Perfect for fans of Raymie Nightingale and The Fourteenth Goldfish, this heartfelt middle-grade novel seamlessly melds STEAM content with first loss in an honest and striking debut.

When Mika starts fifth grade at the middle school, her neat life gets messy. Separated from old friends and starting new classes, Mika is far from her comfort zone. And math class is the most confusing of all, especially when her teacher Mr. Vann assigns math journals. Art in math? Who's ever heard of such a thing?

But when challenges arise at home, Mika realizes there are no easy answers. Maybe, with some help from friends, family, and one unique teacher, a math journal can help her work out problems, and not just the math ones.

Debut author Jennifer Swender delivers poignant prose and illustrator Jennifer Naalchigar brings Mika's journal to life in this perfect equation of honesty plus hope that adds up to a heartwarming coming-of-age story.

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Published: 05/28/2019
ISBN: 9781101932902
Pages: 256
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 8.30h x 5.90w x 0.80d

Review Citations: Kirkus Reviews 02/01/2019
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 04/01/2019
School Library Journal 04/01/2019 pg. 76
Publishers Weekly 04/01/2019
Booklist 04/01/2019 pg. 73

Accelerated Reader Quiz #/Name: 502147 / Solving for M
Reading Level: 4.9 / Interest Level: Middle Grade / Point Value: 6