attytheresa's review
5.0
This is a wonderful childrens picture book about Hedy LaMarr, mostly highlighing her as inventor. It also provides the only explanation of her invention, which allows for security and privacy in today's electronics communications, that I actually could follow and understand. Probably that's because it is written for children and has lots of diagrams and pictures! I loved the artwork.
Not sure how this came on my radar and added to my TBR - possibly through a friend with kids or one who is part of a children's writers group. However it did, I'm keeping this and the series it numbers in, as gifts for kids. I'd say these work for those reading more than learn to read picture books but not yet comfortable with chapter books.
Not sure how this came on my radar and added to my TBR - possibly through a friend with kids or one who is part of a children's writers group. However it did, I'm keeping this and the series it numbers in, as gifts for kids. I'd say these work for those reading more than learn to read picture books but not yet comfortable with chapter books.
msgabbythelibrarian's review
4.0
Not going to lie, but I did not really know the backstory of Hedy Lamarr. Granted, I watched her in several Hollywood films. BUT I did not know that she was an inventor. Wow. There is so much more to her story than being an actress and having six marriages.
This picture book talks about her "frequency hopping" invention that she worked on in the 1940's. Her hope was that it would block transmissions so the Nazis would not intercept American tordepos. However, this technology was not even declassified until the 1960's. She would not get credit for any of her inventions and such until 1996 when she received the "Pioneer Award from the Electronic Frontier Foundation for their significant contribution to computers." In 2014, Hedy Lamarr was posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
Can you just say WOW?!
I don't fully understand the science aspects in this book (hence why I am a librarian ;)) But as another reviewer wrote, this book could be used in middle school classrooms because of the technology involved. In fact, there are so many ways this book could be used in an elementary, middle, or even high school class room! Dr. Steiner always told me that picture books should be used more than they are.
For the girl who loves STEM, this is a definite must read. For the individuals who love classic Hollywood, this is also a read worth recommending. After all, there is always more to people than what meets the eye.
This picture book talks about her "frequency hopping" invention that she worked on in the 1940's. Her hope was that it would block transmissions so the Nazis would not intercept American tordepos. However, this technology was not even declassified until the 1960's. She would not get credit for any of her inventions and such until 1996 when she received the "Pioneer Award from the Electronic Frontier Foundation for their significant contribution to computers." In 2014, Hedy Lamarr was posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
Can you just say WOW?!
I don't fully understand the science aspects in this book (hence why I am a librarian ;)) But as another reviewer wrote, this book could be used in middle school classrooms because of the technology involved. In fact, there are so many ways this book could be used in an elementary, middle, or even high school class room! Dr. Steiner always told me that picture books should be used more than they are.
For the girl who loves STEM, this is a definite must read. For the individuals who love classic Hollywood, this is also a read worth recommending. After all, there is always more to people than what meets the eye.
emeelee's review
4.0
Hedy Lamarr was an amazing woman. This book focuses mostly on her invention of frequency hopping. The text and illustration combo helps explain Hedy's invention in a very understandable way.
ajacks's review
4.0
I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you: http://www.indiebound.org
ginaperry's review
5.0
What a fascinating story about a Hollywood legend AND inventor. Before reading this, I hadn't known anything about Hedy Lamarr's life as an inventor and the specific invention shared in this story. Kids and teachers alike will love the layers of information in this book, beautifully married together by the illustrator, writer, and designer. Certainly a great STEM book, but also so appealing for young students interested in biographies.
nerfherder86's review
4.0
Hedy is one of my favorite Hollywood stars, for this double life she led: starlet by day, inventor by night. The sad part is that she didn't receive recognition until late in life. The book has great stylized art, kind of cartoony but it fits. Nice clear explanations of Hedy's "frequency hopping" invention, which she created to guide submarine torpedoes. Sadly it was never used until 1961, but today it is a vital part of cell phone and drone technology. One detraction of the book, for me, was that none of the multiple quotations from Hedy, highlighted in quotation marks and displayed in a big colorful font to call attention to them to mark various points in her life, none of them were sourced in the back of the book. There's just a selected bibliography, and a slightly self-promoting list of Further Reading About Women in STEM that includes two of the author's previous books. I really would have liked to see just a tiny little paragraph that listed the exact sources of those quotes. Picture book readers are not too young to learn that quotations come from somewhere. Sigh. Overall though, a nice book.