Big Data Analyst: ISBN 978-1-68282-176-3 / eBook: 978-1-68282-177-0
Biomedical Engineer: ISBN 978-1-68282-178-7 / eBook: 978-1-68282-179-4
Cybersecurity Analyst: ISBN 978-1-68282-182-4 / eBook: 978-1-68282-183-1
Robotics Engineer: ISBN 978-1-68282-186-2 / eBook: 978-1-68282-187-9
Software Engineer: ISBN 978-1-68282-188-6 / eBook: 978-1-68282-189-3
Video Game Designer: ISBN 978-1-68282-184-8 / eBook: 978-1-68282-185-5
Virtual Reality Developer: ISBN 978-1-68282-190-9 / eBook: 978-1-68282-191-6
School Library Connection, Jan/Feb 2018
The series is like the Department of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook on steroids. It covers many of the same topics but in much greater depth. Each book covers basic categories in the same order. For example, in Robotics Engineer, readers learn exactly what a robotic engineer does along with possible steps to follow in order to become one, including formal education, volunteer work, and internships that will bolster a resume. There’s a section on skills and personality qualities needed as well, allowing students to get a feel for whether or not they’ll like a specific career. A particularly helpful feature of these books is a description of a typical day in the life of a person doing each job, including an interview with someone working in that field. This series is relatively inexpensive and would be a good addition for schools that focus on career development, although they will have a short shelf life. Bibliography. Index.
Laura Younkin, Librarian, Ballard High School, Louisville, Kentucky
Recommended
Big Data Analyst: ISBN 978-1-68282-176-3 / eBook: 978-1-68282-177-0
Biomedical Engineer: ISBN 978-1-68282-178-7 / eBook: 978-1-68282-179-4
Cybersecurity Analyst: ISBN 978-1-68282-182-4 / eBook: 978-1-68282-183-1
Robotics Engineer: ISBN 978-1-68282-186-2 / eBook: 978-1-68282-187-9
Software Engineer: ISBN 978-1-68282-188-6 / eBook: 978-1-68282-189-3
Video Game Designer: ISBN 978-1-68282-184-8 / eBook: 978-1-68282-185-5
Virtual Reality Developer: ISBN 978-1-68282-190-9 / eBook: 978-1-68282-191-6
School Library Journal, November 2017
Gr 5 Up—Each title starts with an introductory infograph called “At a Glance” and leaves no doubt that the future belongs to math and science, pointing to large job growth percentages, high average salaries, and minimum educational requirements that do not always demand a four-year degree. Analysts in Big Data and Cybersecurity are in high demand to manage and protect the billions of records and unstructured data that are produced each day. The narrative is current and on top of the latest research and development, mentioning innovations such as motion-tracking gloves that allow users to touch virtual objects. The conversation flows easily and covers all of the traditional training, salary, and outlook information. Interesting asides address moral issues, such as robots taking jobs away from humans, the lack of women in software engineering jobs, and the critical need to be able to translate “geek-speak” to nonengineers. Inset boxes with quotes from the field, question-and-answer interviews, and close-up captioned photos are all icing on the cake.
VERDICT: Technology advancements at a breakneck pace make this a timely addition to high school career and STEM collections.