40 pages
Age Range: 6 - 9 years
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0316278203
ISBN-13: 978-0316278201
Awards
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Mathical Prize Winner, Grades K-2, NCTM & NCTE
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Orbis Pictus Recommended Book, NCTE
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Best STEM Book, NSTA
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Outstanding Science Trade Book, NSTA, Children's Book Council
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A Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, NCSS
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Bank Street College Best Children's Book, 2018
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Amelia Bloomer List Selection
The true story of 18th-century mathematician Sophie Germain, who solved the unsolvable to achieve her dream.
When her parents took away her candles to keep their young daughter from studying math...nothing stopped Sophie. When a professor discovered that the homework sent to him under a male pen name came from a woman...nothing stopped Sophie. And when she tackled a math problem that male scholars said would be impossible to solve...still, nothing stopped Sophie. She used her love of math and her undeniable determination to become the first woman to win a grand prize from France's prestigious Academy of Sciences for her formula, which laid important groundwork for modern architecture.
Reviews
Elizabeth Byrd, A Fuse #8 Production
“I think we’ve done it. I think we’ve finally moved completely into a new era of biographical picture books... When I look at Nothing Stopped Sophie: The Story of Unshakable Mathematician Sophie Germain I don’t just see a picture book biography of a female mathematician from the 1800s. I see possibility. I see heroism. I see remarkable strength in the face of opposition. Basically, I see a story more kids should really know (and adults too, while we’re at it)...Part of what Bardoe does so well here is explain why Sophie’s work is important to us today, above and beyond the heroism of her own passions...McClintock integrates numbers into the text seamlessly...” Read full review
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School Library Journal (starred review)
“An illuminating look into the life and work of Sophie Germain.. The artwork—created with pen and ink, watercolor, and collage—is truly a sight to behold. McClintock depicts Germain’s inner thoughts, often numbers and equations, surrounding her and at times isolating her from others... Extended back matter includes more about Germain’s life, recommendations for further research and activities, a selected bibliography, an author’s note, and an illustrator’s note. VERDICT: Excellent illustrations elevate the inspiring prose, making it a highly recommended choice to the growing shelf of picture book biographies featuring women in STEM.”
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Kirkus Reviews
“A girl mathematician? Impossible! Markers, gouache, and elements of collage energetically power illustrations that are often filled with numbers, expanding on the appealing text and emphasizing the concept of vibration that Sophie later illuminated...Resilience is the focus here, as well as the groundbreaking nature of her work...As an entrée into the world of mathematics, this portrait of a quiet heroine is elegant, striking, and sure to inspire.”
Booklist
“McClintock’s intriguingly detailed illustrations highlight period details, emphasize Sophie’s gentle demeanor, and exuberantly show Sophie surrounded, inspired, and even protected by swirling numerical equations that splash across pages and endpapers. Sophisticated vocabulary, evocative imagery, and lofty math concepts (though presented in an accessible manner) skew this toward a slightly older audience. Author and illustrator notes provide additional insights, making this a useful and inspiring addition for STEM collections.”