BOOK REVIEW: LIBELLUS DE NUMEROS BY JIM WEST



Today, I finished the fantasy novel LIBELLUS DE NUMEROS by Jim West, and I'm thrilled to share my review with my readers and students.



Alex, a reluctant heroine, finds herself in a strange land after being pushed in the janitor's closet by the school bully and his gang. She stumbles upon Archimedes, a mathematician, while wandering lost in this strange land. Archimedes helps Alex get to The City where most of the inhabitants are also lost.



Archimedes is convinced that Alex is gifted at mathematics, and takes her under his wing as his apprentice. Alex learns that mathematics is at the root of all we do in our daily lives.



Two evil wizards plot to destroy The City, and Alex and Archimedes must work together using mathematics and magic to protect those who live within its walls.



I love this story because the protagonist is a spunky girl who uses math everyday. This new author places little clues within the story to let you know that Alex is in a parallel world. The story weaves historical figures and events throughout to add interest to the plot.



As a middle school teacher, I highly recommend students to download this novel. Parents and teachers need to grab a copy for their bookshelf.


Melissa Reese Etheridge

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