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Mathamagical
Why would Pi stop Dye Ameter walking more than three times round the table? And why would Mr Ameter do what Pi told him? Ben Small is good at English but rubbish at Mathematics. Branded a cheat by the headmaster of Cottomwall Grammar School because of the inconsistencies in his test results Ben feels he has no choice but to run away. Due to the storm he beds down for the night in the science lab of his school where, quite by chance, he meets a talking snake called Adder. Hearing Ben's story Adder asks Ben to come with him to Mathamagical, the city of Maths to help them solve an English problem and stop a war with the Advancing Alphas. Join Ben and Adder as they journey across the mathematical landscapes in their quest to save the numbers.
124 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
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373 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 29, 2018
I am the narrator for the audio version of the book so of course I endorse it lol.
It’s a mash up of various childhood stories brought together in a delightful telling which covers family problems and step parent dynamics, math conundrums and fantasy.
I was this kid in school in regards to math so it spoke to my heart.
I adore the snake......
Probably best for high elementary age or lower middle school.
Older kids might find it a bit young for their tastes.
Good clean fun.
It’s a mash up of various childhood stories brought together in a delightful telling which covers family problems and step parent dynamics, math conundrums and fantasy.
I was this kid in school in regards to math so it spoke to my heart.
I adore the snake......
Probably best for high elementary age or lower middle school.
Older kids might find it a bit young for their tastes.
Good clean fun.
Read
January 8, 2018now i have to start reading thins book
June 20, 2015
A Exciting Adventure, With Inventive Basic Math Jokes, That Respects the Middle Grade Reader's Abilities
This is the first of the two books, (currently), that make up the "Ben and Adder Adventures" series. The books follow the adventures of Ben in an alternate world occupied solely by "numerics" and "alphas"; that is, numbers and letters. The names of all of the characters are number and letter puns, and the worlds are built along lines that conform to various mathematical and grammatical rules and formulae. That may sound awkward or very demanding, but the result is actually quite charming and remarkably clever. When was the last time you described a math book as delightful? The best comparison I can come up with, (apart from others' references to "Alice in Wonderland" and the works of Roald Dahl), is Norton Juster's "Phanton Tollbooth" and its deadpan but spirited humor. And the comparison is a favorable one.
Both of the Ben and Adder books are set within the fascinating, self-contained and eminently logical alternate world of Mathamagical. Ben is a perfectly normal schoolboy. But, he knows how to enter this other world, where most of the action takes place. In this book Ben discovers Mathamagical, befriends Pi and Adder and helps stop a war with the Alphas. In the second book he returns to rescue Adder and to help stop an evil witch from attacking Alphabet City in the land of the Alphas and to stop her from jumbling all the words and destroying language. When you set it out like that the premise sounds awfully precious and a little pedantic, but in fact the adventure as written is engaging, stirring, and makes perfectly good sense.
Ben is a great hero. He is organized and a clear thinker, with a no nonsense can-do attitude. He is loyal, observant, courageous and clear in his defense of right and opposition to wrong. He is a classic boy-hero, but not a bland goodie-goodie. You take a liking to him immediately and root for him and his friends every step of the way. His manner is a bit dry and totally lacking in sarcasm or irony. While every inch a schoolboy, Ben remains a straight arrow in the old school style, with a polite and almost formal presence, which makes him a very striking and refreshing character for a middle grade read.
The imagination and creative world building that is on display on every page is fascinating. Rather than complex, detailed construction the author favors telling details, throwaway lines, small bits and subtle jokes that ultimately add up to a fully realized environment. Pi lives on 3.141593 Tangent Avenue. At one point Dye Ameter is stopped from pacing around the Round Table more than three times; I presume that this is so he doesn't conflict with Sir Cumference. It just goes on and on like that, and none of it is jammed down the reader's throat; there are just many, many little details like this. It's clever and it's fun.
Books like this just have so much respect for their middle grade readers. No farts or boogers; no wacka-wacka frantic hijinks. Just thoughtful, creative regard for the reader's imagination and the reader's ability to recognize and follow what's going on and to get at least most of the jokes. This is great stuff.
So, if you have an adventurous reader or one who's ready for a bit of an imagination challenge this could be an excellent choice.
Please note that I found this book while browsing Amazon Kindle freebies. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
This is the first of the two books, (currently), that make up the "Ben and Adder Adventures" series. The books follow the adventures of Ben in an alternate world occupied solely by "numerics" and "alphas"; that is, numbers and letters. The names of all of the characters are number and letter puns, and the worlds are built along lines that conform to various mathematical and grammatical rules and formulae. That may sound awkward or very demanding, but the result is actually quite charming and remarkably clever. When was the last time you described a math book as delightful? The best comparison I can come up with, (apart from others' references to "Alice in Wonderland" and the works of Roald Dahl), is Norton Juster's "Phanton Tollbooth" and its deadpan but spirited humor. And the comparison is a favorable one.
Both of the Ben and Adder books are set within the fascinating, self-contained and eminently logical alternate world of Mathamagical. Ben is a perfectly normal schoolboy. But, he knows how to enter this other world, where most of the action takes place. In this book Ben discovers Mathamagical, befriends Pi and Adder and helps stop a war with the Alphas. In the second book he returns to rescue Adder and to help stop an evil witch from attacking Alphabet City in the land of the Alphas and to stop her from jumbling all the words and destroying language. When you set it out like that the premise sounds awfully precious and a little pedantic, but in fact the adventure as written is engaging, stirring, and makes perfectly good sense.
Ben is a great hero. He is organized and a clear thinker, with a no nonsense can-do attitude. He is loyal, observant, courageous and clear in his defense of right and opposition to wrong. He is a classic boy-hero, but not a bland goodie-goodie. You take a liking to him immediately and root for him and his friends every step of the way. His manner is a bit dry and totally lacking in sarcasm or irony. While every inch a schoolboy, Ben remains a straight arrow in the old school style, with a polite and almost formal presence, which makes him a very striking and refreshing character for a middle grade read.
The imagination and creative world building that is on display on every page is fascinating. Rather than complex, detailed construction the author favors telling details, throwaway lines, small bits and subtle jokes that ultimately add up to a fully realized environment. Pi lives on 3.141593 Tangent Avenue. At one point Dye Ameter is stopped from pacing around the Round Table more than three times; I presume that this is so he doesn't conflict with Sir Cumference. It just goes on and on like that, and none of it is jammed down the reader's throat; there are just many, many little details like this. It's clever and it's fun.
Books like this just have so much respect for their middle grade readers. No farts or boogers; no wacka-wacka frantic hijinks. Just thoughtful, creative regard for the reader's imagination and the reader's ability to recognize and follow what's going on and to get at least most of the jokes. This is great stuff.
So, if you have an adventurous reader or one who's ready for a bit of an imagination challenge this could be an excellent choice.
Please note that I found this book while browsing Amazon Kindle freebies. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
December 27, 2013
Cute book about a young boy who doesn't think he is good at Maths but finds himself on a journey to bring numbers and letters together to = Algebra.
July 31, 2019
Numbers sister gives this cute little story 5 enthusiastic stars!
February 19, 2019
This is a really good book. I would get it if I was you he is an amazing writer . He is also my naber . Go get hi book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2019
Great book really loved it highly recommend. So much I got the second one Anagramaphobia
November 23, 2020
Want ko read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews