The Math Kids are heading to fifth grade in McNair Elementary, but they’re not as excited as they usually are. This school year, the four kids who think of themselves as the Math Kids have been split up. Justin and Jordan are in one class, and Catherine and Stephanie are in another class. And not only are they split up, but the boys are being taught by Mr. Miller, who notoriously hates math. In fact, in class he announced that he will be focusing on history, English, and reading.
If only there was a way to get Mr. Miller to like math, the boys thought. That would make the school year better. Especially since the class bully, Robbie, is in their class.
Jordan tries to add more math to Mr. Miller’s class. When he has to write a history paper on a historic event of his choosing, he picks Columbus getting so off-course and the sinking of the Swedish ship the Vasa that sunk after only 20 minutes because of incorrect math. But his teacher isn’t impressed and ends up giving him a D for his grammar and spelling mistakes. And when he tries to teach the class a different way of doing multiplication, he ends up getting detention for a week.
But Justin thinks that there must be a way to get through to Mr. Miller. He really believes that he can come up with a plan to help Mr. Miller conquer his fear of math. Meanwhile, the girls are enjoying the math games that their teacher is sharing with them, but they have the rest of the class bullies in their room, so things are far from perfect.
When Justin sees Mr. Miller upset on day in class and finds out that it’s about his son’s traffic ticket, he thinks he may have found an opening for the Math Kids to get through to him. But it’s Jordan who sees Robbie’s dad yell at his son and threaten to hit him, and he finds himself feeling sorry for the class bully and wondering if the Math Kids could tackle a bigger problem than just their teacher.
The Math Kids: An Incorrect Solution is the fifth book in this series, and it isn’t afraid to take on difficult issues. These smart kids have already figured out that they’re not too young to try to solve grown-up problems, and if they work together, they can come up with a solution to whatever they’re facing, even if it means going to an adult for help.
The book includes math and logic problems as well as an appendix that helps explain the topics that came up throughout the story. For example, one of the kids mentions the Prisoner’s Dilemma, a logic problem where 2 prisoners are given the chance to confess, and the first one to do so will receive a lower sentence. Their best outcome is to both stay quiet, but it’s hard to understand that when your freedom is on the line. For kids who are interested in knowing more about the problem than what the kids say in the story, there is some additional information in the appendix to give them a fuller idea of where the puzzle came from. The appendix includes information on several different topics mentioned in the book, and I thought it was a great addition for kids with curious minds.
I really enjoyed The Math Kids. I thought author David Cole did a good job of integrating math without making it too much like schoolwork, but keeping it interesting enough that kids would be drawn in to the story and even into solving the puzzles. I also liked how he had the kids talk through the logic problems, so that readers could follow along for the answers if they needed the help (like I did, with that birthday one). I found this book imaginative and engaging, and I think smart kids will enjoy reading about these smart kids and how they work together to make things better not just for themselves but for everyone in their world.
Egalleys for The Math Kids: An Incorrect Solution were provided by Common Deer Press, with many thanks.
