Of the Newberry Medal, a prestigious award. Major, and I can attest to its literary merit). Written for a younger (approximately 5th grade) audience, but it is aįine example both of mathematics and literature. A young girl (later to be his wife) makes a comment that helps him avoid being to quick to anger at other people who are not as smart or quick as him. Nat finds errors in published tables used by navigators, invents a new method of determining longitude, teaches himself Latin and French, and reads Newton's Principia. These scenes are filled with many comments and ideas concerning mathematics education. One of the things Nat does in the story is teach navigation techniques to everyone in the crew of the ships on which he worked. In this way, the book serves as a good ``advertisement'' for the power of mathematics. It is also clear that many people benefitted from his work. Although the mathematical details are not discussed (the most detailed mathematical idea is when Nat suggests using a log table for the benefit of one sailor who knows how to add but not multiply), it is clear throughout the book that it is Nat's mathematical skills which enable him to succeed despite many disadvantages. The life of early American mathematician Nathaniel Bowditch, famous for his work on techniques of navigation, is fictionalized in this novel for young adults. Note: This work of mathematical fiction is recommended by Alex for children and young adults. A list compiled by Alex Kasman ( College of Charleston)
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