Review: Numbed! by David Lubar

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Logan was sure that following Benedict into the math museum's restricted lab was a bad idea. After they're zapped by a robot that's being developed, the boys notice something funny. They're not sure what time it will be in two hours. They can't measure ingredients for pancakes. They can't count money. They can't do math at all!
Logan and Benedict need their skills back for a big math test in school—and, as they discover, for lots of everyday tasks! To recover, they'll have to solve several zany puzzles back at the museum. Can they prove their smarts in time? Or will they remain numbed? 

MY TAKE:
Most of us don't realize how often we use math in our daily lives.

In Numbed!, Benedict and Logan lose their ability to do math after they are zapped by a robot at the math museum. With their math test coming up soon, Benedict and Logan must race against time to get their abilities back.

During the first chapter or so, I wasn't sure I would like this. The story is told from Logan's point-of-view, and for some reason, it just didn't speak to me. However, as the story progressed, I started to become more comfortable with Logan's style and was able to focus more on his and Benedict's adventure.

The best part of this book, for me, were the problems that Logan and Benedict had to solve in order to regain their math abilities, as well as the shortcuts they discovered in order to solve the problems quicker. I think most kids and adults wouldn't be aware of most of their tricks, so that in itself makes this book worth a read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Millbrook Press for the e-ARC. Publication date of Numbed! is on October 1, 2013.

THE GOOD:

1. Kids and adults can learn new math tricks.
2. Kids may be able to appreciate math a little better.
3. The plot is new and interesting.

THE BAD:

1. Some kids may find the topic boring.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

The orange-banana Slush Monster with extra honey is about as perfect a drink as you can get.

READ IT IF:

1. Your kid likes math.
2. You want your child to appreciate math more.
3. Your kid likes learning math shortcuts.

RATING:


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