Scan barcode
greenogal's review
3.0
What I understood was too basic and much of the rest I just didn't get...and this is supposed to be a kid's book?! What a wasted opportunity.
mikimeiko's review against another edition
4.0
Bello! Anche se il fatto che le cose non venissero chiamate col loro vero nome mi ha lasciato vagamente perplessa.
fengyuseah's review against another edition
4.0
i know i'm not the intended audience for this, but i devoured this in two sittings. it's incredibly easy to read, with lovely illustrations, boundless imagination and an indefatigable sense of wonder.
sure, you could have a bone to pick with how certain mathematical concepts are explained, or what important concepts were glossed over, but that's not really what the book's goal is anyway. it's not aiming to leave the reader with a good grasp of mathematics. instead, its aim is to leave the reader with a sense of wonder about mathematics, and leave them to find out the specifics on their own. and on this accord, it more than delivers.
as a bonus, while nodding toward the past greats in mathematics, the book is also cognizant of the rich and diverse history of the subject, as well as the traditional gender inequality in this recounting, which was unexpected but pleasant.
sure, you could have a bone to pick with how certain mathematical concepts are explained, or what important concepts were glossed over, but that's not really what the book's goal is anyway. it's not aiming to leave the reader with a good grasp of mathematics. instead, its aim is to leave the reader with a sense of wonder about mathematics, and leave them to find out the specifics on their own. and on this accord, it more than delivers.
as a bonus, while nodding toward the past greats in mathematics, the book is also cognizant of the rich and diverse history of the subject, as well as the traditional gender inequality in this recounting, which was unexpected but pleasant.
bookishblond's review
2.0
Very interesting concept. I was expecting something along the lines of The Phantom Tollbooth but this book doesn't even come close to that level of whimsical profoundness. I was definitely disappointed. The encounters between the dreaming child Robert and the Number Devil quickly become repetitive and stale. The author is trying to make children realize for themselves that mathematics are beautiful but the execution of this goal is actually quite ordinary. This book is recommended for kids 10+ but I think it's more appropriate for an even younger audience. When I was 10, I was reading A Wrinkle in Time and its sequels... The Number Devil would have bored me to tears.
nat1018's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Good for a younger audience, but pretty interesting.
_merel_'s review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
msbotticelli's review
3.0
Okay, yes, it is about math. But it is actually a good book! I had to read it in fifth grade, and I learned a lot about math from it while enjoying the story. It helped me to understand the stuff I was learning in school that year, and the next years.