Numbed!

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