FROM AMAZON: Using concepts from algebra and relating them to life, Tess navigates the waters of friendship, popularity, and family.

Math lover Tess has always used mathematical concepts to help her understand things in her life. She is surprised to find out how much math—and life—can change in eighth grade.

She also has to learn about injustice and ethics when a family friend mysteriously dies, and when she witnesses a cheating episode at her school and realizes that keeping silent about it, even to get in the good graces of the cutest boy in school, only leads to more trouble.

Are theorems and axioms about life fail-safe? Is there an absolute answer to everything, just as there are absolute numbers?

In the end, Tess decides that her life, like the infinity sign, is always changing, but that as long as she sticks to some key principles for herself, she can handle life’s uncertainties.

This book is about a student who loves math and uses it to her advantage. She tries to solve mysteries about her crush and her mom. This is a good book to have because it is a fun read, and it helps students understand they can use math in their life. ( )

Tess is a student who is entering 8th grade. She views the world though mathematical concepts, but as she starts to learn about algebra and notices that solutions to problems can change or not even exist, her whole mindset changes as well. Tess goes through so much conflict, such as weather telling on her crush for cheating on a test and having to hold a secret of her mother's. Her mother suspects her colleague murdered someone and Tess does not know what to do. She doesn't even know if she can trust her best friends! This book is a great book for kids ages 12 and up to read. It has a lot of mystery going on, but connects it with math. Even students who don't like math will be stuck on this book. The author does a good job on writing what young adolescents go through and connecting it with mathematical concepts. I would have this in my classroom library for my 6th to 8th graders to read. I feel like they will really enjoy it and maybe ask the teacher questions about math concepts in the book. ( )

Tess is taking algebra in school and she’s finding the concepts handy outside the class. For instance, a Venn diagram can illustrate how much she has in common with her friends. She also uses the concepts to help herself understand the mystery of a neighbor’s death. ( )

I liked the math. It was very cleverly embedded in the story. The suicide subplot would be a problem. ( )