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FACTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Early Days: Grew up lost in books in rainy Seattle, where bookstores and libraries felt like home. B4L!

Game Changer: His father's bold choice—a Mac Classic in 1988—showed him technology wasn't just for "other people"

Home Base: Shares life in the Bay Area with Connie, his wife of 26 years, their children, and Tank, the world's most curious tortoise

Global Impact: Transformed tech teams across continents, including a pioneering leadership role in South Korea

Secret Talent: Can break down any tech concept using just a restaurant menu—a skill that came in handy while writing Cass Freeman

Inspiration Source: Found his heroes in sci-fi stories: Geordi LaForge, Panthro, Shuri, and Lucius Fox—Black innovators who showed him what was possible

Core Truth: A relentless optimist, believer, and encourager—dedicated to opening doors in tech and empowering the next generation of innovators.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Bryan Kelly was scanning summer program applications for his kids when a single essay prompt stopped him cold.


“What have you done with data?”


The question lingered. In 1988, his father bought him and his twin brother their first computer, a Mac Classic, at a time when most people thought computers were too advanced for kids. That bold choice changed everything. It proved that technology wasn’t something to fear. It was a door to the future.


Now, decades later, Bryan saw a different door that needed opening. Despite 25 years leading global tech teams, he couldn’t find stories where young people, especially Black kids, used data to solve real problems. Where were the books that made data science feel exciting, accessible, and personal?


He thought back to his own breakthrough moment in tech. No computer. Little formal training. Just a few all-night coding sessions to build an MS Access application from scratch. That experience, going from nothing to proving he belonged, became the heart of Cass Freeman’s journey.


That’s why he wrote Cass Freeman: Decision Trees.


Through Cass’s story, Bryan is showing young readers that technology isn’t just about numbers. It’s about choices, creativity, and having the courage to rewrite your own future. It’s about proving that everyone deserves a chance to shape tomorrow’s technology, not just use it.


Want more of Cass Freeman?
Sign up here to learn about our upcoming titles and companion series

Bryan Kelly was scanning summer program applications for his kids when a single essay prompt stopped him cold.


“What have you done with data?”


The question lingered. In 1988, his father bought him and his twin brother their first computer, a Mac Classic, at a time when most people thought computers were too advanced for kids. That bold choice changed everything. It proved that technology wasn’t something to fear. It was a door to the future.


Now, decades later, Bryan saw a different door that needed opening. Despite 25 years leading global tech teams, he couldn’t find stories where young people, especially Black kids, used data to solve real problems. Where were the books that made data science feel exciting, accessible, and personal?


He thought back to his own breakthrough moment in tech. No computer. Little formal training. Just a few all-night coding sessions to build an MS Access application from scratch. That experience, going from nothing to proving he belonged, became the heart of Cass Freeman’s journey.


That’s why he wrote Cass Freeman: Decision Trees.


Through Cass’s story, Bryan is showing young readers that technology isn’t just about numbers. It’s about choices, creativity, and having the courage to rewrite your own future. It’s about proving that everyone deserves a chance to shape tomorrow’s technology, not just use it.


Want more of Cass Freeman?
Sign up here to learn about our upcoming titles and companion series

Stories transform technology from something to learn into something to create. Through them, young minds don't just see the future—they see their place in shaping it.

Stories transform technology from something to learn into something to create. Through them, young minds don't just see the future—they see their place in shaping it.

WHY THE STORY AND WHY NOW?

Every technological breakthrough widens two gaps. One between those who create and those who consume, and another between those who see themselves in tech’s future and those who do not.


When Bryan searched for books that showed young people, especially those from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds, using data to solve real problems, he found a void. The same void he faced growing up until his father’s bold choice with that Mac Classic proved that technology wasn’t just for “other people.”


Cass Freeman: Decision Trees isn’t just another STEM book. It is about that pivotal moment when you realize the future isn’t something you have to accept. It is something you can create.

Ignite a Passion for Technology

Discover how Bryan Kelly is igniting a passion for technology in the next generation. Schedule a meeting to explore how his work can inspire young minds to embrace tech.

Schedule a Meeting

Curious to learn more? Book a meeting with Bryan Kelly to explore how his initiatives can shape the future of technology education.

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