Carey, Benedict. The Unknowns: a mystery.
Amulet see Abrams, Harry, 2009, 272p, $16.95, 978-0-8109-7991-8.
The least likely group of teenagers ever to come together saves the island of Adjacent from a nuclear power plant plot by using math clues.
Benedict Carey’s unique plot unravels with all of the elements of an entertaining story for young adults: suspense, twists and turns in plot development, unusual characters, a setting that Alfred Hitchcock would love and a theme of saving the environment. When Princess Di and Tom Jones (no kidding!) realize that their math tutor/friend, Mrs. Clarke, is missing, they commence a search, which leads them into nuclear power plant subterfuge. Aided by mathematic clues left by their friend, they elicit the help of the least likely inhabitants of the island, their enemies! Young readers will enjoy trying to figure out the clues, and even if they don’t understand them, will enjoy each exciting moment as Di and Tom attempt to solve the mystery, which threatens their home. We are not distracted by the fact that it is virtually impossible to infiltrate a nuclear power plant. Carey has made it all seem possible with his group of resourceful sleuths. Everybody loves when the downtrodden defeat their enemy, and in The Unknowns, the Folsom Power Plant is defeated in a final scene worthy of a “rockum-stockum” Hollywood production. Carey made math fun, sending a message to the reader that learning math can be useful. Carey’s first novel flows. He is a good storyteller with a talent in math to boot!
Middle school and high school students who have pre-algebra and geometry skills to understand some of the clues will enjoy the blend of mystery and math. MS
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