The Girl With a Mind for Math

August 1, 2018

K-Gr 2-A picture book biography on the life and work of engineer and computer analyst Raye Montague. As with other titles in the series, Mosca tells the story of her subject's inspiration, perseverance, and hard work in rhyming couplets. Shunted into a business degree when she had hoped to study engineering, Montague's first job out of college was as a typist for the Navy. She observed closely, took night classes, and, one day when the entire white male engineering staff called out sick, seized the opportunity to demonstrate her mastery by completing their tasks as well as her own. In 1971, she used a computer program she had written to design a submarine, completing a task that had previously taken months in under one day. However, her contributions were not widely acknowledged for decades. Mosca calls out the systemic and interpersonal racism and sexism that threatened Montague's career and credits Montague with the determination and genius needed to get the job done anyway. While the rhymes are somewhat forced in places, the overall tone and message, as well as Rieley's appealing cartoonish illustrations, creates a positive, accessible portrait of an unsung hero of science. Back matter includes a letter from Montague to readers, a time line of Montague's life, and a more detailed biographical sketch directed to older readers. VERDICT A solid addition to the picture book biography shelves and STEAM curricula for young readers.-Jennifer Costa, Cambridge Public Library, MA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 1, 2018
The true story of an African-American woman who broke barriers by reaching her potential as an engineer. When Raye Montague saw a submarine at age 7 and learned that an engineer had built it, she found her calling. Her mother told her to stay strong and not let those who looked down on her because of her race and her gender hold her back. She attended segregated schools, and in college she was told that engineering was not taught to black students, so she majored in business. She became a typist in a place where they built submarines, and although her boss underestimated her, Raye paid attention at work and took classes at night. When the flu had most of the staff out sick, Raye did the engineers' work "from MEMORY." She got promoted and went on to design the first ship by computer. It was not all smooth sailing, though; only white men were invited to the unveiling of the ship she had designed, and she was still treated with disrespect. The use of perspective and artful composition in the simple illustrations conveys Montague's isolation and her determination. The text, in light rhyming verse, condemns the unfair treatment she received ("No invite?! / ABHORRIBLE!")--a great model for building awareness of racism and solid inspiration for achieving against the odds. The author interviewed Montague for her research, and further information culled from the conversation appears in the backmatter.A fun read and an uplifting story. (timeline, biographical note, bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 4-8)

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August 1, 2018
Grades K-3 NASA wasn't the only government agency with hidden figures. Born in Arkansas in 1935, Raye Montague saw her first submarine at age seven and knew she wanted to be an engineer. Accompanied by expressive digitized illustrations, this rhyming picture-book biography describes the challenges and triumphs Montague met as an African American woman. Educated in segregated schools, she was denied an engineering degree and had to major in business. But with courage, persistence, and a little luck, she headed to Washington, D.C., where she was hired as a typist by the U.S. Navy, in their branch that operates submarines. Not deterred by racism and sexism, she observed the male engineers and taught herself computer programming. Finally, her big break arrived when President Nixon ordered a ship to be built in two months (a feat that took engineers two years to do by hand). Using a computer, Montague completed the task in a record 18 hours! Concluding photographs, a time line, and facts about Montague round out the quick rhymes. Hidden Figures fans will applaud.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)