PositiveBooklist... presents an unflinching, frank examination of the realities of being a child without a home and being surrounded by a fundamentally flawed system where neither child nor parent have enough help, or the right help, to break the cycle of poverty. Ambroz’s story is a frightening example of how easily inadequate procedures and policies traumatize lives each and every day. The heart of this first memoir is both a raw account of Ambroz’s journey to adulthood and a powerful, uncompromising call to action for significant change.
Kathy Kleiman
PositiveBooklistIn the history of computer programming, stories of women’s contributions are frequently untold...Kleiman spotlights one such gap in programming history here...During and after WWII, six women—Kathleen McNulty, Frances Bilas, Frances Elizabeth Snyder, Marlyn Wescoff, Ruth Lichterman, and Betty Jean Jennings—used mathematical skill and innovation to program early computing technology...Kleiman excels at capturing the pressures of working in technology during a highly stressful period in history, particularly when the results of technological trials directly impacted war efforts...At times, the focus of the narrative strays from the women, to a slight detriment of the book’s intention...However, the inclusion of direct interviews with the women and the clear passion for their stories make Proving Ground a needed and welcome addition to the shelves of computer history.
