IMPOSTER

A high school sophomore learns how to code—and how to fight back against gender discrimination.

Cameron Goldberg, whose Jewish parents are Panamanian and American (implied white), and her best friend, Vivian Knix, finally get to enroll in electives now that they’re entering 10th grade. Cam, a maker who loves to tinker, has chosen Introduction to Computer Science, but when she finds she’s the only girl in the class, and even the teacher is surprised to see her there, she starts to realize just how unwelcoming tech can be to women. Determined, she and classmate Jackson design a game that features a woman main character who fights—literally—the forces of prejudice she faces in the industry. Cam and Viv also join an all-boys competitive robotics team, where their significant contributions are ultimately celebrated, although they endure repeated discrimination, especially from one of the club’s copresidents. This affirming debut shines a light on the ways women and girls are often made to feel like imposters in STEM fields. With believable dialogue, snappy pacing, and clever use of coding elements for chapter headings and section breaks (the latter are denoted by “< br >”), Levin’s novel is a thoroughly engaging read that gives powerful voice to an important issue without coming across as preachy.

An inspiring, unapologetically feminist takedown of misogyny in STEM culture.