What do you think?
Rate this book
Ruby Pi Adventure Series
The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Math Girls
A collection of five historical fiction adventure stories, the second installment in the "Rubi Pi Adventure Series" to follow The Adventures of Rubi Pi and the Geometry Girls. 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 gambling, bandits, swordplay, probability, and Bayes' Theorem!
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 gambling, bandits, swordplay, probability, and Bayes' Theorem!
199 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 22, 2022
3 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Tom Durwood
24 books51 followersTom Durwood is a teacher, writer and editor with an interest in history. Tom most recently taught English Composition and Empire and Literature at Valley Forge Military College, where he won the Teacher of the Year Award five times.
Early reader response to Tom’s historical fiction adventures has been promising. “A true pleasure … the richness of the layers of Tom’s novel is compelling,” writes Fatima Sharrafedine in her foreword to “The Illustrated Boatman’s Daughter.”
The Midwest Book Review calls that same adventure “uniformly gripping and educational … pairing action and adventure with social issues.” Adds Prairie Review, “A deeply intriguing, ambitious historical fiction series.”
Tom earned a Masters in English Literature in San Diego, where he also served as Executive Director of San Diego Habitat for Humanity.
Two of Tom’s books, “Kid Lit” and “The Illustrated Boatman’s Daughter,” were selected “Best of the New” by Julie Sara Porter’s Bookworm Book Alert 2021.
His new book, "An Introduction to Higher Math: Five Concepts Taken from the 'Ruby Pi' Stories (Ruby Pi Adventure Series)" is out now on Amazon!
👉 https://amzn.to/3ZyiA4l
Visit the links below for free pdf's to read a sample of each book!
https://www.themathgirls.com
https://www.boatmansdaughter.com
https://www.mycolonials.com
https://www.teddystantrum.com
https://www.kidlitcrit.com
https://www.empirestudies.com
https://www.usginchina.com
Early reader response to Tom’s historical fiction adventures has been promising. “A true pleasure … the richness of the layers of Tom’s novel is compelling,” writes Fatima Sharrafedine in her foreword to “The Illustrated Boatman’s Daughter.”
The Midwest Book Review calls that same adventure “uniformly gripping and educational … pairing action and adventure with social issues.” Adds Prairie Review, “A deeply intriguing, ambitious historical fiction series.”
Tom earned a Masters in English Literature in San Diego, where he also served as Executive Director of San Diego Habitat for Humanity.
Two of Tom’s books, “Kid Lit” and “The Illustrated Boatman’s Daughter,” were selected “Best of the New” by Julie Sara Porter’s Bookworm Book Alert 2021.
His new book, "An Introduction to Higher Math: Five Concepts Taken from the 'Ruby Pi' Stories (Ruby Pi Adventure Series)" is out now on Amazon!
👉 https://amzn.to/3ZyiA4l
Visit the links below for free pdf's to read a sample of each book!
https://www.themathgirls.com
https://www.boatmansdaughter.com
https://www.mycolonials.com
https://www.teddystantrum.com
https://www.kidlitcrit.com
https://www.empirestudies.com
https://www.usginchina.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 22, 2022
Tom Durwood's The Adventures of Ruby Pi Series works. It works the same way many good educational PBS series do. It explains a subject that many Readers may have (and still might) have a hard time understanding and makes it clear and exciting to follow.
The second book, The Adventures of Ruby Pi and The Math Girls is more of the same. Excellent stories featuring intelligent young women using their mathematical skills in diverse ways to help the society around them.
Just like in the Geometry Girls, the book is separated into five stories. They are:
"Ruby Pi and The Case of the Shy Mathematician"
The eponymous protagonist/super genius is back. This time Rupa is called by Inspector Daniel Summerscale to solve the murder of mathematician, Anaan Warinda.
This case is a personal one for Rupa. Warinda was a mentor to the young woman and even encountered her as a child, giving her the nickname of Ruby Pi.
As with her previous experience, Rupa uses a mathematical procedure to solve Warinda's murder. This time she uses "Bayes's Rule" which states, "The probability of arriving at a true theorem improves upon the processing of new data." Some Mathematical theories are created as means to solve problems, not just with numbers.
Rupa is able to gather data to find a solution, especially in solving Warinda's complex coded notebooks. She finds herself involved in a much larger case involving the tense relationship between the English and Indian governments. She also earns respect and admiration from Inspector Summerscale and the Mathematical Society. It is definitely a period of ascension towards Rupa's character and status.
"Blue Moon Over Mogollons"
While Bayes's Rule may be new to some Readers, many are probably familiar with the concept of card counting and how highly intelligent gamblers use it to cheat the system and sometimes try to beat the house.
In Wild West, Silver City, Casey uses her talent for card counting to help her mother succeed in card games (even if Ma doesn't always listen). However, their latest caper involves some dangerous desperados and new weaponry.
In this story, we see how Casey is able to use her talents to help her family. However, we also see how this makes her an outsider towards them. Because of her advanced intelligence, Casey is able to see and long for a life outside of the saloons, gambling houses, and shoot outs. Casey's mother however lives only for her current pleasures like gambling and drinking. While Math is important to the story,"Blue Moon Over Mogollons" is most importantly a family story about what happens when families have different incompatible views about what they want out of life.
"Pen's Black Swan"
As we learned from the previous volume, societies need economic and statistical forecasters to predict the financial turns that could occur. Just like with the weather, it would be good to listen and prepare ourselves.
This story is set in 1992 when Penelope West predicts that the stock market will undergo a black swan, an unpredictable and unforeseen event Typical with extreme consequences. This is also the time when markets coalesced to force the British government to exit the European Exchange Rate Mechanism by removing its currency from the government.
Of the five stories, this is probably the least interesting. It covers similar ground to "Yan Li and the Numerators" and "Shawnee and The Visitor" in which a fictional person presents a real prediction but is shot down by reality. However, it does give some credence by people accepting Pen's views in the end. This and similar stories prove that we should never be too proud or arrogant to not listen to warnings. Sometimes, it's best to over prepare and be calm when something doesn't happen than to not prepare and be in the middle of the explosion wondering what we could have done differently.
"Jayani's Big Gamble"
Similar to "Blue Moon Over Mogollons" this is a family story disguised as a math lesson. Third Aunt who raised and trained her apprentice chef, Jayani, is ill. Jayani must raise money for her medical care but how? She uses her baking skills and knowledge of volume to make pottery and rent out kilns.
Jayani is a clever woman who is able to take charge during troubled times. She helps her aunt showing a strong familial love. She also is able to become a success achieving fame and wealth for her talents. She and her aunt are the opposite of Casey and her mother in that they show deep loyalty and encouragement.
"Sasha With the Red Hair"
We come to one of my favorite Mathematical puzzles, code breaking in probably my favorite story in this volume. It is similar in content to the previous volume's "Simone and the Mean Girls" involving an intelligent woman trying to solve a code while dealing with a vain and arrogant rival. Onl this time, the riv is her sister.
Uly won the Vavilov for Mathematical achievement and she and her family are going to Moscow for the honor. Unfortunately, her sister Sasha ("with the red hair" the narrative says), gets the attention with her beauty and claiming credit for the achievement.
While in Moscow, Uly stumbles upon a secret Mayan codex and Sasha gets herself in trouble with the NKVD.
This story is a reminder of the old fairy tales in which a good hard working sibling triumphs over the bad tempered lazy sibling. Uly is a reminder of many who have been overlooked by peers, leaders, friends, and even family members because of better looking, louder, and more talented siblings. It can be hard to deal with when one's talents are so often overlooked. However, in this instance both sisters get exactly what they deserve in a clever roundabout way which finally rewards Uly's intelligence. While Sasha brings about her own comeuppance.
The second book, The Adventures of Ruby Pi and The Math Girls is more of the same. Excellent stories featuring intelligent young women using their mathematical skills in diverse ways to help the society around them.
Just like in the Geometry Girls, the book is separated into five stories. They are:
"Ruby Pi and The Case of the Shy Mathematician"
The eponymous protagonist/super genius is back. This time Rupa is called by Inspector Daniel Summerscale to solve the murder of mathematician, Anaan Warinda.
This case is a personal one for Rupa. Warinda was a mentor to the young woman and even encountered her as a child, giving her the nickname of Ruby Pi.
As with her previous experience, Rupa uses a mathematical procedure to solve Warinda's murder. This time she uses "Bayes's Rule" which states, "The probability of arriving at a true theorem improves upon the processing of new data." Some Mathematical theories are created as means to solve problems, not just with numbers.
Rupa is able to gather data to find a solution, especially in solving Warinda's complex coded notebooks. She finds herself involved in a much larger case involving the tense relationship between the English and Indian governments. She also earns respect and admiration from Inspector Summerscale and the Mathematical Society. It is definitely a period of ascension towards Rupa's character and status.
"Blue Moon Over Mogollons"
While Bayes's Rule may be new to some Readers, many are probably familiar with the concept of card counting and how highly intelligent gamblers use it to cheat the system and sometimes try to beat the house.
In Wild West, Silver City, Casey uses her talent for card counting to help her mother succeed in card games (even if Ma doesn't always listen). However, their latest caper involves some dangerous desperados and new weaponry.
In this story, we see how Casey is able to use her talents to help her family. However, we also see how this makes her an outsider towards them. Because of her advanced intelligence, Casey is able to see and long for a life outside of the saloons, gambling houses, and shoot outs. Casey's mother however lives only for her current pleasures like gambling and drinking. While Math is important to the story,"Blue Moon Over Mogollons" is most importantly a family story about what happens when families have different incompatible views about what they want out of life.
"Pen's Black Swan"
As we learned from the previous volume, societies need economic and statistical forecasters to predict the financial turns that could occur. Just like with the weather, it would be good to listen and prepare ourselves.
This story is set in 1992 when Penelope West predicts that the stock market will undergo a black swan, an unpredictable and unforeseen event Typical with extreme consequences. This is also the time when markets coalesced to force the British government to exit the European Exchange Rate Mechanism by removing its currency from the government.
Of the five stories, this is probably the least interesting. It covers similar ground to "Yan Li and the Numerators" and "Shawnee and The Visitor" in which a fictional person presents a real prediction but is shot down by reality. However, it does give some credence by people accepting Pen's views in the end. This and similar stories prove that we should never be too proud or arrogant to not listen to warnings. Sometimes, it's best to over prepare and be calm when something doesn't happen than to not prepare and be in the middle of the explosion wondering what we could have done differently.
"Jayani's Big Gamble"
Similar to "Blue Moon Over Mogollons" this is a family story disguised as a math lesson. Third Aunt who raised and trained her apprentice chef, Jayani, is ill. Jayani must raise money for her medical care but how? She uses her baking skills and knowledge of volume to make pottery and rent out kilns.
Jayani is a clever woman who is able to take charge during troubled times. She helps her aunt showing a strong familial love. She also is able to become a success achieving fame and wealth for her talents. She and her aunt are the opposite of Casey and her mother in that they show deep loyalty and encouragement.
"Sasha With the Red Hair"
We come to one of my favorite Mathematical puzzles, code breaking in probably my favorite story in this volume. It is similar in content to the previous volume's "Simone and the Mean Girls" involving an intelligent woman trying to solve a code while dealing with a vain and arrogant rival. Onl this time, the riv is her sister.
Uly won the Vavilov for Mathematical achievement and she and her family are going to Moscow for the honor. Unfortunately, her sister Sasha ("with the red hair" the narrative says), gets the attention with her beauty and claiming credit for the achievement.
While in Moscow, Uly stumbles upon a secret Mayan codex and Sasha gets herself in trouble with the NKVD.
This story is a reminder of the old fairy tales in which a good hard working sibling triumphs over the bad tempered lazy sibling. Uly is a reminder of many who have been overlooked by peers, leaders, friends, and even family members because of better looking, louder, and more talented siblings. It can be hard to deal with when one's talents are so often overlooked. However, in this instance both sisters get exactly what they deserve in a clever roundabout way which finally rewards Uly's intelligence. While Sasha brings about her own comeuppance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2023
Author Tom Durwood continues his edifying series, The Adventures of Ruby Pi with his work in The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Math Girls which offers another published collection of intriguing sojourns into the world of math. Purchase Here.
The collection of stories continues on with the clever template of short stories rife with the elements of history, mystery, culture, and math, while also uniquely set in a variety of time periods and locales. This collection also continues to expose readers to more than just math. The stories are also fueled by looks into distinct and well-detailed histories, events, and cultures artfully combined into unforgettable math lessons demonstrating math principles applied in real life.
Starting out the first story engages the attention with Ruby Pi and the case of the Shy Mathematician. Ruby Pi is a spirited young Indian woman and a very capable female engineer with her own firm in London. Her life changes from engineer to problem solver as she works to uncover the mystery of the code in the notebooks of well-known but shy mathematician, Anaan Warinder who is found dead from being poisoned. Overall, this story brings focus to Ruby’s application of her code-breaking skills as well as using probability to solve problems.
Next Blue Moon over the Mogollons, a story set in the late 1800’s in the New Mexico territories, explores different mathematical theorems through the central character in this story, fifteen-year-old Casey, who card counts to help her family cheat at card games. Also, the story delves into the deeper mathematical theory involving snipers hitting their mark by accounting for distance, curvature, target, and origin point, when Casey has to become a sharpshooter.
Continuing on, Pen’s Black Swan moves to 1992 where young British student Penelope employs economic forecasting with critical thinking skills to calculate the risk in the financial markets.
The fourth story, Jayani’s Big Gamble which features Jayani, a master baker’s apprentice and a young girl of fourteen, whose determination, work ethic, intellect, and application of the formula for volume help her to save her aunt from a horrible fate.
Last but not least, the fifth and final story Sasha with the Red Hair set in 1957 Russia, brings to the fore, two intelligent female characters, a mysterious ancient Mayan tablet and code breaking.
Altogether, Tom Durwood’s The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Math Girls once again offers youthful readers a unique set of adventurous stories featuring intelligent female heroines, who set wondrous examples of using their critical thinking skills and use of math theories.
All in all, I enjoyed the distinctive approach to math. These are interesting stories that engage the intellect as well as excite with action and mystery. Author Durwood has written these literate stories with a wonderfully creative bent, which I think would make a great set of math teaching tools.
Additionally, I enjoyed the other perks within the book, which include illustrations, diagrams, and sections of Tom’s notes all of which serve well to deepen the understanding of the presented mathematical theories. However, my only issue with this read is towards the end of the book, the digital formatting needs to be realigned as some of the chapters start at odd spots on the page. Otherwise, I found this book made for an interesting read which I do recommend to eager minds who are mathematically inclined.
The collection of stories continues on with the clever template of short stories rife with the elements of history, mystery, culture, and math, while also uniquely set in a variety of time periods and locales. This collection also continues to expose readers to more than just math. The stories are also fueled by looks into distinct and well-detailed histories, events, and cultures artfully combined into unforgettable math lessons demonstrating math principles applied in real life.
Starting out the first story engages the attention with Ruby Pi and the case of the Shy Mathematician. Ruby Pi is a spirited young Indian woman and a very capable female engineer with her own firm in London. Her life changes from engineer to problem solver as she works to uncover the mystery of the code in the notebooks of well-known but shy mathematician, Anaan Warinder who is found dead from being poisoned. Overall, this story brings focus to Ruby’s application of her code-breaking skills as well as using probability to solve problems.
Next Blue Moon over the Mogollons, a story set in the late 1800’s in the New Mexico territories, explores different mathematical theorems through the central character in this story, fifteen-year-old Casey, who card counts to help her family cheat at card games. Also, the story delves into the deeper mathematical theory involving snipers hitting their mark by accounting for distance, curvature, target, and origin point, when Casey has to become a sharpshooter.
Continuing on, Pen’s Black Swan moves to 1992 where young British student Penelope employs economic forecasting with critical thinking skills to calculate the risk in the financial markets.
The fourth story, Jayani’s Big Gamble which features Jayani, a master baker’s apprentice and a young girl of fourteen, whose determination, work ethic, intellect, and application of the formula for volume help her to save her aunt from a horrible fate.
Last but not least, the fifth and final story Sasha with the Red Hair set in 1957 Russia, brings to the fore, two intelligent female characters, a mysterious ancient Mayan tablet and code breaking.
Altogether, Tom Durwood’s The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Math Girls once again offers youthful readers a unique set of adventurous stories featuring intelligent female heroines, who set wondrous examples of using their critical thinking skills and use of math theories.
All in all, I enjoyed the distinctive approach to math. These are interesting stories that engage the intellect as well as excite with action and mystery. Author Durwood has written these literate stories with a wonderfully creative bent, which I think would make a great set of math teaching tools.
Additionally, I enjoyed the other perks within the book, which include illustrations, diagrams, and sections of Tom’s notes all of which serve well to deepen the understanding of the presented mathematical theories. However, my only issue with this read is towards the end of the book, the digital formatting needs to be realigned as some of the chapters start at odd spots on the page. Otherwise, I found this book made for an interesting read which I do recommend to eager minds who are mathematically inclined.
March 23, 2023
The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Maths Girls by Tom Durwood is the second book in the series about STEM ideology. Like the Geometry Girls, this too offers 5 brilliant engrossing stories where young girls from different walks of life tackle and analyze the situations to their benefit. The book’s title and first story is related to India because of Rupa. In short named as Ruby Pi – she is from North India – and settled in London with her parents. Her story and presence is credible all the more as the timeline is of when India was a British colony.
She solves the case of a mathematician who died silently. She applied Bayes theorem and scraps the old allegations related to his death. The mathematician was involved into weapon making but he died naturally, was not murdered, however, Ruby Pi and the cop Summerscale kept it to themselves.
Rest 4 stories are equally engrossing from the historical point of view. In some stories run a historical back story? My favourite one was the last one of Sasha, two sisters, both defined by different intellectual quotient. One gets glory, the other one lands up in trouble.
The story of Pen and financial analysis was also good. Tom placed the teen heroines in the canvass of the historical period when the events were taking place. So in one short, he delivered a rich historical story laden with maths as compelling factor.
Tom’s narration is not for faint hearted. He takes you to the cultural aspects of that time through streets, vendors, cuisine, locals – either you embrace it or can Google for far better comprehension. His stories are good, inspiring for middle-grade students. Maybe they can relate the adventures with their mathematical concepts.
She solves the case of a mathematician who died silently. She applied Bayes theorem and scraps the old allegations related to his death. The mathematician was involved into weapon making but he died naturally, was not murdered, however, Ruby Pi and the cop Summerscale kept it to themselves.
Rest 4 stories are equally engrossing from the historical point of view. In some stories run a historical back story? My favourite one was the last one of Sasha, two sisters, both defined by different intellectual quotient. One gets glory, the other one lands up in trouble.
The story of Pen and financial analysis was also good. Tom placed the teen heroines in the canvass of the historical period when the events were taking place. So in one short, he delivered a rich historical story laden with maths as compelling factor.
Tom’s narration is not for faint hearted. He takes you to the cultural aspects of that time through streets, vendors, cuisine, locals – either you embrace it or can Google for far better comprehension. His stories are good, inspiring for middle-grade students. Maybe they can relate the adventures with their mathematical concepts.
January 13, 2023
This is a very unusual yet innovative book. Its genesis lies in maths and history. On offer are 5 stories, all protagonists are girls with penchant for maths.
Since I studied STEM in school and college for PCM scope. Thus, I had unwittingly formed bonding with Rupa, Uly, Jayanti, Cassey, and Pen. The first story where the Indian girl solved the poisoned maths wizard’s case was easy to read, grasp, and spot on. It was a sort of a complete story, history at the back, action at the front, conspiracy of nations hidden in the Tamil, Sanskrit codes of Anaan.
I was expecting it to be one-girl solving all mystery in all countries. Soon, I realized my preconceived notion as I chugged ahead with Casey and her gambling family in the USA. This story was based on card counting and shooting and how it is affected by the earth’s curvature.
My favourite was Sasha with the Red Hair. Uly is class. She is in Moscow to receive an award for her research on celestial physics at the time when Russians took pride by sending Sputnik to the space. But little did her sister Sasha know that the time is delicate and spies are around the corner always. Her cavalier ostentatious nature’s ramifications were meted out on her family.
Black Swan and Jayani’s Big Gamle were about maths in calculating risk in economy, and the latter invented some ways to bigger the circumference of ovens. I could hold a debate with mathematicians on these stories applied arithmetic, algebra, derivation, and so on. What did the book do to me? It evoked my school days. I got some conceptual revision…what I learnt then and how I use it today.
Since I studied STEM in school and college for PCM scope. Thus, I had unwittingly formed bonding with Rupa, Uly, Jayanti, Cassey, and Pen. The first story where the Indian girl solved the poisoned maths wizard’s case was easy to read, grasp, and spot on. It was a sort of a complete story, history at the back, action at the front, conspiracy of nations hidden in the Tamil, Sanskrit codes of Anaan.
I was expecting it to be one-girl solving all mystery in all countries. Soon, I realized my preconceived notion as I chugged ahead with Casey and her gambling family in the USA. This story was based on card counting and shooting and how it is affected by the earth’s curvature.
My favourite was Sasha with the Red Hair. Uly is class. She is in Moscow to receive an award for her research on celestial physics at the time when Russians took pride by sending Sputnik to the space. But little did her sister Sasha know that the time is delicate and spies are around the corner always. Her cavalier ostentatious nature’s ramifications were meted out on her family.
Black Swan and Jayani’s Big Gamle were about maths in calculating risk in economy, and the latter invented some ways to bigger the circumference of ovens. I could hold a debate with mathematicians on these stories applied arithmetic, algebra, derivation, and so on. What did the book do to me? It evoked my school days. I got some conceptual revision…what I learnt then and how I use it today.
January 13, 2023
First of its type – an adventurous fictional book with a deadly combination of mathematics and history! By looking at the cover page, I was impressed. It has got that European movie-like lamp posts, ships, misty fog and that girl. Lollapalooza!!
Five stories. Five girls! Five cases solved or something new achieved. Amazing, the book drew me in to its grandeur description of people, culture, historical context, social strata, and other varied settings.
From decoding a Mayan civilization tablet to deciphering the weapon technology calculations to gauging an aim before shooting – the book has a special appeal and taste for historical fiction lovers. Since the author is a historical teacher, he knew where to put the lead girls to dent the point of history. After reading this book, I conformed to one universal reality that minds with mathematical affinity have quick reasoning, logical thinking, and an ability to deduct outcomes from a mystery.
Tom has succeeded in the near impossible, making Math fun and approachable to those who are innately allergic to it! I guarantee this book will be intelligible to anyone who has done just high school Math and forgotten it since.
The book is totally engrossing, with never a dull moment in its pages – the interesting characters and above all, the beautifully phrased writing, full of wit, wry humour and satire keep it so. With so many thought-provoking comments that will make you cogitate about life and the hidden mathematics in it. The language and tone was British. Slightly difficult at times…overall fun reading.
Five stories. Five girls! Five cases solved or something new achieved. Amazing, the book drew me in to its grandeur description of people, culture, historical context, social strata, and other varied settings.
From decoding a Mayan civilization tablet to deciphering the weapon technology calculations to gauging an aim before shooting – the book has a special appeal and taste for historical fiction lovers. Since the author is a historical teacher, he knew where to put the lead girls to dent the point of history. After reading this book, I conformed to one universal reality that minds with mathematical affinity have quick reasoning, logical thinking, and an ability to deduct outcomes from a mystery.
Tom has succeeded in the near impossible, making Math fun and approachable to those who are innately allergic to it! I guarantee this book will be intelligible to anyone who has done just high school Math and forgotten it since.
The book is totally engrossing, with never a dull moment in its pages – the interesting characters and above all, the beautifully phrased writing, full of wit, wry humour and satire keep it so. With so many thought-provoking comments that will make you cogitate about life and the hidden mathematics in it. The language and tone was British. Slightly difficult at times…overall fun reading.
March 23, 2023
If you think maths is all about numbers and shapes that can be used for using in structure scaffolding, analyzing & prediction/forecasting, or applying theorems to divulge the historical secrets and solving intriguing issues for the benefits of all, well then you must pick up this book of Math Girls written by Tom.
I will not say that stories are lucid sober and simple that comes to you invariably, rather it pricks the intellectual level of readers. The book is at general level for history fictional readers, and secondly it is should be for the higher grade school students who often change the course of their higher education after being failed in understanding the concepts of algebra, trigonometry, geometry, and integers - overall math and its sub fields.
This book is more than enough to instigate a spark of imagination and interest in the students. Another point which is left behind, here I would like to bring to the notice is that it fosters women/girl empowerment. Girls serve better as detectives over sly men. Just five stories, I personally liked first four but the last one blew over my mind though I read it twice. After each story, Tom has given notes and relevance of the subject so that it comes on reading. If students find it hard, they can urge their teachers to accompany them in reading session. I am confident that students familiar with recurring concepts will find the stories easy on nerves. It's a brilliant effort by Tom for spreading love for maths and its allied concepts.
I will not say that stories are lucid sober and simple that comes to you invariably, rather it pricks the intellectual level of readers. The book is at general level for history fictional readers, and secondly it is should be for the higher grade school students who often change the course of their higher education after being failed in understanding the concepts of algebra, trigonometry, geometry, and integers - overall math and its sub fields.
This book is more than enough to instigate a spark of imagination and interest in the students. Another point which is left behind, here I would like to bring to the notice is that it fosters women/girl empowerment. Girls serve better as detectives over sly men. Just five stories, I personally liked first four but the last one blew over my mind though I read it twice. After each story, Tom has given notes and relevance of the subject so that it comes on reading. If students find it hard, they can urge their teachers to accompany them in reading session. I am confident that students familiar with recurring concepts will find the stories easy on nerves. It's a brilliant effort by Tom for spreading love for maths and its allied concepts.
January 13, 2023
The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Math Girls by Tom Durwood is a collection of five stories. These stories fall back on the STEM concept. It means that the stories are directly or indirectly take science, technology, engineering, and maths into account while narrating the events. In nutshell, fiction mixed with maths. The first story features an Indian girl named Rupa aka Ruby Pi. Police inspector Daniel Summerscale seeks her help to solve the silent murder mystery of a renowned mathematician: Anaan Warinda.
The second story is back dropped against the early settlers of Mogollon, in the United States. It’s a combination of blackjack strategy of card counting and studying Coriolis Effect while shooting.
The girls who solved the challenges & mysteries, decoded or fought – all was for their family. In Shasha story two sisters rustle up two different ironic ramifications, one gets in an elite institution, and the other’s over smartness puts the family in prison.
The relevance of maths in the stories is neither monotonous nor one-field specific. Nearly all stories deal with different aspects of maths such as celestial physics, risk calculations in finance, fluid dynamics, architecture, etc.
Tom has placed the stories at particular historical dates. You may get the exact details of the events if you run a search online. The book is highly suitable to people and who loved maths all their life and for students aspiring to have a career carved out of STEM.
The second story is back dropped against the early settlers of Mogollon, in the United States. It’s a combination of blackjack strategy of card counting and studying Coriolis Effect while shooting.
The girls who solved the challenges & mysteries, decoded or fought – all was for their family. In Shasha story two sisters rustle up two different ironic ramifications, one gets in an elite institution, and the other’s over smartness puts the family in prison.
The relevance of maths in the stories is neither monotonous nor one-field specific. Nearly all stories deal with different aspects of maths such as celestial physics, risk calculations in finance, fluid dynamics, architecture, etc.
Tom has placed the stories at particular historical dates. You may get the exact details of the events if you run a search online. The book is highly suitable to people and who loved maths all their life and for students aspiring to have a career carved out of STEM.
March 24, 2023
Tom Durwood’s The Adventures of Ruby Pi series involve two books. Each book has five short stories to offer to readers that enjoy historical fiction with a touch of detective genre. Ruby Pi and the Maths Girls is the second one. In both books at the forefront are teen heroines that use mathematics and geometry to solve big problems in their society, mostly for the sake of humanity. The first story features an intelligent girl with Indian roots named Rupa (Ruby Pi). She outshines in her detective endeavor… investigates a murder case of a renowned Indian mathematician associated with the battle of Tirah, German traitors, mutiny in India.
The author is a history professor. It’s his unique venture to blend maths and detective aspects in world’s famous historical events. His selection of events range is not only world popular but also diverse and taken from various timelines. The idea behind these books is to raise the interest level of students (especially high school teenagers) about maths-related subjects. For this effort, the books have been felicitated with awards by some literary firms like Literary Titan. The books have been receiving raving reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, owing to its rising popularity.
The author is a history professor. It’s his unique venture to blend maths and detective aspects in world’s famous historical events. His selection of events range is not only world popular but also diverse and taken from various timelines. The idea behind these books is to raise the interest level of students (especially high school teenagers) about maths-related subjects. For this effort, the books have been felicitated with awards by some literary firms like Literary Titan. The books have been receiving raving reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, owing to its rising popularity.
December 23, 2022
This is the second book in the series of Ruby Pi. Both book feature a series of historical fiction stories that are based on young women using math.
Opinion
I had high hopes for this book. Having a love for math, I wanted something that would bring younger people to see the value and love of numbers. What I found was interesting but disjointed. I think that Durwood, in his attempt to keep the stories short, cut too much of the necessary background. I had difficulty following the stories.
I was intrigued by the math but it too was cut short. This, I understand. I have two math degrees so my interest and understanding goes beyond the typical. Durwood needed to cut it short to keep from losing the common interest.
What I did find helpful was that Durwood added notes at the end of each story. I honestly would enjoy reading his footnotes without the story. His connection of math to what happened in history in these footnotes was more interesting than the stories themselves.
Many thanks to Net Galley and BooksGoSocial for providing me an ARC of this book.
Opinion
I had high hopes for this book. Having a love for math, I wanted something that would bring younger people to see the value and love of numbers. What I found was interesting but disjointed. I think that Durwood, in his attempt to keep the stories short, cut too much of the necessary background. I had difficulty following the stories.
I was intrigued by the math but it too was cut short. This, I understand. I have two math degrees so my interest and understanding goes beyond the typical. Durwood needed to cut it short to keep from losing the common interest.
What I did find helpful was that Durwood added notes at the end of each story. I honestly would enjoy reading his footnotes without the story. His connection of math to what happened in history in these footnotes was more interesting than the stories themselves.
Many thanks to Net Galley and BooksGoSocial for providing me an ARC of this book.
February 7, 2023
Finding time to read is quite difficult in this time. Priority is given to children who are not feeling well. I am happy when I succeed and get my hands on an interesting book. So was the book The Adventures of Ruby Pi and The Math Girls by Tom Durwood. A good book for any middle grade/YA fan who wants to learn to apply maths to every day problems but also for everyone curious about the excellent stories featuring intelligent young women using their mathematical skills in diverse ways to help the society around them. I really did enjoy it!
A collection of 5 fiction adventure stories from different times and lands, the second instalment in the “Ruby Pi Adventure Series” to follow The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls. 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?
Thank you @thebooknetwork.co.uk for the gifted copy of this wonderful book
A collection of 5 fiction adventure stories from different times and lands, the second instalment in the “Ruby Pi Adventure Series” to follow The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls. 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?
Thank you @thebooknetwork.co.uk for the gifted copy of this wonderful book
March 9, 2023
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this one.
It's a collection of short historical fictions stories with female main characters using math. Okay, I can see a market. I can see it appealing to girls who love math and showing students creative ways math plays into the world outside of school. Each story is completely separate of the others and the author proivdes notes explaining the math concept and how his character used it after.
It was really choppy. The stories felt like they'd either been edited in chunks for space, or written with disjointed flow. It was hard to read stories that clumsy and cut off. And then I read in the notes after the fourth story that the author had pared them down a lot purposely because historical details "irritate most readers." Really? Not fans of historical fictions.
There are 5 stories. The first one takes up 40% of the book, making the others seem even skimpier and rushed. In general, every story needed more. More historical details, more flow, more....story.
Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the review copy of this title.
It's a collection of short historical fictions stories with female main characters using math. Okay, I can see a market. I can see it appealing to girls who love math and showing students creative ways math plays into the world outside of school. Each story is completely separate of the others and the author proivdes notes explaining the math concept and how his character used it after.
It was really choppy. The stories felt like they'd either been edited in chunks for space, or written with disjointed flow. It was hard to read stories that clumsy and cut off. And then I read in the notes after the fourth story that the author had pared them down a lot purposely because historical details "irritate most readers." Really? Not fans of historical fictions.
There are 5 stories. The first one takes up 40% of the book, making the others seem even skimpier and rushed. In general, every story needed more. More historical details, more flow, more....story.
Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the review copy of this title.
March 23, 2023
I believe the Adventures of Ruby Pi and Maths Girls is the second book in the series. The first is Geometry Girls. Anyways, I consider both books stand-alone read, thus, I vouched for Maths Girls first. The first story features Ruby Pi – a short name – her original name is not only tongue-twisting but also long. She has been called to help the police cop Summerscale to solve the case of an Indian mathematician's death. They both travel to the university. A historical back story follows up secretly. Ruby discovers some secret diaries of the mathematician related to weapon inventions. Till the end, it was like a suspense thriller story, but implementing Bayes theorem suggests something else.
Math Girls stories are profound and look at the dogmatism of Maths in real life. The story of Jayanti, Swan, and Sasha...in fact all are remarkable. This collection puts focus on various fields of maths that is mainly used for analysis and forecasting. Historical scaffold of the stories is lovely and of course charming.
Math Girls stories are profound and look at the dogmatism of Maths in real life. The story of Jayanti, Swan, and Sasha...in fact all are remarkable. This collection puts focus on various fields of maths that is mainly used for analysis and forecasting. Historical scaffold of the stories is lovely and of course charming.
December 4, 2022
I realise I might be missing something. I really don’t like being negative in my reviews, after all the author has always put so much of themselves into the words on the page. I picked this book up to go along with, and I thought complete the stories in the previous book, not having read them before I did so. But again on this occasion I’m disappointed. I was expecting stories that would draw female readers into the exciting world of maths in the real world using fiction. Unfortunately I did not find this. The stories seem haphazard, and don’t to me have female leads. This book would not hold the interest of the girls I teach at all. So while I commend the idea behind the book, I personally think it misses the mark by a long way. Thank you to Empire Studies Press and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
March 23, 2023
The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Math Girls by Tom Durwood is a collection of 5 long stories mixing history and maths for solving the big issues from murder to decoding an old civilization codes to understanding the market speculation. The language may not be lyrical; however, the stories are replete with description, historical events, and other literary substantial aspects that will thrill the readers. After geometry girls, this book is about math girls. It can be considered second part of the girls that solve problems by sneaking a peek into adventurous dealings. At times the simple-looking concepts of mathematics may throw you into loop but the author's efforts to explain everything lucidly is praiseworthy.
January 29, 2023
Long novels are great but sometimes short stories are something that can fresh up your mind while transiting from one long novel to another.
✔The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Math Girls: Teen Heroines in History Use Geometry, Algebra, and Other Mathematics to Solve Colossal Problems is a Ruby Pi Adventure Series by author Tom Durwood. This book comes with 5 such stories that revolves around freshly thought plots and the concepts of application of Mathematics in life. Few thing Math is hard and thus its boring but it has got a lot of application in this world that solves a lot of problems as well.
I really enjoyed reading
Ruby Pi and the case of shy mathematican.
✔The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Math Girls: Teen Heroines in History Use Geometry, Algebra, and Other Mathematics to Solve Colossal Problems is a Ruby Pi Adventure Series by author Tom Durwood. This book comes with 5 such stories that revolves around freshly thought plots and the concepts of application of Mathematics in life. Few thing Math is hard and thus its boring but it has got a lot of application in this world that solves a lot of problems as well.
I really enjoyed reading
Ruby Pi and the case of shy mathematican.
February 16, 2023
In ‘Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Math Girls’, the Math Girls use their math skills to solve puzzles and challenges on exciting missions. Written by Tom Durwood, it’s a collection of short stories, each with curious and clever female protagonists who love math and solving problems.
‘Sasha and the Red Hair’ was my favourite short story of the lot. Even though I don’t enjoy math a lot, this did manage to excite me about the subject. But the Math girls didn’t quite feel up my alley. Initially, I expected to have an Agatha Christie feel, but it wasn’t so. Maybe it was the different style of writing, but I had a hard time connecting with the stories and the protagonists. I adore the illustrations, though.
For more such detailed reviews, check out my bookstagram: www.instagram.com/mystic_tales_tintin
‘Sasha and the Red Hair’ was my favourite short story of the lot. Even though I don’t enjoy math a lot, this did manage to excite me about the subject. But the Math girls didn’t quite feel up my alley. Initially, I expected to have an Agatha Christie feel, but it wasn’t so. Maybe it was the different style of writing, but I had a hard time connecting with the stories and the protagonists. I adore the illustrations, though.
For more such detailed reviews, check out my bookstagram: www.instagram.com/mystic_tales_tintin
March 23, 2023
The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Math Girls is the second part in the series that mainly talks about mathematics. It commences with Ruby Pi being called by a cop to investigate the death of a renowned Indian mathematician. The likely case of poison death, she deducts Bayes theorem from the secret diaries of the deceased.
In many stories, double narrative runs with an objective to provide a backdrop to the current situation. However, history runs hot in Tom’s books. Jayanti, Sasha, Cassey – all girls get to the bottom of the issues only to resurface with plausible solutions.
In many stories, double narrative runs with an objective to provide a backdrop to the current situation. However, history runs hot in Tom’s books. Jayanti, Sasha, Cassey – all girls get to the bottom of the issues only to resurface with plausible solutions.
January 9, 2023
The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Math Girls by Tom Durwood is a set of 5 mathematically inspired stories where the female protagonist, in different periods of time, uses the power of mathematics to solve mysteries and help with investigations. The key theme of this book is how mathematics can be used in everyday life.
For my full book review please visit: https://cembookportal.blogspot.com/20...
For my full book review please visit: https://cembookportal.blogspot.com/20...
February 3, 2023
The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Math Girls: Teen Heroines in History Use Geometry, Algebra, and Other Mathematics to Solve Colossal Problems
What a well-crafted middle-grade book around magical mathematics! Curious young girls, mysterious stories, magical numbers, and their common way of solving mysteries through mathematics, this book has all the possible elements to keep the readers entertained till the end. Ruby Pi Adventure is one such book that anyone can read irrespective of their age.
Math was my favorite subject in my highschool days and this book is an enchanting collection of the finest stories related to mathematics, this beautifully designed book is not only a must-have for your library but is also perfect for gifting to young kids.
The book cover is also beautiful and enough to grab the attention of readers. This book teaches children to keep courage and faith in themselves and highlights the importance of mathematics in their daily life.
What a well-crafted middle-grade book around magical mathematics! Curious young girls, mysterious stories, magical numbers, and their common way of solving mysteries through mathematics, this book has all the possible elements to keep the readers entertained till the end. Ruby Pi Adventure is one such book that anyone can read irrespective of their age.
Math was my favorite subject in my highschool days and this book is an enchanting collection of the finest stories related to mathematics, this beautifully designed book is not only a must-have for your library but is also perfect for gifting to young kids.
The book cover is also beautiful and enough to grab the attention of readers. This book teaches children to keep courage and faith in themselves and highlights the importance of mathematics in their daily life.
January 22, 2023
I like the concept, and the storylines are interesting. However, the author writes, in his notes at the end of the 4th story, that the stories are paired down to the bare bones, avoiding historical details that “irritate” most readers. Not so. Please sir, may I have some more?
February 10, 2023
I was very kindly gifted a copy of this wonderful book by @thebooknetwork.co.uk in exchange for an honest review #ad #gifted #thebooknetwork
This was my first time reading a book of this style, that mixes historical fiction with mystery and maths but it definitely grabbed my attention and I will be looking into more books in a similar genre! This book excellently combined a good mystery with a mathematical problem solving aspect and k absolutely loved reading examples of how maths could be applied to ‘real life’ situations. As a child, I adored maths and science and definitely would have enjoyed a book like this to spark my interest even further.
I also feel that splitting the book into 5 short stories was a stroke of genius, allowing for easy and quick reading! This also allowed us to get to know all of the characters in different scenarios rather than all together as one. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed maths/problem solving as well as a historical fiction themed mystery!
This was my first time reading a book of this style, that mixes historical fiction with mystery and maths but it definitely grabbed my attention and I will be looking into more books in a similar genre! This book excellently combined a good mystery with a mathematical problem solving aspect and k absolutely loved reading examples of how maths could be applied to ‘real life’ situations. As a child, I adored maths and science and definitely would have enjoyed a book like this to spark my interest even further.
I also feel that splitting the book into 5 short stories was a stroke of genius, allowing for easy and quick reading! This also allowed us to get to know all of the characters in different scenarios rather than all together as one. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed maths/problem solving as well as a historical fiction themed mystery!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews