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Summary
Summary
The true story of eighteenth-century mathematician Sophie Germain, who solved the unsolvable to achieve her dream.
When her parents took away her candles to keep their young daughter from studying math...nothing stopped Sophie. When a professor discovered that the homework sent to him under a male pen name came from a woman...nothing stopped Sophie. And when she tackled a math problem that male scholars said would be impossible to solve...still, nothing stopped Sophie.
For six years Sophie Germain used her love of math and her undeniable determination to test equations that would predict patterns of vibrations. She eventually became the first woman to win a grand prize from France's prestigious Academy of Sciences for her formula, which laid the groundwork for much of modern architecture (and can be seen in the book's illustrations).
Award-winning author Cheryl Bardoe's inspiring and poetic text is brought to life by acclaimed artist Barbara McClintock's intricate pen-and-ink, watercolor, and collage illustrations in this true story about a woman who let nothing stop her.
Author Notes
Cheryl Bardoe is the author of Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas , an Orbis Pictus Honor Book, an ALA Notable book, and an IRA Notable book; Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age , an Orbis Pictus Honor Book, a Bank Street Best Children's Books selection, and a Junior Library Guild selection; and The Ugly Duckling Dino. She lives in Chicago with her family. Barbara McClintock has illustrated over forty books for children including My Grandfather's Coat , The Gingerbread Man , and her own highly acclaimed Adele and Simon series. Her books have been honored five times as New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books, among many other awards, citations, and starred reviews. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, the artist David Johnson.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-3-An illuminating look into the life and work of Sophie Germain, a self-taught mathematician, who was the first woman to win a prize from the Paris Academy of Sciences. Bardoe's prose injects the title refrain often as the story unfolds. Germain, who came of age during the French Revolution, studied math despite her parents' wishes. Women were not allowed to attend university, but she secretly got notes from math classes and sent in homework using a male name. She worked for six years on a theorem to predict patterns of vibration, and experienced rejection at least twice before her work was accepted. The artwork-created with pen and ink, watercolor, and collage-is truly a sight to behold. McClintock depicts Germain's inner thoughts, often numbers and equations, surrounding her and at times isolating her from others. This makes the penultimate spread of Germain's prize-winning equation extending from her person and wrapping around the male scholars, even more triumphant in comparison. Extended back matter includes more about Germain's life, recommendations for further research and activities, a selected bibliography, an author's note, and an illustrator's note. VERDICT Excellent illustrations elevate the inspiring prose, making it a highly recommended choice to the growing shelf of picture book biographies featuring women in STEM.-Kacy Helwick, New Orleans Public Library © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Growing up during the French Revolution, mathematician Sophie Germain found in her study of mathematics the clarity and order missing in the outside world. Bardoe details Germain's shrewd determination-how she acquired notes from university courses and mailed in homework under a male name. When she becomes the first woman to receive a grand prize from the Royal Academy of Sciences, she gains notoriety as a mathematician. McClintock's scenes of 18th-century France are infused with a golden glow; numbers loom along city streets and burst from Germain's quill pen. Bardoe concludes this warm biography by emphasizing how later mathematicians built upon Germain's work "to build the Eiffel Tower in Paris and modern skyscrapers and lengthy bridges all over the world." Ages 4-8. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
It would have been difficult growing up in Paris during the French Revolution, not in the least because women were denied basic education, let alone opportunities for advanced studies. But this engaging picture-book biography introduces readers to determined and brilliant mathematician Sophie Germain, who chased just that. Whether trying to overcome barriers presented by her parents, society in general, or the Royal Academy of Sciences, Sophie persevered in finding solutions to daunting mathematical challenges that confounded her male contemporaries. Her work in predicting patterns of vibrations laid the foundation for advances in construction techniques that are still being used today. McClintock's intriguingly detailed illustrations highlight period details, emphasize Sophie's gentle demeanor, and exuberantly show Sophie surrounded, inspired, and even protected by swirling numerical equations that splash across pages and endpapers. Sophisticated vocabulary, evocative imagery, and lofty math concepts (though presented in an accessible manner) skew this toward a slightly older audience. Author and illustrator notes provide additional insights, making this a useful and inspiring addition for STEM collections.--McBroom, Kathleen Copyright 2018 Booklist