Secret Coders

In the final chapter of the novel, Hopper and Eni become closer friends while also getting closer to unlocking the secrets of Stately Academy. Mr. Bee gives them a challenging coding problem to solve, and the final panel of the novel is Little Guy asking the reader if they can figure out what commands they would need to give him to solve the challenge. Readers also understand more about Hopper’s family life, but they are once again left on a cliffhanger. Yang’s use of cliffhangers in this novel simultaneously encourages readers to think through coding problems and also encourages them to read on. This interactive structure mirrors the way coding itself works—one discovery often leads to new questions and challenges, reinforcing the idea that learning is an ongoing and dynamic process and highlighting Computer Coding as a Fun and Accessible Discipline. The third chapter also reveals a lot of information about Hopper’s personal life that helps readers understand why she has been particularly unhappy at Stately Academy.

In the scene where Hopper waits for Principal Dean in his office, readers learn why Hopper has so much animosity toward her mother and her Mandarin teacher, Ms. Hu—they are the same person. Hopper and her mother have had only distant and argumentative interactions up to this point, and, here, Hopper explicitly blames her mother for her father’s leaving. Her mother leaves the office, and they do not resolve their issues in the book, so there will still be conflict between them in the second book of the series. The revelation of Ms. Hu’s identity further reinforces Hopper’s struggle to navigate authority figures—both at home and at school. This tension reflects the broader idea of resisting authority while learning to work within a structured system, much like coding itself requires following rules while fostering creativity.

As their friendship grows, Hopper also opens up to Eni more when she admits that she just started playing basketball to get more attention from her father. She is embarrassed that she’s not as good at basketball as she pretended to be, but Eni understands her motivation for wanting to play. This moment strengthens the theme of Finding Your Place in a New Environment—Hopper initially searches for belonging through basketball but ultimately discovers that her true connection with Eni is built through problem-solving and curiosity.

Hopper and Eni also discover more about the nature of the strange activities around Stately Academy, but they raise more questions than answers, which are meant to pique readers’ curiosity for the next book in the series. Hopper and Eni realize that Mr. Bee is involved in programming the birds and Little Guy, and uses path portals, but they do not know why. They also don’t understand the interaction between Principal Dean and the creepy-looking man who comes out of his office. The fact that Mr. Bee knows who Hopper’s father is—and that this knowledge causes him to treat Hopper and Eni with a little more respect—is also a subject that the next book, Paths & Portals, promises to explore through cliffhangers and foreshadowing. This added layer of mystery suggests that coding is more than just a tool for logic and puzzles—it is deeply embedded in the characters’ personal histories and relationships, making it both a practical skill and an emotional key to unlocking Hopper’s past.

Even Hopper’s relationship with Josh seems to change slightly in this section. When he follows Hopper and Eni after practice, he seems a little jealous that Eni is spending so much time with Hopper and is insecure about losing his friend. He comes across as more needy than nosy, and, by the time they confront Mr. Bee and he gives them their coding challenge, he is a more sympathetic character that is now part of a trio of coders trying to solve mysteries. Josh’s gradual shift from antagonist to reluctant ally highlights the novel’s emphasis on teamwork and open-mindedness. His inclusion in the group reinforces the idea that anyone—even those who were initially resistant—can learn and find excitement in coding, highlighting computer coding as a fun and accessible discipline.