Do the Math #2: The Writing on the Wall

I got this book for my two nieces (Age 9 & 14) because they loved Secrets, Lies and Algebra so much. Both girls were blown-away by the sequel and raved on about how it was "cool" that math could be woven into their lives without actually spitting out numbers!

My students loved the return of Tess, her friends, middle school life AND the math in The Writing on the Wall. Wendy Lichtman's characters are realistic, likeable, and fun to be with. My students were intrigued by the mystery that unfolded and the mathematical patterns and formulas Tess used to solve it. I highly recommend this very appealing and readable book to students in grades 5-8.

In this sequel to Do the Math: Secrets, Lies, and Algebra, Tess and her friends are back in school from winter break. The second semester is not off to a good start. There is a mysterious fire in the computer lab the first week back, and Richard, Tess's nemesis, continues to bully her. His pranks, such as tearing pages from her English journal and stealing her backpack are not only annoying, but making her look like a slacker to her teachers. It seems the only good thing in Tess's school life is algebra class--a subject she loves. Algebra is logical, it makes sense. One can find solutions by looking for patterns and using formulas. Indeed, Tess has taken to using math as a metaphor as she negotiates the ups and downs of her middle-school existence. When some mathematical graffiti shows up on the wall of the church behind her school, Tess becomes obsessed with solving the code. With the help of her grandfather, she realizes the tagger (the person who created the graffiti) has written ARSON. Could this somehow be related to the computer lab fire? Tess decides to communicate with the tagger. Using paint sticks and a coded math formula, Tess asks "Where?" When the tagger responds with the room number of the computer lab, Tess decides to investigate. What she finds, ultimately, is that things--and people--are not always what they first appear, and the "hard part about the kind of problems you have in real life . . . is that there are no formulas." The Writing on the Wall is wonderfully appealing. Tess is a well-drawn, likable character that middle schoolers will relate to. The setting and situations are realistic and spot-on. Lichtman has cleverly woven together the stuff of algebra (variables, factorization, symbols) and the stuff of middle-school life (friendships, drama, finding one's place in the world) into a highly readable, unique story. Highly recommended. Reviewed by the teachers at Education Oasis.

Tess is just your average math loving eighth-grader until she becomes a little too interested in some graffiti at her school. Tess's friend Sammy convinces her that the blue numbers form a sort of code, and Tess becomes determined to crack it. Unfortunately, this requires a lot of lying and some vandalizing on Tess's part. But Tess is only concerned with finding out the message and doesn't think about the consequences. I found it interesting how Tess compared people and life to various math problems, but I could see the logic in it. For example, Tess's friend Miranda's math symbol is |m|, which always has a positive value, just like Miranda always sees the good in everything. But what I appreciated most about this math-obsessed girl was how she realized that her system of comparing everything to math was flawed because not everything in life can be figured out using simple steps and formulas. I will admit that I was surprised that The Writing on the Wall was a mystery book; I thought it would be about some math geek who's having a hard time in middle school. But I'm glad that math and mystery were combined to create this novel, which I highly enjoyed reading. Tess's character is funny and very logical (in all things math), something I can appreciate and relate too. I also liked how Tess seemed to know how to do the right thing but was clueless in others, such as the world of boys. If you are looking for a light and fast read, The Writing on the Wall is a good choice. I recommend it for younger readers, but even math lovers in higher grades will enjoy this book.

Tess, lover of everything math, is back for another adventure in DO THE MATH: THE WRITING ON THE WALL. Things pick up right where they left off in DO THE MATH: SECRETS, LIES, AND ALGEBRA. Richard still considers Tess a snitch and is treating her badly, and Tess is still fascinated with math and solving mysteries. This time Tess is determined to solve the mystery of who started the fire in Mr. Z's computer classroom. Even though everyone hates Mr. Z, it would be nice to find the culprit. Clues seem to be mysteriously appearing in the graffiti on the back wall of the church located near the school. Tess notices it because some of the artistic patterns left by the graffiti artists involves numbers; specifically, equations that include four 4's. When the equations are solved, Tess discovers they represent letters of the alphabet, and when she notices the first set of 4's spells out ARSON, she is hooked. The adventure leads Tess down a path of crime as she joins the graffiti vandals and makes her own mark on the church wall. Being suspended and grounded would normally stop most young detectives, but Tess proves that her talent for problem-solving can overcome just about anything. Even though author Wendy Lichtman includes mathematical equations throughout her story (ugh!), she manages to create suspense and drama that will grab most middle grade readers. She uses realistic characters and typical middle school situations that are entertaining and educational at the same time. Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"