Customer Reviews

A Gebra Named Al: A Novel

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

What the heck is up with some of these reviewers? HELLO! This story was written by a LITTLE GIRL, not a teacher! What is wrong with you people? Shame on you! ...Now, for everybody with a conscience, check it out: This story is cute. It's not Hemingway, it's not Shakespeare, but it's cute. If you read it for entertainment's sake, and keep in mind a kid wrote it, you'll like it. (And hey--if you're not reading for entertainment, you won't enjoy it no matter WHAT it is. Some of these kids' reviews sound like they were forced on pain of death to read the thing, sheesh.) It's a story about a girl and a talking zebra-thing who knows math, and a bunch of scientific horses. I repeat: it's cute.

Wendy Isdell's "A Gebra Named Al" is a very enjoyable and entertaining trip through the Land of Mathematics. She brings many ideas from math and chemistry to life in creative ways, cementing these concepts in the mind of the prepared reader along the way. This book, and its sequel "The Chemy Called Al," are most accessible to the reader who already has a foundation in math and chemistry. Familiarity with these basic concepts allows the reader to appreciate fully their well-crafted physical representations.

I really liked this book! I would definitely give this book maximum number of stars. It has a good way of mixing math with fantasy that both young and old people would like. Even if you hate math you would like this book.

As a preservice teacher planning to teach math in middle school, I read this book hoping that I would be able to incorporate it into a unit I'm developing that will connect liturature with mathematics. However, this story just seemed too forced. It might be used as an example of how students can get their work published (the author began writing this story in eighth grade and it was published her senior year of high school), but I don't plan on using it for my unit anymore. If you're looking for a book that creatively merges math with literature, then I would HIGHLY suggest "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Jester.

I usually try to find "creative" ways in which to interest my young ones in school. Math was always a problem... But that was before I found this book. It's incredible that a girl not even in high school could write such a creative, entertaining, and witty book. My kids adored it! I can even get them to describe the Order of Operations backwards and forwards. Amazing!

I enjoyed the story quite a bit. Not too bad for something written by a 13-year-old kid. Not too bad at all.

Obviously anybody who doesn't like it just didn't "get" it. ;-)

The concept of the book is interesting, however, it is contrived and uninteresting. It's fairly good for a book that is written by a teenager but it's not professional quality.

The story is forced and the dialogue is trite. It feels as though the author used a thesaurus extensively so that, instead of using the most appropriate word, she just used a word that she hadn't before. To a great deal math and science concepts were not used in a way that helped increase the reader's understanding.

I was unable to finish the book and it didn't keep my children's (7, 11, 13 and 16 year olds) attention well at all.

"A Gebra Named Al" is beautifully written, imaginative, and with a plot that sustains itself throughout. Less demanding than Abbot's "Flatland," it has the advantage of appeal to readers younger in age and less versed in math and science.

Although this book appeals to teachers as it is ostensibly a tool for making math and science more fun for kids, I would advise them to think twice before assigning it, especially if they intend to use it in a junior high or high school classroom.
Firstly, the writing is extremely poor--Ms. Isdell seems to come from the school of thought which dictates that the largest word is always the best. However, the polysyllabic words she uses often do not work as well within the context as would their monosyllabic synonyms, and consequently the writing sounds extremely forced. It is not insignificant that this story was entered in a contest, because one gets the distinct feeling that she was writing mainly to impress. Moreover, the plot is unlikely to appeal to anyone over the age of eight, yet the subject matter is too advanced for anyone that young. The majority of older students will doubtlessly find it painfully dull.
This book has been labeled "educational"; however, after reading it one must wonder how much students can learn by reading it. Perhaps a careful reader might glean a few random facts from it, yet one can expect little more than that. Contrary to its title, few algebra concepts are introduced. The order of operations is described in detail and there is a passing reference to perfect squares. There are also several fairly brief digressions discussing various science concepts (such as the structure of atoms, the elements, and mitosis) which the average reader would be inclined to skim or skip completely. One would be hard pressed to find any more information than this.
In short, reading this book felt like having to choke down a particularly vile pill which did nothing but give me a stomach ache. If one must try to make math and/or science more enjoyable to students, one at least ought to choose a different book.

This book was assigned to me for Math summer reading. First, the book focuses more on science than math! Secondly, this is one of the worst books I have ever read in my life! (You can tell this from the dedication page - "to Jerion - the imaginary number" how sweet - NOT) No kids under the age of 8 will enjoy the storyline. Please, avoid this book!