David Karp

July 1, 2013

Gr 4-6-An introductory look at the creator of one of the Web's most popular social platforms. Born in 1986 and raised in New York City, Karp became a self-taught computer coder by the age of 11 and created his own websites soon after. Over the next eight years, he dropped out of high school, worked full time in the tech industry, and moved to Tokyo for five months, returning home to focus on the consulting firm he established at the age of 19. Children should delight in Karp's success at such a young age while easily identifying with his need to stretch the truth about his age and experience to prove his worth. The remainder of this slim book focuses on how Tumblr, which he and his business partner, Marco Arment, launched in 2007, has grown into a profitable company. This straightforward account is accompanied by plenty of bright color photographs, although few of them depict Tumblr or its content. For collections needing an update on biographical fare this would be an adequate purchase.-Rebecca Gueorguiev, New York Public Library

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2013
Bland, standard-issue profile of a (now) 26-year-old Internet entrepreneur. Citing only previously published sources, the author retraces Karp's rocketlike rise from disaffected student and teenage computer nerd to chief architect of Tumblr. Since he hasn't really done much, aside from leaving school early, spending a few months in Japan and then making a zillion dollars since 2007 with his microblogging platform, the narrative is largely an eye-glazing tally of internships, business associates, awards and dizzying statistical milestones. Kenney neglects to analyze Tumblr's innovations, online community or general context--or for that matter, even to explain the origins of "tumblelog," from which the platform's name is derived. Her insights into Karp's character are limited to mentions of idols Steve Jobs (extolled for his "keynotes") and Willy Wonka and his habit of carrying a paper notebook because "[being] on computers all the time makes me feel gross." Many of the color photos are space-filler views of city skylines or the outsides of buildings. Just another fabulously wealthy high school dropout role model. (endnotes, bibliography, index) (Biography. 10-13)

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June 1, 2013
Grades 5-8 When it comes to biographies, readers often have to pick between Ben Franklin and Franklin Roosevelt, so here's something new. David Karp, now just 23, is the founder of Tumblr (sort of a cross between a Twitter post and a blog). Like Mark Zuckerberg, and Steve Jobs before him, Karp was fascinated by computers at a young agehe was coding programs on his dad's Apple by the age of 10. When high school didn't interest him, his mother allowed him to be homeschooled, with an emphasis on computers, coding, and Japanese. By 19, he had his own company. This slim, trim biography will have real appeal for readers. Not only does it chronicle the life of a young man with whom they can identify but it also provides insight into the social media world that they're smack in the middle of. The color photographs are well chosen, and the quotes are all sourced. A list of websites and articles and books for further reading will direct kids who want to know more.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2013
A coding prodigy, Karp, compelled by the vision of a blog format that is clean-looking and simple to use, launched Tumblr in 2007 at age twenty-one. Dull writing detracts from it slightly, but overall the presentation of Karp's self-propelled career is inspiring. Screenshots and contemporary photos add context but vary in relevance. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)