The Love Code

by Mette Bach

Overview

"A sweet and uplifting novel for reluctant readers." — Kirkus Reviews

Astrid is a teen living in Vancouver who has lost everything: her girlfriend to a guy and her social status when her parents lose their jobs. Determined to make her way into university, she joins a robotics club hoping to make contacts and win a scholarship but also finds the love of her life. The Love Code tells the story of a relatable teen navigating the contemporary world of women working in STEM careers within a changing economy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781459415850
Publisher:	James Lorimer & Company Ltd., Publishers
Publication date:	02/16/2021
Series:	Lorimer Real Love
Sold by:	De Marque
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
Lexile:	HL540L (what's this?)
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

METTE BACH is the author of the Lorimer SideStreets novels Femme and Killer Drop (named a Best Book for Kids and Teens by the Canadian Children's Book Centre) and the Real Love titles Love Is Love, You're You, Cinders and Charming. She has taught ESL to high-school students and currently works at a drop-in resource centre. Mette lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Editorial Reviews

2021-12-15
Astrid struggles through her dramatically changed life, learning how to balance work, school, robotics club, and new love.

A year ago, Astrid’s parents lost their jobs, the house, and all their savings, completely upending her life. She had been a carefree teen with a loving girlfriend, Ivy. Now she works every spare moment at a frozen yogurt shop, scrounging tips and saving her meager pay while handling abusive customers, all in the hope of attending university. Unfortunately, when Astrid joins a youth-led robotics team sponsored by the University of British Columbia, she finds that Ivy’s new boyfriend, Karsyn, is already a member. As Astrid struggles with extra work shifts and robotics meetings with the increasingly patronizing Karsyn, she starts to notice a girl named Bernie, their confident team captain. While Astrid’s inner narration is sometimes clunky, her maturation and evolving sense of self are realistic and easy to follow. Similarly, the discussions of stress, money issues, family, and gender roles add important layers to the simple plot. The robotics competition is not fleshed out in detail but provides an entertaining backdrop to Astrid’s growth as well as a parallel between their creations and love interest Bernie, who may be neurodivergent. Their romance is slow and satisfying but would have benefited from further exploration. Astrid is assumed White; Bernie is cued as East Asian, and names signal ethnic diversity in the supporting cast.

A sweet and uplifting novel for reluctant readers. (Romance. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews