The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls
Teen Heroines in History Use Geometry, Algebra, and Other Mathematics to Solve Colossal Problems (Ruby Pi Adventure Series)
by Tom Durwood
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Pub Date Dec 22 2022 | Archive Date Dec 11 2022
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Description
A collection of five historical fiction adventure stories. Young heroines find themselves at turning points in history. Faced with colossal problems, they use math to find real-world solutions. How will their quick thinking and problem-solving direct the course of history?
A master of young adult historical fiction, adventure, and mystery writing, Tom Durwood gives a fresh look at some of history's pivotal moments-from a mathematical perspective! STEM meets literary finesse with his usual flair for intrigue, suspense, and immersive dialogue. In his latest collection of short stories, smart girls take on buried secrets, villains, tanks, mysteries, coded messages, and political upheaval to save their people.
We must get girls to enjoy mathematics and to be artists in that field. We need brilliant minds, women and men, of different social classes, ethnicities and schools of thought ... We must teach mathematics from different points of view and different perspectives, as Tom has done in this collection of stories. -- Sandra Uve, Author "SuperMujeres, SuperInventoras," from her Foreword
"Stories, mystery and math go well together . . . a welcome addition." -Jeannine Atkins, author of Grasping Mysteries: Girls Who Loved Math
Advance Praise
"An invaluable addition to any library …
The strong characters, diverse and compelling mysteries, and history and math-based focus make these books top recommendations and winning acquisitions.
Compelling … Durwood chooses to prompt young learners to expand their knowledge in different mathematical and problem-solving areas.
This represents the missing link between math entertainment and education that young learners have long needed, in more than one way.
The blend of action and adventure, psychological insight, and strong characters pairs nicely with the embedded math concepts.
Each short story moves through different layers of mystery and math insights.
Wonderful reads … happy to recommend!
-- Diane Donovan, Editor, Bookwatch
Stories, mystery and math go well together… a welcome addition.
--Jeannine Atkins, author of “Grasping Mysteries: Girls Who Loved Math”
Young readers will have a blast with this book …
Written with a skillful hand … Tom has done his homework.
The mathematics is simple but elegant.
A brilliant read … cinematic.
-- Graham Van Goffrier, third-year PhD candidate (Theoretical neutrino physics)
We need more of my students to become civil engineers like Rupa.
– Pakeeza Sharafat, Teacher
Exceptional … a family drama disguised as an adventure.
-- Tanzeela Siddique, Math Teacher
We must teach mathematics from different points of view and different perspectives, as Tom has done in this collection of stories.
-- Sandra Uve, Author “SuperMujeres, SuperInventoras,” from her Foreword
Available Editions
| ISBN | 9781952520280 |
| PRICE | $6.99 (USD) |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Kathryn M, Reviewer
I really loved the use of Mathematics and thought it was incorporated in the story so well. It had a great concept and did what I was hoping for. The characters were well done and worked with the time-period going on. I enjoyed what I read and hope this series continues.
"The ragged-toothed assassins were young and big-shouldered, fearful killers bristling with knives. One wielded a short-sword, of the European fashion. They wore leopard skins. Isoke grabbed a torch from the Xhosa and hurled it crossways, to trip the slayers as they advanced. "
Fran E, Reviewer
"Good creativity is generated...when the brain acts using all its superpowers: observation, curiosity, calculation, analysis, logic, empathy..." By "weav(ing) math into adventure stories" arguably, female students can be encouraged to pursue STEM studies. Problem solving and real world applications are conveyed in these delightful, historical adventures.
Ruby Pi and the Mystery of the Old Carthusians
-Teenage engineering student, Ruby Pi, wins the bid for her firm to repair a cathedral.
-Ruby states, "...a framework of thin steel rods will support your cathedral...their tensile strength is most considerable."
-Calculations must be 100% accurate.
-Application: Lake Peigneur was a small, 10 foot deep, fresh water lake in Central, Louisiana. A miscalculation occurred. There was a salt mine beneath the lake. The lake was sucked into the empty salt mine shaft along with 13 barges and a fishing boat.
The Architect
-Isoke and her brothers attended the Igue Festival for the purpose of buying a bull calf to sire their village's heifers.
-Arriving the day before the festival, Isoke observed the festival grounds-"a celebration of symbols and numbers-different tribes' runes and patterns."
-A change in a tribe's geometric pattern was indicative of war. Isoke takes note of the change.
-Isoke saves the Queen who bestows gifts...6 satchels of books with journal entries of rain and sun, trade routes, sundials, water management...many numbers...many words from many countries...a wealth of knowledge.
-Application: "In China, from the early days of mankind, open bowls of rice absorbed moisture to better protect scrolls of papyrus."
"The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls" by Tom Durwood is being released concurrently with "Ruby Pi and the Math Girls", five additional historical tales that use history, drama and math to spread the "magic of math" to girls in grades 6-12.
Thank you BooksGoSocial and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Selena N, Educator
This is a collection of historical fiction stories. I think my students, especially the girls, need to read that girls can help find the answers, no pun intended, as well as adults. The girls in the stories come from different backgrounds and socioeconomic classes and are able to play a role in changing the course of history.
I enjoyed the book and plan to share it with my students. I am not sure if I can make it part of my curriculum, but can definitely recommend it.
I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
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