36 pages • 1-hour read
Secret Coders
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Symbols & Motifs
Birds
At first, Hopper thinks that the strange birds that live around Stately Academy are creepy. Then, she and Eni realize that they are visual illustrations of how binary code works. When certain numbers are shown to them, they change the configuration of their four eyes to display that number in binary code. This happens when they see Hopper’s number seven earrings, the large number nine painted on the school’s exterior walls, when Mr. Bee shines a 15 at them, and when Hopper shows them the zero on Eni’s basketball jersey. They respond to each number differently because Mr. Bee has programmed them. Because binary code and computer programming are abstract concepts, the birds are useful as a visual and concrete display of binary code for Hopper and Eni, as well as for readers who are learning about coding. Throughout the novel, the birds are simultaneously symbols of binary code, active participants in the plot of the story, and elements that add to the creepy environment of Stately Academy. Because they are controlled by Mr. Bee and he has them attack Hopper and Eni, they have a sinister feel to them.
Robotic Turtle (“Little Guy”)
The robotic turtle, which Eni and Hopper call “Little Guy,” is another physical symbol of the possibilities of coding. Eni and Hopper learn that Mr. Bee has used the turtle to do one of his cleaning tasks, clearing the sidewalk, for him. Hopper also uses the turtle to get back at Josh for teasing her and Eni. When they find the program that Mr. Bee has written called “OpenSesame,” they realize that Little Guy also completes commands that open up portals to the secrets of Stately Academy. Rather than use an abstract symbol to execute the programs and commands, a physical robot turtle helps readers visualize what the programs can do. The robot is a turtle because the graphics used in the Logo programming language that perform the commands are called turtles.
Numbers
A major motif in the novel is numbers that are posted around Stately Academy and displayed by different characters. In many cases, the numbers have meaning beyond the numerical value and also cause different characters to look or behave differently when they see them. The number 9s on the school buildings and Hopper’s “seven” earrings are visible in the comics before the characters refer to them. When they do, readers learn that seven is significant to Hopper because it is her basketball jersey number. The number seven also causes the birds around the school to change the configuration of their open and closed eyes, which draws more attention to the fact that they have four eyes. Eni realizes that the large number of nines around the school are there so that the birds will keep their outer two eyes open and inner two eyes closed, which makes them look more like normal birds. Mr. Bee has programmed the birds so that when they are shown the number 15, which causes all four of their eyes to open, they will attack. Hopper discovers that this command can be disabled by showing them the number zero, which happens to be Eni’s basketball jersey number. Using numbers to activate the birds gives them a magical purpose beyond just their numerical value, which reinforces the theme that coding is empowering and can sometimes feel like magic for the people who learn how to do it.
Locks and Codes
Throughout the novel, locks and coded messages serve as obstacles that Hopper and Eni must crack to uncover the secrets of Stately Academy. The padlock on Mr. Bee’s shed initially prevents them from discovering Little Guy, but once they understand how to interpret the birds' binary-coded eyes, they gain access. Similarly, the “Open Sesame” program is a coded command that reveals hidden pathways in the school, emphasizing the idea that knowledge—especially in coding—acts as a key to unlocking new possibilities. The recurring presence of locks, hidden passages, and coded commands symbolizes the journey of learning and discovery, reinforcing the novel’s message that those who understand coding can unlock doors, both literally and metaphorically.
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