The Girl With a Mind for Math

The Girl With a Mind for Math tells the story of Raye Montague, an engineer who revolutionized naval ship design in the 1970s. The book follows her path from childhood curiosity about machines through her groundbreaking career achievements. Written in rhyming verse with illustrations by Lucy Semple, this picture book biography presents Montague's determination to overcome racial and gender barriers in her field. The text focuses on key moments in her journey from student to professional engineer. Set against the backdrop of segregation and workplace discrimination, the narrative traces how Montague applied her mathematical talents and problem-solving abilities to create new computer-aided ship design processes. The book includes additional biographical details and photographs in the back matter. This biography highlights themes of perseverance and innovation while demonstrating how individual talent can overcome systemic obstacles. The story serves as an introduction to both engineering concepts and civil rights history for young readers.

Readers appreciate how this picture book makes Raye Montague's engineering achievements accessible to young children while highlighting her persistence in overcoming racial and gender barriers. Parents note it helps spark STEM interest, particularly for girls and children of color. The rhyming text receives praise for being engaging without feeling forced. Multiple reviewers mention their children requesting repeated readings and asking questions about engineering afterward. Teachers report successful use in K-3 classrooms to discuss both STEM concepts and civil rights history. Some readers find the biographical information in the back more compelling than the main rhyming text. A few note that the technical aspects of ship design get oversimplified. Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (404 ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (466 ratings) Barnes & Noble: 5/5 (13 ratings) One teacher reviewer wrote: "My first graders were completely engaged and immediately started asking how they could become engineers too."

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🔢 Raye Montague, the subject of this book, broke barriers in 1971 as the first person to design a U.S. Navy ship using a computer system, completing the task in just 18 hours and 26 minutes. 🎓 Despite being denied entry into engineering school due to racial discrimination, Montague took night classes in business and computer science while working as a typist at the Navy's David Taylor Model Basin. 📚 Author Julia Finley Mosca spent her career as a copywriter before turning to children's literature, focusing specifically on writing biographical stories about lesser-known STEM innovators. ⭐ The book is part of The Amazing Scientists series, which features pioneering women and minorities in STEM fields, making complex scientific achievements accessible to young readers. 🌟 Raye Montague was awarded the U.S. Navy's Meritorious Civilian Service Award in 1972, the Navy's third-highest civilian honor, for her groundbreaking work in naval ship design.