Monster's Proof by Richard Lewis

July 9, 2009

Monster's Proof
by Richard Lewis
Release date: July 7, 2009

Livey Ell is the only normal person in a family of geniuses. She's a cheerleader with an absentminded professor father and a math genius of a little brother, and she's sure that life couldn't get any weirder than it already is.

But when her little brother, Darby, brings his childhood imaginary friend Bob to life through a mathematical proof, things start to get really strange. Bob, a creature of pure math, hates chaos and disorder in any form. And as his power grows stronger, he becomes determined to fix our disorderly world in any way possible.

But that's not the only danger. People know that Bob is in our world -- including a top-secret government organization that wants to control him, and a cult of Pythagoreans who worship him.

Now Livey and Darby will need all the help they can get to stop him -- before the world as we know it is changed forever.

As a middle school librarian I'm always on the look out for books that I think boys would like, especially something other than sports or fantasy (I can easily find these). Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of girls out there who would enjoy this book (I did!) I just think it's a story boys would find interesting...an adventure story about an invisible friend who gets out of control!

In addition to the adventure story involving the math creature Bob, we also follow Livey and the mysterious Johnny...a boy from her school who seems to appear just when Livey needs him. There is definitely something different about him but she just can't figure it out...is he involved with Bob and the Pythagoreans?

This is a great, original story with something for everyone. There are a lot of different characters and layers in the storyline with a variety of characters narrating different chapters. Thankfully it all blends seamlessly and gives greater depth to the story. There are parts of the book involving math that may leave some kids scratching their heads, but with a great cover and enticing storyline, it might lead some to think there is more to math than just numbers!

I recommend this book for 6th grade and up...read it!

Score: 4 points