by Jean Little
First published 1998
Henry Beard, John Boswell, and Ron Barrett stumble upon an extraordinary prize through sheer luck: Bill Gates' personal laptop. The three authors, who freely admit their computer illiteracy, face a tantalizing dilemma. Here sits the private digital world of the planet's wealthiest individual, packed with confidential notes, strategic plans, personal emails, and daily task lists. Unable to navigate the technology themselves, they recruit tech-savvy preteens to break into the machine's secrets. What they uncover reveals the inner workings of Gates' mind in all its calculating, nerdy glory. The laptop's contents expose the thoughts and schemes of the man who controls much of the digital universe. This fabricated peek behind the curtain captures the essence of someone who already owns most readers or will soon enough.
Genres: fiction, satire, computers, comedy, technology, 21st-century
Vibes: fast-paced, humorous, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Period: 21st Century
112 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster