React: From Zero to a Working Application

Introduction

The book "React Up and Running" by Stoyan Stefanov was published in 2022 and immediately attracted the attention of both beginners and experienced developers looking to systematize their knowledge of React. This is not another multi-page tome, but a compact (212 pages) practical guide that promises to teach you how to build modern web applications with React in a short time. The book is written in a lively, accessible language and is aimed at those already familiar with the basics of JavaScript (including ES6+) and Node.js.

What This Book Is About

The author consistently guides the reader from the very basics of React to building a full-fledged single-page application. The main focus is on:

• Environment setup (Create React App, Vite);
• JSX and its features;
• Components — functional and class-based;
• State management (useState, useReducer);
• Side effects (useEffect);
• Working with forms and events;
• Routing (React Router);
• Component testing (Jest, React Testing Library);
• Deploying the finished application.

Each chapter contains code examples that can be run and modified immediately. At the end of the book, you will create a small but functional application — a task manager (todo-list) with filtering and data persistence in localStorage.

Who This Book Is For

The book is intended for beginner React developers who already have basic knowledge of JavaScript (variables, functions, arrays, objects, promises) and want to quickly enter the world of React. It will also be useful for those transitioning from other frameworks (Angular, Vue) and wanting to understand the philosophy of React. Experienced developers can use the book as a reference for modern hooks and best practices.

What the Reader Will Learn

• How to set up a React project from scratch and choose a build tool;
• How to write components and properly organize their hierarchy;
• How to manage state and avoid "prop drilling";
• How to work with hooks (useState, useEffect, useRef, useMemo, useCallback);
• How to implement routing and navigation;
• How to test components and write unit tests;
• How to prepare an application for production and deploy it on a hosting platform.

Strengths

1. Conciseness and focus. Unlike many React books that try to cover everything at once, "React Up and Running" strictly adheres to its main goal — teaching the reader to build a working application. No unnecessary theory — only practice.

2. Relevance. The book was published in 2022, so all examples use modern approaches: functional components, hooks, React Router v6. Outdated class components are mentioned only for context.

3. Clear code. Each example is accompanied by explanations, and complex concepts are broken down into simple steps. The code can be copied and run immediately.

4. Testing. A separate chapter is dedicated to testing — a rare quality for introductory books. The reader will learn how to write tests for components and why it is important.

5. Real-world scenarios. The author covers typical problems developers face: form management, working with APIs, error handling, performance optimization.

Who It Is Recommended For

The book will be useful for:

• Beginner frontend developers who want to learn React from scratch;
• Backend developers transitioning to full-stack;
• Students and participants in web development courses;
• Anyone who wants to quickly gain practical skills in working with React without diving into academic theory.

If you are looking for a book that will help you write your first React application and understand the core concepts in a couple of evenings, "React Up and Running" is an excellent choice.