Summary
Maryam, an Iranian woman, enjoyed telling stories but became interested in geometry during school. Her love of numbers allowed her to win a math olympiad and the Fields Medal. She spent time studying at Harvard, which allowed her to write papers about her findings and create “the magic wand theorem”, which helped people in multiple fields improve the work that they did. She passed away from breast cancer but is remembered as a courageous young Iranian woman who told the stories of numbers.
Theme(s):
Math, Perseverance, Creativity
Personal Response
This story is inspiring because Maryam is a woman from Iran who not only got to go to school but was able to use her knowledge to make a difference in the world. I can relate to this book because some levels of math are difficult for me, but others are fun to solve. I enjoyed the illustrations in the book because they were colorful and detailed. Before reading this book, I had never heard of Maryam, but I think she was an influential woman who should continue to be recognized and celebrated.
Teaching Ideas
I would read this book to fourth graders who are about to start the geometry unit. Students of all ages can experience math anxiety so I think it is important to paint math in a positive light. Having a diverse female character can spark the conversation that anyone can do math. As an activity, students can make an object from a 2D paper shape and explain their thought process. This would replicate some of the illustrations from the book. For example, a circle could be transformed into a clock.
Recommended Reading Level
Grade 04, Grade 05, Grade 06
