives into the science, so the reader gets a good handle on what she truly did.
At over three-hundred pages, this book takes a thorough look into Doudna's accomplishments. It is written in a smooth form, which does make for easy reading. I appreciate that the facts are nicely laid-out, giving the reader a true glimpse into the science behind her discoveries in a way that anyone with a bit of science background can understand. For an adult audience or even high school level, this is an interesting read for anyone curious about the topic matter. I definitely enjoyed it.
The writing does address the younger readers in some ways. Although I'm not sure how many 5th to 8th graders are going to want to dive into a thick book about the life and science of one person. Even then, I know far, far fewer readers at this level, who will understand the science and terminology as its presented. Even many high schoolers will have problems with it. There is an attempt to make the science understandable, but without a certain amount of background in the area of cells and genetics, the descriptions are much to short and quick (usually within one sentence). There is a glossary at the end to help with more complex terms, which does help in some instances a bit.
This is a well-done read, but I'd generally recommend it to high schoolers and up. I do see science fans, who love to dive into this type of material anyway, enjoying this. Plus, it might be a good addition to homeschool material, as well.
I received an ARC and found it interesting, just not quite down to the age group it claims it is.
The original version of this book was released for the adult audience. This one attempts to present the same material and make it understandable for a younger audience, ages 10 and up. Chapter by chapter, Jennifer Doudna's history, and then, contributions in DNA/RNA research are introduced. It goes into detail, not only explaining the circumstances of society and the institutions where she worked/attended, but also dives into the science, so the reader gets a good handle on what she truly did.
At over three-hundred pages, this book takes a thorough look into Doudna's accomplishments. It is written in a smooth form, which does make for easy reading. I appreciate that the facts are nicely laid-out, giving the reader a true glimpse into the science behind her discoveries in a way that anyone with a bit of science background can understand. For an adult audience or even high school level, this is an interesting read for anyone curious about the topic matter. I definitely enjoyed it.
The writing does address the younger readers in some ways. Although I'm not sure how many 5th to 8th graders are going to want to dive into a thick book about the life and science of one person. Even then, I know far, far fewer readers at this level, who will understand the science and terminology as its presented. Even many high schoolers will have problems with it. There is an attempt to make the science understandable, but without a certain amount of background in the area of cells and genetics, the descriptions are much to short and quick (usually within one sentence). There is a glossary at the end to help with more complex terms, which does help in some instances a bit.
This is a well-done read, but I'd generally recommend it to high schoolers and up. I do see science fans, who love to dive into this type of material anyway, enjoying this. Plus, it might be a good addition to homeschool material, as well.
I received an ARC and found it interesting, just not quite down to the age group it claims it is.
May 6, 2024
I really enjoy reading about new science breakthroughs and this one was no exception. It was especially interesting to read about the pull between science and business after going through the covid19 development of tests and vaccines and watching from the sidelines.
--I was so excited to see The Code Breaker on audio on Hoopla. And then the book started and told me it was the Young Readers edition. I decided to take that as a sign that the lower level info would probably be a better fit for me & at 24% complete I think I was right!
--I was so excited to see The Code Breaker on audio on Hoopla. And then the book started and told me it was the Young Readers edition. I decided to take that as a sign that the lower level info would probably be a better fit for me & at 24% complete I think I was right!
October 23, 2025
Inspirational. You never realise how bad women in science had it until you read what her career counselor said, and yet she endured and got to the 'top'. The author (if Isaacson said it in the original) alludes to a 'bio/genepunk' future in which we'll be able to know our own biologies better.
(Jo Zayner is... mentioned.)
(Jo Zayner is... mentioned.)
November 8, 2022
ARC provided by Young Adult Books Central
Jennifer Doudna was born in Hawaii in 1964 (a year before I was!) and was always interested in science. One of her favorite books was Watson's 1968 The Double Helix, which told about his and Crick's discovery of DNA, and she was especially interested in Rosalind Franklin's unheralded contributions to this major scientific finding, and well as the treatment she received. Luckily, her parents supported her in this, even though her school guidance couselor told her that science fields weren't for girls. She didn't listen, and majored in chemisty at Pomona College. She struggled and considered changing her major to French, but decided to stick with it and eventually ended up going to graduate school at Harvard. She then embarked on work with cells that eventually put her in the forefront of CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) technology, the science that can edit DNA so that the body can heal itself from genetic diseases like sickle cell anemia and the like.
Along the way, there were personal and professional challenges, and Isaacson has tirelessly interviewed and researched these occurences for the book. We see personal items like Doudna's marriage, which lead to her and her husband leaving the East Coast so they could work at universities closer to each other; historical information about science in the 1990s through to the present day; and lots of details about how CRISPR works and how it ws used in experiments to help people. Some of these, like the attempts to cure Victoria Gray's sickle cell disease, worked well, although not all trials were successful for all conditions.
Doudna worked with a wide range of scientists, and also investigated different avenues she might pursue, like scientific companies. We get to read about companies like Genetech, and their contributions to the field. Eventually, she worked with Emmanuelle Charpentier, with whom she won the Nobel Prize in 2020. The final chapter of the book discovers the impact that CRISPR technology had on the process of dealing with COVD-19 and the work on vaccinations for this disease.
While I haven't read the adult version of this, the young readers edition by Sarah Durand is compelling and easy to read, even if the science isn't always easy for a lay person to understand. There's a nice balance between Doudna's life, her times, and scientific details. The glossary of scientific terms at the back helps as well. It would have been nice to have some photographs in the book; I still think that Tam O'Shaughnessy's Sally Ride: A Photobiography of America's Pioneering Woman in Space is the future of biographies covering people born after 1950!
There are a number of biographies about groundbreaking women in science, but most are written years after the scientist's floruit. It's fascinating to see a biography covering the seminal work of a scientist when we don't know what the ultimate trajectory of her work will be!
While this is a lot of information for the casual middle school reader, and might be a better purchase for high school libraries or schools with strong STEM programs, it's a great choice for readers who enjoyed Acevedo's Path to the Stars: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist, Moss's The Woman Who Split the Atom: The Life of Lise Meitner, Dreilinger's The Secret History of Home Economics: How Trailblazing Women Harnessed the Power of Home and Changed the Way We Live or Silvey's Unforgotten: The Wild Life of Dian Fossey and Her Relentless Quest to Save the Mountain Gorillas.
Jennifer Doudna was born in Hawaii in 1964 (a year before I was!) and was always interested in science. One of her favorite books was Watson's 1968 The Double Helix, which told about his and Crick's discovery of DNA, and she was especially interested in Rosalind Franklin's unheralded contributions to this major scientific finding, and well as the treatment she received. Luckily, her parents supported her in this, even though her school guidance couselor told her that science fields weren't for girls. She didn't listen, and majored in chemisty at Pomona College. She struggled and considered changing her major to French, but decided to stick with it and eventually ended up going to graduate school at Harvard. She then embarked on work with cells that eventually put her in the forefront of CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) technology, the science that can edit DNA so that the body can heal itself from genetic diseases like sickle cell anemia and the like.
Along the way, there were personal and professional challenges, and Isaacson has tirelessly interviewed and researched these occurences for the book. We see personal items like Doudna's marriage, which lead to her and her husband leaving the East Coast so they could work at universities closer to each other; historical information about science in the 1990s through to the present day; and lots of details about how CRISPR works and how it ws used in experiments to help people. Some of these, like the attempts to cure Victoria Gray's sickle cell disease, worked well, although not all trials were successful for all conditions.
Doudna worked with a wide range of scientists, and also investigated different avenues she might pursue, like scientific companies. We get to read about companies like Genetech, and their contributions to the field. Eventually, she worked with Emmanuelle Charpentier, with whom she won the Nobel Prize in 2020. The final chapter of the book discovers the impact that CRISPR technology had on the process of dealing with COVD-19 and the work on vaccinations for this disease.
While I haven't read the adult version of this, the young readers edition by Sarah Durand is compelling and easy to read, even if the science isn't always easy for a lay person to understand. There's a nice balance between Doudna's life, her times, and scientific details. The glossary of scientific terms at the back helps as well. It would have been nice to have some photographs in the book; I still think that Tam O'Shaughnessy's Sally Ride: A Photobiography of America's Pioneering Woman in Space is the future of biographies covering people born after 1950!
There are a number of biographies about groundbreaking women in science, but most are written years after the scientist's floruit. It's fascinating to see a biography covering the seminal work of a scientist when we don't know what the ultimate trajectory of her work will be!
While this is a lot of information for the casual middle school reader, and might be a better purchase for high school libraries or schools with strong STEM programs, it's a great choice for readers who enjoyed Acevedo's Path to the Stars: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist, Moss's The Woman Who Split the Atom: The Life of Lise Meitner, Dreilinger's The Secret History of Home Economics: How Trailblazing Women Harnessed the Power of Home and Changed the Way We Live or Silvey's Unforgotten: The Wild Life of Dian Fossey and Her Relentless Quest to Save the Mountain Gorillas.
December 16, 2024
I read The Code Breaker by Walter Issacson. This book is about how the CRISPR gene editing technology was made, and how using it to edit the genes of living organisms affected future generations and their lives or health. This book also covers the ethical boundaries of this technology, for example, is it okay to edit someone's genes, changing their genetic code, and potentially putting their life in danger, with a technology that has the chance of curing them of a condition that has held them back their whole life. CRISPR may have had a few successful times where using it has saved lives, but using the program on people has also endangered their lives, killing some.
It was so interesting to see this view from the eyes of the person who helped to create this technology. This book was mainly a biography about Jennifer Dounda, going over her early years growing up on a small island in Hawaii, where she learned to love nature, and the science of how the world works. Her love of science grew as she grew older, and she started working at a lab, forming, helping to form, or working in multiple companies based on genetics. Dounda was one of the first people to deeply investigate RNA, which is a essential part of how the human body is made, and was one of the essential parts in what eventually became CRISPR, which Doudna worker with other scientists to complete, two that worked in a different lab, in France, and another that worked in Doudna’s lab. At a conference, the work that they completed took the spotlight, completely outshining every other presentation and scientist there.
Dounda never meant for this subject to be controversial, she saw her discovery as a scientific breakthrough that could help people. As time wore on, she found herself answering questions on the ethical side of things, as other scientists took her findings further. One man practiced editing genes in multiple adult couples, leading to the famous birth of twins, Lulu and Nana, who were edited for resistance to HIV. The scientist who did this faced immediate controversy after his experiment leaked before a large conference he was attending. Dounda attended that conference, and was horrified about how her technology was being used, but understood why it was being used that way. She became an icon for scientific breakthroughs, also being a part of the team to make a version of the vaccine used to fight Covid-19. All In all, she was a trailblazer who wanted the best for her discoveries and humanity.
I would recommend this book for people who understand the fundamentals of the genetic code, otherwise the book will be hard to understand. Before I read the book I worked on Genetics, so that helped with my understanding. I would also recommend it to people with a long attention span, as the book can be slow sometimes. The book changes your opinion on ethical boundaries in science. On a scale of 1-10, this book would be a 6, and a 3 out of 5.
It was so interesting to see this view from the eyes of the person who helped to create this technology. This book was mainly a biography about Jennifer Dounda, going over her early years growing up on a small island in Hawaii, where she learned to love nature, and the science of how the world works. Her love of science grew as she grew older, and she started working at a lab, forming, helping to form, or working in multiple companies based on genetics. Dounda was one of the first people to deeply investigate RNA, which is a essential part of how the human body is made, and was one of the essential parts in what eventually became CRISPR, which Doudna worker with other scientists to complete, two that worked in a different lab, in France, and another that worked in Doudna’s lab. At a conference, the work that they completed took the spotlight, completely outshining every other presentation and scientist there.
Dounda never meant for this subject to be controversial, she saw her discovery as a scientific breakthrough that could help people. As time wore on, she found herself answering questions on the ethical side of things, as other scientists took her findings further. One man practiced editing genes in multiple adult couples, leading to the famous birth of twins, Lulu and Nana, who were edited for resistance to HIV. The scientist who did this faced immediate controversy after his experiment leaked before a large conference he was attending. Dounda attended that conference, and was horrified about how her technology was being used, but understood why it was being used that way. She became an icon for scientific breakthroughs, also being a part of the team to make a version of the vaccine used to fight Covid-19. All In all, she was a trailblazer who wanted the best for her discoveries and humanity.
I would recommend this book for people who understand the fundamentals of the genetic code, otherwise the book will be hard to understand. Before I read the book I worked on Genetics, so that helped with my understanding. I would also recommend it to people with a long attention span, as the book can be slow sometimes. The book changes your opinion on ethical boundaries in science. On a scale of 1-10, this book would be a 6, and a 3 out of 5.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2022
From reading this book I learned about just how young the CRISPR field of science is, with its potential for gene editing only being discovered in 2012 (by Doudna and her colleague). Being such a new technology, we don't know to what extent it can, or should, be used. Doudna realised this after she had a nightmare about Hitler asking her about the possible uses and implications of her new technology, "(We) had imagined that CRISPR technology could save lives by helping to cure genetic disease ... Yet as I thought about it now, I could scarcely begin to conceive of all of the ways in which our hard work might be perverted." This is a very valid concern and there is much debate about how CRISPR should be used. Most scientists agree that it should only be used for non-germline editing*; is this morally right though? Because while we're ruling out someone evil creating an army of super soldiers, we're also ruling out couples with genes for terminal genetic diseases having the guarantee of a healthy child. It's a very complex debate, with many ins and outs, and ifs or buts. Having read this book, I've appreciated how important it is, when faced with new technologies, to proceed with caution.
*Germline editing is when the edit becomes part of the person's genome ie. when it can be passed onto any future children. These kinds of edits can only happen in either a sperm, an egg, or a foetus that is very recently fertilised.
*Germline editing is when the edit becomes part of the person's genome ie. when it can be passed onto any future children. These kinds of edits can only happen in either a sperm, an egg, or a foetus that is very recently fertilised.
July 25, 2022
I must admit to reading very closely for the first two sections of the book and then skimming and selecting sections of the remainder of the book. I thought it was very well written but it is very detailed about genetics which is not a casual topic to read about. I must admit that if this is the young reader's edition, the adult version would be far too detailed for me. I forget sometimes though that the YRE is aimed at middle and high school readers, not my 4th & 5th graders. Learning about Jennifer Doudna and all the individuals and teams involved in genetics was fascinating. I appreciated that the story not only told about the science but about the competition and the camaraderie that is a part of the scientific community. It is important for students to read books like this to better understand opportunities available in the world to pursue and how the paths to those opportunities are not always straight. I also really appreciated the story digging into the moral and ethical sides of the issue and not just the scientific achievements. Our world is moving very fast and we need scientists like Jennifer to help navigate where things are going and how we want to get there.
October 18, 2022
An very ambitious revision of an adult book for teen readers that includes Doudna's biography as well as explanations of the science she was pursuing. There are good discussions of the difficult ethical questions related to CRISPR and manipulating genes. I wish the book had at least mentioned that various religious traditions are wrestling with these concerns. This was an easy book to pick up and put down, interesting but not compelling, until the narrative reached late 2019 and the appearance of Covid. Then it read like a thriller. I was captivated to learn how scientists around the world were scrambling to work together and tackle this life-threatening disease, even as they, like the rest of us, tried to cope with daily life in the midst of a global pandemic. If I were suggesting this book to High School students, I would probably read from this section to capture their interest.
While this is a "Young Readers Edition", I recommend it for adults who aren't ready to tackle Isaacson's original biography.
While this is a "Young Readers Edition", I recommend it for adults who aren't ready to tackle Isaacson's original biography.
August 6, 2024
I am not a science person which is what made this a difficult read (even though it is the young adult version!). The parts of the narrative that were anecdotal and personal were far more interesting to me and of course, the ethical and moral questions are enormous. So....I know more now than I did before I read this but it was a lot of work for me. If you are interested in the science but don't want to tackle the very long and dense (so I've been told) "adult" version of The Code Breaker this will be a viable choice for you.
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August 28, 2024Read this as a screener for a middle school library. The entire beginning was boring. This scientist worked with this scientist, and that one worked with this one.
The middle was more interesting as labs competed to publish findings and make breakthroughs.
Then the end droned on again.
I certainly didn’t find this book enjoyable and there are so many names and acronyms that it all just blurred together.
Unless a 10-14 year old finds this subject interesting, I’m sure they will feel the same
The middle was more interesting as labs competed to publish findings and make breakthroughs.
Then the end droned on again.
I certainly didn’t find this book enjoyable and there are so many names and acronyms that it all just blurred together.
Unless a 10-14 year old finds this subject interesting, I’m sure they will feel the same
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2023
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, along with Emmanuelle Charpentier in October 2020, Jennifer Doudna is the person who immediately called a zoom meeting of scientists early in 2020 anticipating the need for a vaccine and even a test for COVID-19. This was all collaborative and freely shared.
Ethics, regulations, uses, patents are all discussed.
LOTS of historic precedents are involved. Worth a rereading for any science oriented thinker, or perhaps pick up the longer, original version.
Ethics, regulations, uses, patents are all discussed.
LOTS of historic precedents are involved. Worth a rereading for any science oriented thinker, or perhaps pick up the longer, original version.
November 27, 2023
This book was very informative and interesting to read, and it made the complex topic of CRISPR easier to understand. It went into detail about how CRISPR was discovered, and highlighted the many scientists involved. It followed Doudna's journey from childhood to her career and eventually her big discovery. It showed the scientific process, the importance of collaboration, and how curiosity can lead to big discoveries! It was a great book and I would highly recommend it.
October 8, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! It made a big, complicated story easy to understand and exciting to read. Walter Isaacson does a great job showing how curiosity, creativity, and even mistakes can lead to amazing ideas. I liked how it wasn’t just about success, but also about challenges and what it means to keep going when things get tough. The writing feels inspiring and makes me want to explore my own ideas more. It’s a great read for anyone who wants to learn how big dreams can become real!
February 21, 2025
Knew to get through the science I needed the young reader's edition 😂 Work-related read so very much appreciating the glossary. It's both inspiring and scary the potential of gene editing to change the human race for good or for bad. Given the current political climate, perhaps best to keep 'em dumb!
June 26, 2022
This is a great book for young adults or anyone wanting to get a better understanding about DNA, the human genome/genetics and CRISPR. Well researched and explained just as good. I think anyone could get excited about the topic after reading this.
Highly recommended book and author.
Highly recommended book and author.
May 29, 2023
Recommended to me in a book challenge…definitely not my preferred genre. Dragged on at times, but overall was fine to read. Some parts were interesting. Author definitely painted her out to be a saint with zero flaws.
March 15, 2024
I enjoyed how this book talked about the science, which fascinates me, but also the politics behind it, as well as how corporations and governments tend to stifle collaboration so they don't have to share the profits. The Covid-19 chapters were very eye-opening!
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December 31, 2024This one was honestly hard for me to follow in the beginning due to all the biology terms. However, I once I reached the halfway mark, I got really interested in the applications and morally gray areas Douda and her colleagues encountered. I am sure we will hear more and more about this topic.
September 24, 2022
Great for science brains. Tedious for the non-scientific. Good story line and well written.
Read
June 2, 2023dnf
August 21, 2025
what a juicy story and so much more quickly enjoyed when I picked up the youth version :)
June 4, 2022
This is amazing book! I have learned so much about genetics and have found how interesting they are.
February 13, 2024
4.00 stars
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews