The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls

Ruby Pi Adventure Series

by Tom Durwood, Sandra Uve (Foreword), Mai Nguyễn (Illustrator)

A collection of five historical fiction adventure stories. Young heroines find themselves at turning points in history. Faced with colossal problems, they use math to find real-world solutions. How will their quick thinking and problem-solving direct the course of history?

A master of young adult historical fiction, adventure, and mystery writing, Tom Durwood gives a fresh look at some of history's pivotal moments-from a mathematical perspective! STEM meets literary finesse with his usual flair for intrigue, suspense, and immersive dialogue. In his latest collection of short stories, smart girls take on buried secrets, villains, tanks, mysteries, coded messages, and political upheaval to save their people.

We must get girls to enjoy mathematics and to be artists in that field. We need brilliant minds, women and men, of different social classes, ethnicities and schools of thought ... We must teach mathematics from different points of view and different perspectives, as Tom has done in this collection of stories. -- Sandra Uve, Author "SuperMujeres, SuperInventoras," from her Foreword.

Genres: Historical Fiction

178 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 22, 2022

About the author

Tom Durwood is a teacher, writer and editor with an interest in history. Tom most recently taught English Composition and Empire and Literature at Valley Forge Military College, where he won the Teacher of the Year Award five times.

Early reader response to Tom’s historical fiction adventures has been promising. “A true pleasure … the richness of the layers of Tom’s novel is compelling,” writes Fatima Sharrafedine in her foreword to “The Illustrated Boatman’s Daughter.”

The Midwest Book Review calls that same adventure “uniformly gripping and educational … pairing action and adventure with social issues.” Adds Prairie Review, “A deeply intriguing, ambitious historical fiction series.”

Tom earned a Masters in English Literature in San Diego, where he also served as Executive Director of San Diego Habitat for Humanity.

Two of Tom’s books, “Kid Lit” and “The Illustrated Boatman’s Daughter,” were selected “Best of the New” by Julie Sara Porter’s Bookworm Book Alert 2021.

His new book, "An Introduction to Higher Math: Five Concepts Taken from the 'Ruby Pi' Stories (Ruby Pi Adventure Series)" is out now on Amazon!

👉 https://amzn.to/3ZyiA4l

Visit the links below for free pdf's to read a sample of each book!

https://www.themathgirls.com
https://www.boatmansdaughter.com
https://www.mycolonials.com
https://www.teddystantrum.com
https://www.kidlitcrit.com
https://www.empirestudies.com
https://www.usginchina.com

Reviews

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Good creativity is generated...when the brain acts using all its superpowers: observation, curiosity, calculation, analysis, logic, empathy..." By "weav(ing) math into adventure stories" arguably, female students can be encouraged to pursue STEM studies. Problem solving and real world applications are conveyed in these delightful, historical adventures.

Ruby Pi and the Mystery of the Old Carthusians

-Teenage engineering student, Ruby Pi, wins the bid for her firm to repair a cathedral.
-Ruby states, "...a framework of thin steel rods will support your cathedral...their tensile strength is most considerable."
-Calculations must be 100% accurate.
-Application: Lake Peigneur was a small, 10 foot deep, fresh water lake in Central, Louisiana. A miscalculation occurred. There was a salt mine beneath the lake. The lake was sucked into the empty salt mine shaft along with 13 barges and a fishing boat.

The Architect

-Isoke and her brothers attended the Igue Festival for the purpose of buying a bull calf to sire their village's heifers.
-Arriving the day before the festival, Isoke observed the festival grounds-"a celebration of symbols and numbers-different tribes' runes and patterns."
-A change in a tribe's geometric pattern was indicative of war. Isoke takes note of the change.
-Isoke saves the Queen who bestows gifts...6 satchels of books with journal entries of rain and sun, trade routes, sundials, water management...many numbers...many words from many countries...a wealth of knowledge.
-Application: "In China, from the early days of mankind, open bowls of rice absorbed moisture to better protect scrolls of papyrus."

"The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls" by Tom Durwood is being released concurrently with "Ruby Pi and the Math Girls", five additional historical tales that use history, drama and math to spread the "magic of math" to girls in grades 6-12.

Thank you BooksGoSocial and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Emilija · Rating 2 out of 5]

2022 52 Book Challenge - March Mini Challenge - 3) Pi Or Pie?

I've been on a bit of a maths kick since watching the old FBI show Numbers (which I'm currently a little obsessed by), and I had high hopes for this book making maths interesting.

It did not make maths interesting. In fact, the maths that is used is not really explained, and it felt more like it was just a catch all to explain why the characters just knew something, and it just made the book feel a little flat because the purpose of the novel was gone.

[Julie Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoilers: What Tom Durwood's previous series, The Illustrated Colonials was to History, his current series The Adventures of Ruby Pi and The Geometry Girls is to Mathematics. It takes a certain subject and creates a brilliant series with memorable characters that make a fascinating learning guide.


The book involves five girls from different eras using their expertise in engineering, code breaking, architecture, statistical analysis, and economics to solve problems around them. These stories show the different ways mathematics plays into our lives sometimes without us knowing. If Readers (like me) have trouble with math, the concepts and theories are easily explained and the characters are proactive enough to make the book interesting.


The five stories are:


"Ruby Pi and the Case of the Old Carthusians"-The super genius of the pack is Rupashana Lal Pyradhakrishnan AKA Ruby Pi, the eponymous protagonist of this and the other books in the series. Ruby is a prodigy in various areas such as mathematics, engineering, botany, and various other fields. She shows high intelligence and observation skills to solve mysteries.


In this story, Rupa is put in charge of overseeing the reconstruction of the Charterhouse Cathedral. However, while watching the building and growing concerns about payroll, Rupa stumbles upon a bigger mystery that dates back to the Boer War revealing the cruel realities of war, prejudice, and a deadly pact.


This is one of the strongest stories in the book because it shows Rupa solving mysteries and how to solve engineering problems with reason and fact. However, she can't solve the problems of hatred and war that are found in the human heart. The only thing that she can do as an Indian woman is to prove the white Englishmen's assumptions about her wrong.


"Simone and the Mean Girls"

While war was a backdrop in the previous story, it is upfront in this one.

Set during WWII, Simone is a French volunteer nurse. She is working in the middle of a bombing raid with other nurses, most of whom aren't very friendly towards her. However, Simone is able to decipher a code that could turn the tide on the battle and possibly the war itself.


This story is suspenseful as Simone and the other nurses strive to keep working amidst bombing and terror. There is also a strong sense of character development as Simone is able to break through the other nurses' antagonistic feelings towards her by using her gifts and talents to aid them.


"Isoke and the Architect"

One of the underlying themes in this book is the women using their intelligence to break through barriers closed off to their gender, race, or country of origin. One of the ways that they do this is to cultivate alliances. No story is that more prominent than in "Isoke and the Architect."


Isoke, a woman from Benin, is highly skilled in geometry. When Isoke's geometric gifts allow her to save her queen, Nala, from an assassination attempt, the queen gifts her books of geometry and engineering. Isoke then designs buildings and weapons, overcoming flaws in original designs.


While this is another great story of a woman showing her brain power in a mathematical capacity, what is particularly notable is the relationship between Isoke and Queen Nala. Isoke has a lot of intelligence but very little opportunity to show it until Nala befriends and encourages her. Nala needed someone that can think differently and to build a legacy for her.

Like all friendships, each woman filled a need in the other's life. Sometimes it is important for a genius to be recognized and patroned.


Also this story places this book in the same universe in Durwood's previous series, the Illustrated Colonials by showing a cameo from one of the latter books's characters. This part allows these young women's actions to be recognized on a wider global scale.



"Yan Li and the Numerators"

This story and the next one demonstrate that even in an alternate universe, certain things are fated to happen. They also show that sometimes genius isn't recognized in one's lifetime.


Yan Li, a Chinese woman is able to read the statistics of upcoming crops and analyze that the country is heading for a famine. Unfortunately, she has to contend with Mao Zedong's government and his stubborn insistence to not listen to a perfectly reasonable warning.


This story shows how leaders often become full of themselves to the point that they don't listen when someone points out the flaws in the system. Yan Li shows courage by standing by her prediction even to the point of being threatened.


"Shawnee and the Visitor"

This is another story where a great idea is trampled upon by the realities of history.

In 1968, Shawnee, an expert in finance, was approached by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She gives him an interesting proposal that could provide long term financial assistance for the poor by creating a banking system that specifically caters to African-Americans and impoverished people.

This idea impresses King, unfortunately he has to go to Memphis to give a speech and the next day have a rendezvous with destiny because of one James Earl Ray (and possibly others).


Like "Yan Li and the Numerators," this story shows the potential ideas of a better world becoming shattered by the reality of history. Though unlike Yan Li's case, it's not because of the personality of the leader but by the outside forces of racism and hatred resulting in death.


Shawnee presents the opportunity for people like her to be financially independent, despite those outside forces that created stumbling block after stumbling block for her and her people. Unfortunately, they aren't done yet.

The good news is that as long as there are courageous women like these, restrictions can't and won't last forever.

[LannaInTheLibrary · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was super excited when I saw this collection of stories about young women throughout history solving real world problems using math, specifically geometry. Unfortunately while the premise was great, the stories themselves did not live up to expectations.

There was little description of exactly how geometry was applied to solve the problems, for most of the stories it happened so abruptly that the protagonist seems to have just had a stroke of genius at the right time with no explanation of what concepts were used.

The stories themselves were also a little disjointed, full of abrupt twists with no previous context. Similarly, I can appreciate the diversity of the stories and incorporation of major world events through persons from those countries. Unfortunately this also missed the mark and while the author's notes gave context for the story and event or time period in question, the characters themselves remained underdeveloped and stereotypical.

I thought the idea was a promising one, but I can't honestly say that this seems like it will encourage any young women in mathematics.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this review copy.

[Peter · Rating 1 out of 5]

I realise I might be missing something. I really don’t like being negative in my reviews, after all the author has always put so much of themselves into the words in the page. But on this occasion I’m disappointed. I was expecting stories that would draw female readers into the exciting world of maths in the real world using fiction. Unfortunately I did not find this. The stories seem haphazard, and don’t to me have female leads. This book would not hold the interest of the girls I teach at all. So while I commend the idea behind the book, I personally think it misses the mark by a long way. Thank you to Empire Studies Press and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

[Mochalove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teacher and author Tom Durwood presents a refreshing dive into mathematics theories as well as history with his work in The Adventures of Ruby Pi and The Geometry Girls. This book is one of a calculated adventure series for young adults and is especially aimed at young adult females, fueled with the intention of re-sparking an interest in math as well as other STEM (Science Technology Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects. Purchase Here.

What captures the interest about this book, is the effort to focus on the application of mathematics in everyday life. The stories focus on a variety of scenarios which include a knowledgeable mix of history, mystery, math, science, and engineering.

In addition, the use of highly intelligent female lead characters, coming from a variety of cultures, circumstances, and time periods, maintains the interest as they utilize their knowledge and skills in intensely proficient manners to solve mysteries, confront enemies, and overcome obstacles.

Initializing this adventurous collection is the first of five stories, Ruby Pi and the Mystery of the old Carthusians. Within this story, readers are introduced to Rupashana Lal Pyradhakrishnan, an intelligent engineering student. Her nickname Ruby Pi comes from a Ruby necklace that she always wears. The story takes place in Victorian London, where Ruby and her firm win the bid to be involved in the rehabilitation of a school’s cathedral. Meanwhile and unfortunately, Ruby does encounter some racism, because she is Hindu and female. However, Ruby overcomes much of the friction she experiences by being her naturally gifted self by using her mathematical prowess to solve a surprising mystery, that arises, thus gaining the respect of others who doubted her skills. In this story applied mathematics is featured to rebuild the cathedral. This story is followed up with a thorough explanation from a real-life mathematician concerning the holding up of the cathedral roof.

Subsequently, the next story, titled Mean Girls features the horrors of war. The year is 1940 and France is at war with Germany and a field hospital is set up in a monastery populated with wounded soldiers and nursing students. Surrounded by death and disaster Simone is forced to take a violent stand when the monastery comes under attack. Simone’s bravery and intelligence save the day. This story features solving codes with cryptography.

Next, the third story, The Architect, set in Africa, features 14-year-old Isoke, an inventive young woman, both brave and a natural-born leader who uses Geometry to save a queen.

Story four, Numerators, follows with the adventure of Yan Li, set in 1958 China. Yan Li is a farm girl who applies her skills in reading and analyzing data.

Finishing out the collection is the final and fifth story, The Visitor set in Florida in 1967 features Shawnee a Black American student who applies her skills in reading data and forecasting, to demonstrate the possibilities of Black financial independence to an important figure in the Black equality movement, Martin Luther King Jr.

Altogether, The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls made for an astute, creative, and literate read, which I enjoyed by delving not only into math theories and their real-life applications but also expanding into history and cultures. Author Durwood has created an impressive and unique venue for young girls to engage with the world of math. Also, his work aptly demonstrates that it is possible for females from any cultural base to be proficient in mathematical applications. I enjoyed each well-detailed story and its resilient, intelligent female characterizations and also the notes at the end of each story, as well as the illustrations and website resource themathgirls.com help to make the books in this series well worth checking out.

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the time they attend college, 60% of women will have already lost interest in pursuing a STEM career, according to a study by Microsoft. Experts have cited many reasons including lack of role models, math anxiety, and peer pressure. But one thing is certain: without more gender diversity in the STEM fields, future innovation and diverse perspectives will slowly disappear. This begs the question – how can we keep girls interested in STEM through grade school and beyond? It’s this challenge that Tom Durwood has set out to tackle with his imaginative Ruby Pi series.

A teacher by trade, Durwood has seen first-hand the effects of a lack of girls in STEM. Using his knowledge of history and a knack for prose, he has crafted a compelling series of adventure stories for young readers spanning two books: The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls and The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Math Girls. Each story features a spirited heroine who must use her understanding of mathematics to save her loved ones, uncover a lost secret, or thwart an evil villain.

To give readers a glimpse into significant historical events, the adventures are set in different times and places, covering everything from Victorian London to the 1960s civil rights movement. There’s Uly in Moscow, who must use her skills to crack the code of an ancient Mayan tablet. Or Young Isoke, who bravely prevents an assassination attempt on the Queen Nala. And of course, there’s Ruby Pi herself, the promising young engineering student who defies the expectations of those around her with style and gusto. And that’s just a sampling; there are many other diverse and talented mathematicians throughout the series. It’s this variety of characters, settings, and time periods that makes the Ruby Pi series such a delight to read.

Young readers will find some of the math to be challenging. For a deeper understanding of the mathematical concepts used in the stories, Durwood enlisted the help of several math teachers to create a companion book, An Introduction to Higher Math: Five Concepts Taken From the ‘Ruby Pi’ Stories. Topics such as geometry, algorithms, probability, and kinematics are broken down into easy-to-digest overviews. By examining how the particular math concept was used in the story, readers can make a connection between real-world applications and computative thinking. There are exercises at the end of each chapter for teachers to use in the classroom.

The problem of girls losing interest in STEM is a serious one and can’t be solved overnight. But Durwood has taken a unique approach to confronting the issue in his own small way. Representation matters, because if girls don’t have role models in STEM, whether fictitious or real, how can they begin to imagine themselves in the field? This engaging series of books is out to change that, and you couldn’t ask for better role models than Ruby Pi and her courageous group of young mathematicians.

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mathematics helps to have critical thinking and a logical mind. But many young students doubt its application in everyday life. However, this science is all around us and helps us to solve all kinds of situations. Tom Durwood demonstrates this in the Ruby Pi Adventure Series. In this collection of two books, different girls solve cases using applied mathematics.

The series consists of The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls and The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Math Girls. Each book contains five stories with valuable lessons about the use of geometry, the Gaussian series, and more. Among the mysteries are topics including cartography, economics, architecture, and more. The details for solving the mysteries are verifiable, and each story is set in a different time and place in the narrative, providing a variety of content in a reading that is easy to follow.

The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls is the first book in the series, and its first protagonist is Rupashana Lal Pyradhakrishnan, called Ruby Pi. Who also appears in the first story of The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Math Girls. But the stories are independent and can be read in any order. I liked how Tom Durwood creatively shows science, perfect for inspiring a teenage audience to find their own way in the mathematical world. Both books have helpful illustrations and diagrams to understand the riddles and codes to solve. The information shown is from different cultures. And it shows us that knowledge is a gift earned with time, which we should not waste.

Regarding the narrative, some scene changes feel abrupt, although they don't affect the story. But I would have liked a little more explanation to make the content feel more fluid. But that's a minor detail, considering that all the stories, though short, convey a lot of valuable information. One of my favorite parts was Tom's Notes which appear at the end of each adventure. There they describe actual historical data and mathematical curiosities that give a more realistic context to the adventures. It shows that there was a lot of research work for this series. Tom Durwood astutely conveys teaching about subjects not taught so thoroughly in school. That's why I give it 5 out of 5 stars. Ruby Pi Adventure Series is perfect for young teenagers who love historical fiction with adventure, mystery, and, especially, realism.

[Karan Thakur · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book has five stories where teen girls solve the big issues. First in the series: the Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls. Tom has placed special attention to Rupa, whose official name is long, thus in short she is called as Ruby Pi. She is an Indian girl living in London with her parents. She plays the lead detective in both books’ first story.

It has been re-iterated that maths and geometry is not only about numbers and shapes. Its logic and implementation could be used in real-life situations for analysis, coding, investigation, construction, understanding patterns and so on. In Geometry Girls, the first story uncovers a secret buried deep down in a school of three school friends who not only had build a tontine but also had a pact while fighting in Africa. They lost lives and their tontine was deliberately kept secret. Why? Rupa and her team discover that while engaged in revamping the cathedral of the school.

The story of candy-striped nurses may feel like snatched out of a war-fiction. The girls fight off bravely against the German tanks. How did one of the girls decoded the numbers to destroy the fuel system of the tank is a great discovery in the story. In the third story, Young Isoke saves the life of Queen Nala by identifying the colour patterns of an enemy tribe. The fourth story takes readers to China where a young girl warns authorities about natural calamities and loss of lives in Great Leap Forward. In many stories, double narrative runs with an objective to provide a backdrop to the current situation. However, history runs hot in Tom’s book.

[Pratibha Malav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Durwood’s “The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls” is a delightful blend of history, mathematics, and storytelling that brings problem-solving to life in the most imaginative way. This collection of five stories, each set in a different time and place, introduces readers to curious young girls who use geometry, algebra, and other mathematical concepts to unravel mysteries and overcome challenges.

The stories are titled as: Ruby Pi and the Case of the Old Carthusians, Simone and the Mean Girls, Isoke and the Architect, Yan Li and the Numerators, and Shawnee and the Visitor.

What makes this book stand out is its ability to make math not just accessible, but exciting. The heroines don’t solve problems with magic or luck—they rely on logic, creative thinking, and the practical applications of mathematics. Each girl approaches her unique problem with grit and determination, and their no-nonsense methods make the stories both believable and empowering.

Durwood’s writing is engaging and crisp, allowing the stories to skip along at a lively pace. The mix of mysterious adventures, historical backdrops, and the magic of numbers ensures readers remain entertained until the very end. More importantly, the book emphasizes that mathematics is not just theory—it’s a powerful tool for understanding and navigating the world.

Perfect for middle and high school readers, “The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls” offers bite-sized, entertaining stories with strong female leads. Adults, too, will find plenty to enjoy in this series, which celebrates curiosity, intellect, and the timeless appeal of a well-solved puzzle.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m always looking for engaging historical fiction with strong female characters to add to my classroom library. The five stories in “The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls” fit the bill. These vignettes into time and place each feature a strong girl who uses her brain to solve problems. Whether solving mysteries, bettering village life, or trying to stop a famine before it happens, these young women get the job done.

Each bite-sized story can be read in one sitting. Each of the characters is distinct in her time and place in the world. Some of the characters work within society’s constraints and others seem to work against barriers. I found some of the transitions in time a bit jarring, but this may have been because the Advanced Reader’s Copy didn’t have clear chapter divisions within each story. Really, each of these adventures could be expanded to a much longer telling of the tale.

I liked that the girls used practical applications of mathematics to solve problems in a no-nonsense way. Tom Durwood makes complex math accessible in these tales.

This book would be great for middle school and high school readers looking for bite-sized stories and strong female characters. I will get a copy of this for my classroom.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BooksGoSocial for a copy of “The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls” for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Kristine L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sherlock, Watson, and Hercule may want to up their games. Because there’s a new talent in town. Name’s The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Math Girls.

Using their considerable mathematical and reasoning abilities to unravel suspicious murders and other mysterious events, these five intrepid teens take readers on an unforgettable ride through exciting adventures in five unique settings and time frames. Using geometry, algebra and other mathematics, each teen heroine encounters plenty of action and adventure while solving colossal problems in this delightful and fascinating read.

It's So. Darn. Clever.

"Tom’s Notes" is a section following each story. It explains and expounds upon the mathematics in each vignette. Fascinating!

Expert storytelling and intriguing historical and cultural tidbits fuel this high-octane plot. Math facts and real-world applications combine with an agile storyline to create a compelling and captivating read.

Finally, don’t let the word “math” in the title throw you. It’s not that scary. Promise. In fact, The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Math Girls is a highly engaging and entertaining read that’s every bit as good as Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes. Even readers with “math allergies” will enjoy this delightful and absorbing collection of stories. They may even develop a new appreciation for math.

I’d grab a copy now ‘fize you. Cuz this one’s a keeper.

[Pa_tr0_clus · Rating 3 out of 5]

read via NetGalley

I always find value in books with such specific aims, and the aim of getting girls interested in STEM/STEAM fields is very well established. Apart from the stories in the collection, the inclusion of a foreword (full of statistics as well as a mission statement) was a nice idea and set the tone very well. I enjoyed the evaluative sections after each of the stories which made clear what was real and what was inspired.

As for the actual short stories, I appreciated the efforts they took to be as multicultural and un-whitewashed as possible, which is something that is sorely needed to reach as many young girls as possible. However, the actual writing left something to be desired. It seemed to be aimed at younger readers than the content is, as there are some more graphic descriptions of violence yet the language could be more appropriate for children aged 9-11. As well as this, the formatting and pacing seemed off, with little to no paragraphs of length, and screenplay-style subheadings to establish the setting of each scene.

All in all, I think the strong characters and real historical inspiration are incorporated very well.

[Kevin Mallik · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls by Tom Durwood is the first book in the series about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths concepts (in short STEM). Like the Maths Girls, this too offers 5 brilliant engrossing stories where young girls from different walks of life tackle and analyze the situations to their benefit at micro level. I must say that the cover of both books is impressive; however, I instantly fell for the Geometry Girls. It has its own appeal of charm.

Like in the series, both books first story commence with Rupa aka Ruby Pi. In the story, Rupa and her team wins a contract to repair a Cathedral of a school. However, as the work progresses, it seems that someone wants to stop it. Why? The reasons lie in a pact of school boys who go for a war in Africa. More than maths, this story serves better on historical palette. In some stories run a strong historical narration that connects the dots of the present plotline? In this book, my favourite one was about that African girl Isoke who saved her queen from the enemies off the different tribes.

[Isha Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you think Geometry is all about numbers and shapes and recognizing them for using in construction, analyzing, prediction, or applying the theories to unveil the historical secrets or solving the intriguing patterns for social and human benefits, well then you must pick up this book of Geometry Girls written by Tom, a British author who is a history teacher.

As usual the first story going by its hallmark brave character Rupa. She gets into a school for a cathedral work and soon finds herself in a maze of historical event. And turns out another detective for her, using her brilliance of geometry knowledge. The book is at general level for history fictional readers, and secondly it is should be for the higher grade school students who often change the course of their higher education after being failed understanding the concepts of algebra, trigonometry, geometry, and integers - overall math and its sub fields. This book is more than enough to instigate a spark of imagination and interest in the students.

[Manisha Arora · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author Tom has great sense of history in his stories. In both books, the first story begins with an Indian detective girl named Rupa aka Ruby Pi. Rupa is living in that era when India is a colony of the British. And her family is living in London with better perspectives of life there. Yet, the author didn’t shy mentioning the battle of Tiraha where the British Army killed scores of Indian natives by using a modern weapon that has got roots in Bayes Theorem while investigating the death of a renowned mathematician living in Cambridge.

In instances of the stories, Tom picked up 1992’s financial crises of England with the story of Pen, and he also mentioned the launch of Sputnik in Russia –this story is about two opposite sisters. In Geometry book, there is a tale from China’s Great Leap. Many mathematician and geometrical concepts are discussed and used in the books to solve colossal problems. However, history never leaves the collection in lurch. Whatever you flit by, history is there to mesmerize you.

[Bethany Swafford · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of five historical fiction adventure stories featuring young heroines. Each one uses math to find real-world solutions to the problems they face.

As someone who never enjoyed math, I admire the ambition of the author: to inspire girls with tales of other girls using math to succeed. Each story takes place in different parts of the world with a diverse cast and different problems.

However, I had a difficult time figuring out where to place this book. It says it is for young adults, but the writing felt intended for middle grade readers. Yet, the content at times did not feel appropriate for that age group (scenes of battles and violence). There were several times when I was confused about what was happening in the story even though it was short and easy to read, but this could just be the writing style.

I honestly do not know who I would recommend this book to. I was given a free copy through NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Shikha · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the strongest dimensions of the book is that it solves crime cases, puzzles, secrets, and takes a dig into analysis for economics and social welfare. Indeed mathematics and geometry is not just about numbers and shapes. Theorems and concepts from algebra, circle, stats, etc. can be used in solving the real-life situations.

For instance in that story of Nigeria, the young girl Isoke saves her queen by identifying something wrong in the colour pattern of flags. The story of Jayanti is about utensil architecture. All the stories have or something to resonate with mathematical concepts that students must stumble upon in their mid to high grade school days. If assisted with teachers, both books will surely attract intact attention of readers. Overall, the Adventures of Ruby Pi Series by Tom Durwood offers fresh fictional perspective that combines history and mathematics and geometry.

[Ayush Ayush · Rating 4 out of 5]

As in the Maths Girls the story of Pen and her financial analysis was spellbinding, in the similar fashion the story of a Chinese Girl predicting famine is narrated. Tom placed the teen heroines in the canvass of the historical period when the events were taking place. So in one short, he delivered a rich historical story laden with geometry as a compelling factor. Other stories in the same way are engrossing from the historical point of view.

Tom is a brilliant raconteur; however, his narration is not for light readers. He takes you to the cultural aspects of that time through streets, vendors, cuisine, locals – either you embrace it or can Google for far better comprehension. His stories are good, inspiring for middle-grade students. Maybe they can relate the adventures with their numbers and shapes stumbling in the school courses and concepts.

[Renuka · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you ever found mathematics a tough subject, probably you might have also loathed geometry…though it is full of different shaped figures, its concepts and theories are used in real world solving problems. But if I tell there was that girl named Rupa in London that used geometry to solve crime cases…in fact she was not alone, rather four more intelligent girls in the stories of Tom Durwood that fell back on their power of geometry to solve mind-bending puzzles for kings and their countries and people.

We must teach geometry from different point of views and diverse perspectives, as Tom has done in this collection of stories…Durwood builds to a thrilling series of surprises. I was impressed by the amount of emotion and investment Durwood manages to pull from the reader in just a few pages. Sign of a gifted writer there.

[shruti · Rating 4 out of 5]

In ‘Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls’, the Geometry Girls continue their adventures as they use their knowledge of shapes, measurements, and spatial relationships to uncover hidden secrets and save the day. Written by Tom Durwood, it is aimed at children and young adults.

Out of the two books, I enjoyed reading Geometry Girls more. I feel it had more substance, and the writing style made it more interesting. ‘Ruby Pi and the Case of the Old Carthusians’ is my favourite story in the lot. However, in most instances, I couldn’t quite connect with the writing style, and I can’t vouch for the facts. But I loved the illustrations and the unique stories presented y the author.

Overall, it’s a great book to motivate young readers to discover the brilliant and exciting world of mathematics.




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[Saby Samar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girls serve better as detectives over sly men. Another point which is left behind, here I would like to bring to the notice is that it fosters women/girl empowerment. Just five stories, I personally liked first four but the last one blew over my mind. Though I read it twice. After each story, Tom has given his notes and relevance of the subject so that it comes easy on reading. If students find it hard, they can tell their teachers to accompany them in reading session. I am confident that students familiar with recurring concepts will find stories easy on nerves. It's a brilliant effort by Tom for spreading love for maths and geometry and their allied concepts by utilizing a powerful tool: fiction.

[Tatty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed with this book, which held such promise. I love the idea of showing how maths can be used in the real world, and to engage young females. However I found that the maths used wasn't explained, and that the characters seemed to magically know the solutions, with no thought process explained. This would put me off maths, rather than engage me, as I could not hope to emulate the characters in the book. This means that, rather than being representative, I felt I was nothing like the characters, and so felt that maths wasn't for me.

I also found some of the scene changes abrupt and thought I must have turned over two pages by mistake many times, which I hadn't.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

The five short stories are:
- Ruby Pi and the Case of the Old Carthusians
- Simone and the Mean Girls
- Isoke and the Architect
- Yan Li and the Numerators
- Shawnee and the Visitor

These five historical fiction stories introduce five women using maths to solve real-life problems. Readers can follow the mathematical equations in this short read, but they are not necessarily challenging as the women solve these along the way. The format occasionally reads as a newspaper article written in prose form. A good read.


I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to VRO and author.

[Mayank · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author brings geometry concepts and usage on the table to solve major challenges and issues at some point of time in history through teenage girls as main protagonists. The series of two books is more than history and mathematics and geometry, it blends many valuable aspects of academic literature in it. Read on to know why you should try reading this different series before you doubt your liking for in particular geometry and overall mathematics. Yeah slightly an offbeat thriller collection of stories where history runs concurrently, in the end it for minds that love intriguing orientation while deciphering the themes of the stories.

[Naturalbri (Bri Wignall) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant collection of stories! We were new to this author and both myself and my daughter loved sharing the stories, at bedtime.
We liked each of the wee adventures, finding the main character absolutely lovely, very courageous and strong, and the supporting characters were all unique and fun.
We really liked how the stories flowed and that each adventure had a nice wee lesson to it, but also that it made sure to show us that learning is both important and fun.
Overall a brilliant book!

[Dinesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom’s description of backdrops is not dry. He indeed takes you through the streets of villages and cities where his protagonists dwell. Be it London, ancient India, Russia, Nigeria, or the discriminating war zone of South Africa – he is everywhere like an omnipresent to introduce you to at times cuisines, local names of residents, tribal patterns, and much more. Some of the stories are set in the charming rural backdrop of Indian subcontinent – an amazing way to acknowledge cultural heritage from the history of that era.

[Solitude and books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another thrilling book by the author ! I have read another book by him.
The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls: Teen Heroines in History Use Geometry, Algebra, and Other Mathematics to Solve Colossal Problems is another book in the Ruby Pi Adventure Series.
Again it cones with 5 fresh and mind boggling plots. Among them all I liked reading Shawne and the Visitor. It was an interesting story.

[Doctor Nyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a quick read, and sparks imagination and creativity.

I like that the author is trying to make science and math cool for younger people so that young girl will keep an interest in those fields as they grow up.

It's an important goal. I wish them the best of luck!

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only

[DARREN THE BOOKWORM · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given the chance to review this book by The Book network. A collection of five stories all set in different time and places each story has a different female lead character who has a different problem to solve all using different maths techniques to sort the out including geometry and algebra.
The stories skip along and are entertaining to the end .