Solving for M absolutely speaks to me as an adult who has a career in one of the STEM fields and children involved in these areas as well. I love the way this book uses a POV of a young child who is going through a difficult time at home and then her interactions through her math class and the teacher she has there. She is fortunate enough to have a teacher who wants to make math fun and more than just paperwork but instead bring it to life. Anyone lucky enough to have this sort of teacher is truly blessed. This book was very sensitive to the challenges that this young girl faced in her personal life with her mother's cancer and separation of her parents. The illustrations and the use of "word problems" were a wonderful addition to this story. I will look forward to checking this out in a physical copy to see how much better it looks in that format (its good in digital but I'm guessing it will be best in physical form).
Definitely recommend!

#SolvingForM #NetGalley #RandomHouseChildrens #CrownBooksforYoungReaders

When Mika's mom goes to the doctor to have a spot on her leg looked at, Mika has no idea that the rest of her 5th grade year will be defined by this moment. This year she has a new math teacher whose unconventional math journal technique helps Mika make sense of all of the changes happening at home.
This is a book I think both children and their parents should read because Mika's mother's attempts to shield her daughter from the harsh realities of her diagnosis backfire. This book would be a valuable tool in teaching kids how to ask questions, even when they are tough, and advocate for real answers. It was also nice to see how the teaching methods used by her math teacher really helped Mika not only learn math but learn some valuable problem solving skills.

This book tells two stories: life upended by a parent's illness and social changes that come with adolescence. The interplay between these elements, especially the affects of a non-traditional teacher on the way a young person develops, is well plotted. It's a compelling if somewhat predictable story about finding new friends and looking at problems from a new perspective. I liked that the approach to the math journals was more than just "math is everywhere". Through her journal, Mika learns new approaches to all of her problems. Conversely, addressing life problems teaches her new ways of looking at math. There were some plot elements that felt unnecessary and over-wrought, but overall the plot and characters are strong.

Delightful! The seriousness of Mika's mother's illness is balanced with the fun math teacher and the faithful friends Mika makes in 5th grade. Loved the math journal pieces - shows how Mika is dealing with her new realities at home and the questions she has about her family and her mom's illness while tying into the math concepts they are covering in class. One of my favorite moments is when Mika takes charge of a situation at home and her mom sees her in a new light. Lovely. HIGHLY recommend this one. It is everything I love about middle grade fiction.

I will never be able to say enough about this beautiful book. Solving for M is one of those wonderful stories that deserves more than five stars. As an adult, reading children's literature sometimes is challenging because I cannot connect with the characters. I read a lot of MG lit because I teach 5th grade ELA. This book was one that I couldn't put down, and often read this instead of reading an adult book.

Mika's character is struggling to begin middle school in a new building, in a new pod, away from her best friend. Her anxiety is doubled when her mom gets sick. Kids will be able to relate to Mika on SO many levels. They'll also fall in love with Mr. Vann, the teacher in the book. I wanted to be in his class, and I want to be the kind of teacher he is.

The "chapters" in the book coincide with math units in class, and kids that are good at math, interested in math, or think that math is boring will enjoy that aspect. I want to start my own math journal, and I'm 30.

Again, this was a beautiful book full of lovable characters in heartbreaking situations. I highly recommend and will be using this book in my Mock Newbery club in the fall.

I received an advance copy; all thoughts are my own.

This is an absolutely wonderful and at times gut-wrenching read. If you’re looking for an MG that tackles tough stuff with grace and gentleness, this is where you should go to find it. Mika lives at home with her mom, where things are usually “just the two of us” for them— but not long into the story, Mika’s mom is diagnosed with a serious illness that leaves her future full of treatments and hazy outcomes. With her mom no longer completely independent, Mika sees the introduction of other people into her daily home life, including her grandma and her mom’s best friend. Her entire life goes upside down as her mom’s illness worsens, and Mika struggles to find answers that are always out of reach.

I think the thing I loved most about this novel is that it felt so authentically middle-grade, both in terms of the way subject matter was dealt with and Mika’s actual narrative voice. I love MG with my whole heart, and at the same time, I’ve long been a stickler of the notion that you really need to understand and grasp that middle-schooler narrative voice if you’re going to write it in first-person. Solving For M accomplishes this brilliantly. Mika has thoughts and opinions and dialogue that feel very authentic and true to her age.

And on that note, this setting of such a serious family story in a MG that ultimately feels heartwarming is an emotional rollercoaster. But in a good way. I was genuinely touched by this story, and at its core it’s a tale about love and finding family in those who might not be our immediate family. From Grandma Beau to Jeanie to her two best friends at school to her mom, Mika is surrounded by people who care. Also, girl power! Most of the cast is made up of strong girl characters.

And double also… STEM girls! Mika and her friends having fun in math is like a breath of fresh air. It’s not often we see girls enjoying math in MG. (Or anyone enjoying math, for that matter). Mr. Vann, the teacher who starts it all, never fails to entertain. He feels like an ode to many memories we all hold of teachers who made an imprint to last us a lifetime.

I loved the way the “school subject” themes were so seamlessly woven into the novel. The book is full of illustrations to represent Mika’s math journals for class, courtesy of illustrator Jennifer Naalchigar, and a major kudos to this book for using visual storytelling as an extremely effective medium. Mika’s math journals always have something to do with what is going on in her life and in the story, and as a result, they can often be emotional and deeply meaningful even while attempting to explain basic math concepts like fractions and rational numbers. Mika loves art and ends up loving her math class, so combining both into the math journal is (besides being the premise of the novel itself) super effective, and I’m glad we get to see those pictures on-page.

This novel deals with heavy themes, but in a way that feels so authentically MG and true to the heart. Mika’s story is equal parts tough stuff and the lighthearted life of a simple middle-schooler. Many hats off to Jennifer Swender for crafting a story that deals with thematically difficult content, in a setting that’s easy and welcome to digest.

Mika is having a hard time as she starts fifth grade in Highbridge Middle School. In order to ease the transition, classes are in pods, and Mika is not in a pod with her friends. Her teacher, Mr. Vann, is very charismatic and tries to make math very lively, even giving them math journals to complete. Mika has trouble with old friends, but does make some new ones. The big concern, however, is that her mother has a spot on the back of her leg that turns out to be a malignant melanoma, and requires much more medical attention than expected. Mika's father hasn't been in the picture for a while, and is living in Florida with his new wife, so Jeannie, a friend of her mother's, and Grandma Beau step up to help with Mika and with getting Mika's mother's medical treatments. This is all stressful for everyone, but Mika takes comfort in her classes, especially math, and in her new friends, who form a group the call The Calculators. Mika spends a little bit of time with her father, which is a welcome break that she feels somewhat guilty about. Her mother continues to struggle with the cancer and the treatment, but luckily the two have a great support network, and are prepared to deal with whatever news comes.

Strengths: This covered what it is like to deal with a parent who has cancer really well. There are just enough details about treatment to make it interesting but not bog down the stories. The heaviness of this plot line is lightened by the classroom adventures and the friend drama. Mr. Vann is a vibrant teacher along the lines of Mr. Terupt, and the STEAM tie in will make this popular with teachers. Mika's emotions and coping mechanisms are aptly portrayed, and it's nice to see her with a strong support network.
Weaknesses: While the idea of working math problems and concepts into a middle grade book is fantastic in theory, the books I have had that do this have never circulated well.
What I really think: The issue of a parent with cancer is one that my students do occasionally want to read about, but this book skews a little young with so much of it taking place in the classroom. This would be great for an elementary library (where they will love the illustrations), but for middle school, I think I'll stick to something like Pyros' Pink Hair and Other Terrible Ideas for my older readers.

Mika is starting 5th grade at a new school, her best friend isn't in any of her classes, and her mom is having health issues -- so basically life as she knows it is flipped upside down. Her math teacher, Mr. Vann, is making them journal... in math!? But he is an amazing teacher and the journal helps Mika cope with the changes in her life, and she makes two new friends in her math class. I loved this book so much because of all of the topics it incorporates. The math lessons and doodles are really fun.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the connections, puzzles and friendship theme of this book. I love the unique approach it gives to math and the process it is. It is one that will stick with me for awhile. It handles some tough topics like cancer and school topics.

This is my new favorite book. It's about Mika, who is starting 5th grade, which in her school, is middle school. Middle school is different in lots of ways and she's feeling a bit adrift, since her best friend is on a different schedule and seems to be making new friends. Her teachers are nice enough, but kind of strange, especially her math teacher, who asks her to keep a math journal (aren't those supposed to be for English class?) but Mika plays along, since she is allowed to draw, which she's really good at. Shortly after school starts, her mother is diagnosed with cancer and this spins a whole new set of issues for Mika to deal with. What's great about this one is the characters-they're all really interesting people and will remind you of people you know (or you might wish you knew!). The teachers are terrific, especially the math teacher. I think kids AND teachers are going to love this one.

I loved this book! I can't wait for it to be published so I can do it for bookclub! The story is sweet but sad; a young girl is struggling with her mothers diagnosis of cancer. She finds solace in her math teacher and his out of the box math assignments. As a person who does not like math I was charmed and a little jealous of the creative way she was given to express herself mathematically. I wish I had that at school. This book appeal to the creative and the science minded. I totally recommend.

Interest Level: 3-6

Could you ever imagine a math journal helping with a devastating trauma in your family? Mika is just starting middle school and at Highbridge Middle School kids are put into pods. Mika is not happy about this because her best friend is in a different pod. Well, at least they can eat lunch together... or will they? Mika soon finds out that her best friend is making new best friends in middle school. This leave Mika all alone. To make things worse, her math teacher is making the class keep a math journal and in art class drawing is not in this year's curriculum. Can things get any worse? Mika soon finds out that they can. Mika's parents are divorced. She lives with her mom in New York and her dad lives in Florida with his new wife. Mika doesn't see much of her dad because he is a doctor and doesn't have a lot of time for her. This is another area in Mika's life that is about to change. Her mom goes to the doctor for a spot on her leg and soon finds out that she has melanoma. When her mom has to have a couple of procedures to remove the cancer and then some aggressive treatments afterwards, Mika's grandmother has to come move in to help out. It seems like Mika's whole world is falling apart. Will Mika find a friend in her new pod to help her through this? Will Mr. Vann, her math teacher, and his math journal be able to actually to help her express her feelings about her mom's sickness? Will her dad step up and help while her mom is sick? And will her mom be able to overcome this extremely dangerous form of cancer? Read this absolutely amazing book to find out!!!

This book is one of my favorites for the year!! The way that Jennifer Sender weaves a math journal into a diary that helps Mika cope with all that is going on in her life is outstanding. This book is so full of family and friendship, love and loss, pain and happiness. Mika is one of those characters that you just want to wrap your arms around and tell her that everything is going to be okay, despite her strength and determination. Do not miss this 2019 debut novel by Jennifer Swender!!

You know when you are searching for an apartment and you see certain words and instantly understand that they have a different meaning? Like, "garden apartment" means basement. Or, "charming" means old with low water pressure. Books are the same. We know "poignant," "tender," and "heartbreaking" all mean sad. But do kids know that? Do they know what these buzzwords actually mean? Take a look at how Solving for M by Jennifer Swender is being sold:

"Perfect for fans of Raymie Nightingale and The Fourteenth Goldfish, this heartfelt middle-grade novel seamlessly melds STEAM content with first loss in an honest and striking debut.

When Mika starts fifth grade at the middle school, her neat life gets messy. Separated from old friends and starting new classes, Mika is far from her comfort zone. And math class is the most confusing of all, especially when her teacher Mr. Vann assigns math journals. Art in math? Who's ever heard of such a thing?

But when challenges arise at home, Mika realizes there are no easy answers. Maybe, with some help from friends, family, and one unique teacher, a math journal can help her work out problems, and not just the math ones.

Debut author Jennifer Swender delivers poignant prose and illustrator Jennifer Naalchigar brings Mika's journal to life in this perfect equation of honesty plus hope that adds up to a heartwarming coming-of-age story."

Would you know that this book puts Mika in a position to sit along the sidelines as her single Mom deals with a sudden and wholly unexpected diagnosis of melanoma? Would "challenges arise at home" instantly let an adult or child understand that Mika's whole world is changed overnight with her mother's illness? Does "messy" convey the idea that Mika's hyper-supportive, organized, and involved is Mom suddenly spending days in bed and no one is explaining anything to Mika? I certainly didn't.

I wish the publishers would make this more obvious. Because this is a really hard story to read but wonderfully written. There was so much to love about this book that had nothing to do with her Mother's cancer that could easily be missed.

Some middle grade readers will love this book for highlighting the strangeness of making new friends when life-long ones are right there. This will resonate with so many 11-14 year olds who question why different schools and adolescence means that sometimes friends simply drift apart. No one is mad, they are just different. This book is also wonderful for showing the deep and abiding importance of giving people a second look.

But, without a little warning, this book becomes shockingly hard to read. This is especially true for kids whose parents are dealing with illnesses of their own. In a world full of trigger warnings, why can't we give kids fair warning that there are some serious themes present? Or, do we simple expect that if they watch Disney / Pixar movies then they probably know someone will get sick or die anyway because it is everywhere in children's media?

What this book did so masterfully, and what the world needs so much more of, is show the immeasurable importance of teachers in a child's life. Mika has never been good at Math. She has the heart and soul of an artist. Her Math teacher has the students keep journals and uses their personal interests to connect them to new Math content. Mika uses art, her friend uses baking, and another friend attacks the subject from a science angle. While teaching them to love a difficult (and often hated) subject he also provides his students with a safe place to be every single day. And, in the chaos of middle school and the upheaval of her Mother's diagnosis, Mika finds acceptance and peace in math class. In math class. 

I liked this book. Tremendously. And I wouldn't change a thing about it. But I do want parents and kids to know that the "challenge" this book is referring to is cancer. Some kids will be absolutely fine with everything this book has to offer. But, I would not recommend this book for the students and children in your life for whom anxiety is an issue or for those who have dealt with sickness and loss.

An amazing heart-warming and uplifting fiction about a young girl using her math journal to make sense of life and her mothers cancer. Truly an amazing and unique book.

Mika is starting middle school (5th grade in this story) and has to adapt to pods and being separated from her old friends. The year is all about change and having to create strategies to deal with those changes. From math journals to family medical issues, Mika deals with a lot in this book but learns how to overcome her fears with the help of others. I love the math teacher most, but found the book a little slow going.

This was an absolutely beautiful book that had me ugly cry in several places. It was a quick read that packed a bunch. I feel at the heart of this whole book is relationships and how we need each other. It also shows how a caring, talented teacher can affect children’s lives. I loved this book on so many levels, as a mom, as a teacher, as a friend. 5 stars for sure! Thanks to @netgalley for the arc. I am definitely going to check out more books by Jennifer Swender. I need a hard copy of this book for my classroom!

If you’re looking for a clean middle-grade book that handles difficult topics like cancer and school troubles, then this book is perfect for you. The unique approach this book takes in exploring how math isn’t all about just numbers but also about concepts and ideas were developed tastefully and tied in well the personal struggles the main character dealing with her mother’s cancer.

I would have liked to have seen more of Mika’s school life besides her math class, but the scenes and story development in California with Mika’s dad made up for it. Some of the book’s impact was a little lost on me, being a homeschooled high school senior, but I can definitely relate to Mika’s quiet but deep and very present fears and dislike of change. I went through that time period myself as a ten-year-old; I have to applaud the author for so realistically slipping into a ten-year old’s mindset. I love how Mika used her math journal as a way of processing everything and wasn’t resentful when her best friend made other friends and instead looked to develop and build other relationships with the girls in her class.

Well written, uniquely themed, and sweetly illustrated.

<blockquote>”I used to think if I wore a dress once in a while, they’d like me.” That is weird because Dee Dee doesn’t seem like the kind of person who worries at all about who like whom.</blockquote>

This quote sort of sums up what is going on with Mika, who has just started 5th grade, and middle school, and all her friends are in the other classes. Now she has to make new friends, and she finds that they are the kind of friends she prefers.

But this book is more than about friendships. It is also about a teacher who teaches math by doing, rather than by the book. In fact, when he does use the book, he goes out of order. He makes it so the kids want to come to class, and often come early, because it is more interesting than eating in the cafeteria.

It is also about Mika’s mother having skin cancer, and having to deal with treatments.

It is all these things and more.

And often, that is how life is. It isn’t just one thing, it is everything.

I love Mr. Vann, the math teacher, who uses art, and real world examples to teach math concepts. Teachers like that are far and few between, and if this book inspires other teachers to take this approach, it would be a great thing. I never had teachers like this, but my daughter did, and she still remembers what she learned from them, long after all the other stuff is long gone.

This book will resonate with adults as well as the target audience. It is written at the middle-grade level, but there are insights that I didn’t think about until I was much older. Such as her thoughts on her grandmother, who comes to help out while her mother is sick with the cancer treatments.

<blockquote>
I wonder if it’s kind of like how Gradma Beau had to get used to missing Ganda Beau. I know my Grandpa Beau got sick and then he died. That happened before I was even born. But I guess I used to think it was something that had always happened. Like it was always that way.

But now I see there was a time when it was actually happening, when everybody was in the middle of it, just like we’re in the middle of this now. </blockquote>

Go get this book now. You will not be sorry. Oh, and the pictures are delightful as well.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

A tender coming of age novel and one of the few I've seen that have genuinely handled the topic of parental cancer well. I wish every child had a teacher as creative and supportive as Mika's delightful math teacher.