I'm looking for JavaScript textbook suggestions and critiques.

My colleague and I were recently hired as contractors for SRP for GUI user testing of enterprise software. (Autistic people have a reputation for tolerating, and even being good at software testing, so its a case of affirmative action. Who am I to argue with an unjustified gift.) My younger coworker only knew HTML and CSS when he was hired. I've got a community college certificate of completion in computer programming, and two or three years of experience. Plus, I'm learning that I'm at least modestly gifted as a programmer. I have coursework in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript at the entry level.

The proprietary GUI testing tool is currently programmed in VBScript, but the rumor, that is very likely true, is that they plan to go to JavaScript.

I offered to study either JavaScript or Python on our own time, or VBScript if he could talk the bosses into putting the training on the clock. So it's Monday and Thursdays after work studying JavaScript as an introduction to programming. (I was hoping he'd opt for Python. I want to learn Python.)

I'm not really impressed with internet free tutorials. I want a book with a decent number of exercises and short projects with most in the easy to moderate range, priced under $100, and preferably around $50 or less.

I know I didn't like my textbook, Murach's JavaScript, 2nd Ed. The price was right, but it wasn't challenging enough.

If you work at SRP and want to join us, let me know. The more the merrier. I think there will be a lot of pair programming.

Trent.