The Lost Key: A Mystery with Whole Numbers

Manga Math Mysteries #1

by Melinda Thielbar, Tintin Pantoja (Illustrator)

At Sifu Faiza’s Kung Fu School, kids learn to be strong and fast. They also learn to be smart, cool-headed, and honest. So Joy, Adam, Sam, and Amy are surprised when the key to the school is stolen - as well as all their kung fu gear. Now they’ll have to use all kinds of calculations - addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division - to figure out the clues, follow the thieves, and find . . . The Lost Key.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fiction, Childrens, Mystery

48 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Prabhjot Kaur · Rating 2 out of 5]

This starts with explanation of whole numbers in mathematics. Then a group of kids goes to Kung-Fu practice. One of them is given a key bunch and responsibility to open up the school on Monday. When the group goes for swim by the lake, they end up running into a bully and the bully steals keys from them. Then starts the mystery about locating the key. The bully leaves some clues and the group tries to solve the mystery by themselves using the whole numbers.

It was an interesting concept but the execution was a mess. Illustrations were good though.

2 stars

[Teri-K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why would have guessed there's a graphic novel series where kids in a Kung Fu school use math to solve mysteries? I stumbled onto these books while looking for something for my 8 year old grandson to read. He loves math and is fascinated by anything that includes fighting or swords, but isn't crazy about reading. He's read the first five of these books several times; our library doesn't have the rest of the series but I'm pretty sure his Dad will be buying them for him soon.

They're not great literature, but my grandson would give it 5 stars. So I'll give it 3. :)

NB - The reading level of this series is about 3rd grade.

[Whole And · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent manga math and values book in this series. Basic calculations on counting, multiplying and dividing with whole numbers while addressing values such as honesty, turning away from a fight and not being afraid to report a when something has gone wrong.

Multiple levels of learning happening in an engaging, simple and fun way.

[Diane Chaniewski · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute little graphic novel about dealing with bullies, solving a problem on your own (without adults) with a bit of basic math thrown in. I won't read any of the others likely, but I wanted to check it out. A 5-8 minute read.

[Hannah Carmona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book incorporated math in a fantastic and natural way. Its an intriguing story that really shows how math be applied in every day experiences. The math wasn't jarring in the way it is presented and with it being a short read it made the mystery all the more interesting

[Cheryl Gilmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute graphic novel!

[Karen Bendzus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute book

Cute book. I loved how it made math with whole numbers interesting and fun. The characters were drawn very nicely.

[valerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

cute for what it was, + only 6 minutes to read

[Kaylee Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet little middle grade graphic novel series, in this first volume a group of kids have to use math to solve the mystery of their Kung-fu schools missing equipment!

[Dennis Tra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solving a mystery using whole numbers. Simple math using a story format

[Picture Books]

I chose this book for my Picture Books as Sequential Art class because as I was reading a post from the Good Comics for Kids blog (ALA: A random walk through the exhibit floor) I was putting different books on hold at the library to take a look at and I skipped over the mention of this series, quickly dismissing it. I thought something along the lines of "Oh, it's non-fiction and I don't like math or Manga, so it doesn't count." Doesn't count? Bias alert. Screech! Put on the brakes! I'm glad I realized that if I was so prone to dismiss it so quickly, then I should definitely have a look at it. Unfortunately, it isn't available at the Seattle Public Library or the University of Washington Library, so my gesture toward good academic ethics has been nullified. Or maybe these libraries need to rethink what they automatically skip because it doesn't count...

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not great literature, but a fun, simple mystery that requires the use of arithmetic skills to reach the solution. The only weakness I can see is that the reading level for the book is higher than the math level. It might not be as attractive to kids who are already beyond this level of math.
The book teaches simple lessons on martial arts and philosophy, as a bonus, and may attract kids who like martial arts stories.

[Minnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mein 1. Comic dass ich über Kindle Unlimited ausgeliehen habe. Dank meines Tablets sind bunte Seiten kein Problem 😊

Die Mathe Aufgaben sind für Erwachsene kein wirkliches Thema. Mir geht es auch eher ums Englisch lernen.
Der Text ist wirklich super gut zu verstehen.

Die Geschichte war süß und für Kinder doppelt lehrreich, da sie zeigt wie man sich verhalten sollte, wenn es Probleme gibt.
Ich bin gespannt auf die anderen Bände 😁

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very short and simple, illustrating basic whole number mathematics. It's probably most appropriate for elementary students, although I will be keeping it in my classroom for those middle schoolers who still struggle with adding and subtracting whole numbers. For those who simply need a more entertaining text to capture their math interest, I will be checking out the rest of this series.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book because in class we had to read a graphic novel. At first I thought I would hate graphic novels because they are a book genre. I also thought it wouldn't be an interesting read, however I was wrong. This book was interesting and made you think because it was a mystery. I suggest this book to all ages because it is a very easy read.

[Hillary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this graphic novel math adventure. When students from a nearby soccer team break into the Kung Fu school, it is up to the students to use their problem solving skills to find their gear and make sure they have all of it.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I teach reading and math and so I loved being able to do some reading in my math classes and was further encouraged that (being a graphic novel) the kids were just as enthusiastic about it - most of them at least.

[Mrs. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another graphic novel about bullies. The graphics are good and the story follows along well. Interwoven are math concepts of whole numbers. This book would be suitable for elementary students.

[Horace Mann Family Reading Challenge · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is about two kids that steal a key, and kids who try to get it back. J.S.

[Irma Gomillion · Rating 5 out of 5]

To was mathematical !

Chitchat as a great book you madeThank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you .

[Dolores · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. This is a cute series. I like the concept of mixing math and graphic novels.

[Holly Letson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent story - a mystery solved through the powers of math, friendship, and working together. The art felt more like that of a COMIC than that of a MANGA, though. Also, I feel like you'll enjoy this more if you're a big fan of math. Overall, not that bad - but, nothing great, either.

[Giuliana]

they were so smart they sovled problems they had math a lot