Numbed!

September 15, 2013
Sixth-graders Logan and Benedict are zapped by a mathematics-loving robot, numbing them to the power of numbers. Benedict cannot obey the rules, and Logan tries to keep his buddy in check in this over-the-top school fantasy. While on a boring trip to the Mobius Mathematical Museum, Benedict sees a restricted experimental area, roped-off and forbidden. Of course he ducks under the ropes and into danger. Soon, the boys meet Dr. Thagoras and his amazing robot, Cypher. After they insult the robot, he zaps all number knowledge out of their brains. Only relearning math in the controlled environment of the museum will allow them to regain the use of the mathematical parts of their brains. What raises this from sheer silliness is the way the boys earn their math powers back. First, they learn addition and subtraction and think they are done. But no, they need to remaster multiplication and division, geometry and probability as well. The tests the boys have to pass are enjoyable and entertaining, stretching readers' brains and reinforcing the power of math. Teachers will enjoy reading this aloud and challenging their students. While the plot might be a little thin, the number ideas more than make up for it. The sum of the parts is greater than the whole here, which is probably exactly the point. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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August 1, 2013

Gr 4-6-After a seemingly mundane field trip to the Mobius Mathematics Museum, best friends Logan and Benedict will never think that math is boring again. Despite Ms. Fractalli's warning, Benedict wanders into an experimental area of the museum and Logan is forced to follow. Their number-filled adventure includes teacher manipulation, colossal puzzles, and new mathematical concepts. After being "numbed" by a robot, Logan and Benedict begin to understand just how crucial math is to their everyday lives. Youngsters will identify with the characters, whose initial attitude toward math and their class trip is lackluster. What begins as average realistic fiction quickly transitions to a zany number adventure. Lubar's integration of mathematical concepts, such as the Mobius loop and probability, simultaneously teaches and entertains. The simple word choices and vocabulary allow readers to focus on the situations the boys face and not on the lessons behind the story arc. This book will delight teachers and students alike with its wide appeal, zany humor, and vast potential for use in classrooms.-Mary-Brook J. Townsend, The McGillis School, Salt Lake City, UT

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