PRESS KIT

Aimee Lucido is the author of EMMY IN THE KEY OF CODE, RECIPE FOR DISASTER, her picture book debut, PASTA PASTA LOTSA PASTA (Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster, July 2024), and the upcoming WORDS APART (Versify, 2025). She got her MFA in writing for children and young adults at Hamline University and lives with her husband, daughter, and dog in Berkeley, CA where she likes to do trivia, run, and write crossword puzzles.

 

aimeelucido.com
Twitter: @AimeeLucido
Instagram: @AimeeLucido

 

RECIPE FOR DISASTER

In this heartfelt middle school drama, Hannah’s schemes for throwing her own bat mitzvah unleash family secrets, create rivalries with best friends, and ultimately teach Hannah what being Jewish is all about.

Details:
Reading age: 8 – 12 years
Grade Level: 3 – 7
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Versify
ISBN-10: 0358386918
ISBN-13: 978-0358386919

EMMY IN THE KEY OF CODE

Emmy in the Key of Code is the story of a 12-year old girl finding her voice in programming class just as secrets from her new best friend and her new favorite teacher threaten to destroy her newfound confidence.

Details:
Age Range: 10 – 12 years
Grade Level: 5 – 7
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Versify
ISBN-10: 0358040825
ISBN-13: 978-0358040828

RECIPE FOR DISASTER

“Recipe for my Family”

RECIPE FOR DISASTER excerpt poem,

(click to enlarge)

EMMY IN THE KEY OF CODE

Attempted Duet No. 1

“Hi, I’m new here. My name is—”

“That’s my locker.”

Attempted Duet No. 2 

“Hi, I’m new here. My name is—”

“You’re sitting at my desk.”

By the way…

My name is Emmy.

RECIPE FOR DISASTER

Download Educator’s Guide (PDF)

 

EMMY IN THE KEY OF CODE

Educators Guide thumbnail

Download Educator’s Guide (PDF)

 

RECIPE FOR DISASTER

“With a delicious mix of prose, poetry, and recipes, this hybrid novel is another fresh, thoughtful, and accessible Versify novel that is cookin’.”

—New York Times Best-Selling Author Kwame Alexander

 

EMMY IN THE KEY OF CODE


Nominated for a Connecticut Nutmeg award

Longlisted for the Carnegie Medal (UK)

Winner of the 2020 Northern California Book Award for Middle Grade Literature

★ “As Emmy learns Java, the language and structure of programming seep into her poems. Music and code interweave…. and readers will cheer to see them work collectively…to create something beautiful.”
—Kirkus, STARRED review

“Music, coding, strong female techie role models—this engaging first novel should attract a wide audience.”
—Booklist

“This timely debut…champions girls in STEM and delivers a positive message about being ‘always exactly yourself’….Through the author’s creative mesh of coding, music, poetry, and narrative, this story uniquely conveys the art and beauty that can be found in multiple disciplines…. relatable and relevant.”
—Publishers Weekly

“This unusual tale seamlessly weaves basic computer coding concepts into a compelling story about middle schoolers struggling to forge their own identities in spite of the expectations of their families and society.”
—School Library Journal

PRESS KIT

Aimee Lucido is the author of EMMY IN THE KEY OF CODE, RECIPE FOR DISASTER, her picture book debut, PASTA PASTA LOTSA PASTA (Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster, July 2024), and the upcoming WORDS APART (Versify, 2025). She got her MFA in writing for children and young adults at Hamline University and lives with her husband, daughter, and dog in Berkeley, CA where she likes to do trivia, run, and write crossword puzzles.

aimeelucido.com
Twitter: @AimeeLucido
Instagram: @AimeeLucido

RECIPE FOR DISASTER

In this heartfelt middle school drama, Hannah’s schemes for throwing her own bat mitzvah unleash family secrets, create rivalries with best friends, and ultimately teach Hannah what being Jewish is all about.

Details:
Reading age: 8 – 12 years
Grade Level: 3 – 7
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Versify
ISBN-10: 0358386918
ISBN-13: 978-0358386919

EMMY IN THE KEY OF CODE

Emmy in the Key of Code is the story of a 12-year old girl finding her voice in programming class just as secrets from her new best friend and her new favorite teacher threaten to destroy her newfound confidence.

Details:
Age Range: 10 – 12 years
Grade Level: 5 – 7
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Versify
ISBN-10: 0358040825
ISBN-13: 978-0358040828

RECIPE FOR DISASTER

“Recipe for my Family”

RECIPE FOR DISASTER excerpt poem,

(click to enlarge)

EMMY IN THE KEY OF CODE

Attempted Duet No. 1

“Hi, I’m new here. My name is—”

“That’s my locker.”

Attempted Duet No. 2 

“Hi, I’m new here. My name is—”

“You’re sitting at my desk.”

By the way…

My name is Emmy.

RECIPE FOR DISASTER

Download Educator’s Guide (PDF)

 

EMMY IN THE KEY OF CODE

Educators Guide thumbnail

Download Educator’s Guide (PDF)

 

RECIPE FOR DISASTER

“With its beautiful writing and authentic understanding of this age group, it qualifies as ‘outstanding.’” and “Recipe for Disaster by Aimee Lucido is not just tasty but also filling.”

The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

“With a delicious mix of prose, poetry, and recipes, this hybrid novel is another fresh, thoughtful, and accessible Versify novel that is cookin’.”

—New York Times Best-Selling Author Kwame Alexander

 

EMMY IN THE KEY OF CODE


Nominated for a Connecticut Nutmeg award

Longlisted for the Carnegie Medal (UK)

Winner of the 2020 Northern California Book Award for Middle Grade Literature

★ “As Emmy learns Java, the language and structure of programming seep into her poems. Music and code interweave…. and readers will cheer to see them work collectively…to create something beautiful.”
—Kirkus, STARRED review

“Music, coding, strong female techie role models—this engaging first novel should attract a wide audience.”
—Booklist

“This timely debut…champions girls in STEM and delivers a positive message about being ‘always exactly yourself’….Through the author’s creative mesh of coding, music, poetry, and narrative, this story uniquely conveys the art and beauty that can be found in multiple disciplines…. relatable and relevant.”
—Publishers Weekly

“This unusual tale seamlessly weaves basic computer coding concepts into a compelling story about middle schoolers struggling to forge their own identities in spite of the expectations of their families and society.”
—School Library Journal

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