Calculated

by Nova McBee

Overview

In seventeen-year-old Jo River's complicated world of numbers, there's no such thing as coincidence. When she is kidnapped and forced to use her talent to shore up a criminal empire, Jo must decide if risking everything is worth it.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781953944504
Publisher:	Wise Wolf Books
Publication date:	02/11/2021
Series:	Calculated , #1
Pages:	446
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 1.30(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

Editorial Reviews

03/12/2021

Gr 9 Up—A white teenage girl with an incredible gift for math cycles through an array of identities and captors who want to exploit her talent. Josephine finds herself under the control of Madame, who uses the young prodigy's gifts to further her own wealth. Things are going well until she attracts the eye of Madame's lover, Lev. Feeling betrayed, Madame sends Jo to be dealt with by King. King is known to make problems disappear, but realizes the girl's talent for calculations would be useful for him. King strips Jo of her name, referring to her only as Double-Eight. She settles into her life as one of King's captives and begins to lose all hope. In the darkest hours, she meets a fellow prisoner named Red, who mentors her to use her gift for the greater good. Now filled with a new passion and another new identity, she begins her new life in China, working to try and save the Chan business before it goes bankrupt. She struggles to express her feeling for Chan's son Kai and trust those around her. Under the shadows of her own identity, she plots against her captors. This delightful book will hook readers from the first page and have them longing for more. VERDICT Recommended for readers who enjoy fast-paced stories.—Lori James, Rolla P.L., MO

School Library Journal

2020-12-02
A high-stakes YA tale of betrayal, revenge, and numbers.

“Josephine. Octavia. Double 8. Mila. Phoenix.” Josephine Rivers had so many names in the last two years that she barely knows who she is anymore. She’s a calculating prodigy with the uncanny ability to look at the world through a purely mathematical lens. After a betrayal by her own family when she’s only 15, she’s kidnapped and taken to China by the sinister Maxima, known as “Madame,” who forces her to use her gift to increase her fortune. This marks the beginning of the protagonist’s arduous tale, which sees her moved around Shanghai’s criminal underground as others exploit her gift. Her only close company is older captive Hong Rui, nicknamed “Red,” whose wisdom and support change how she views her own power and teaches her what she needs to survive. Now she’s 17 and working for a wealthy man whose captivating son Kai starts to chip away at her emotional defenses. She has the fate of the world in her hands, thanks to her unique gifts, but she also craves vengeance against those who’ve wronged her. Can she save the world from a financial collapse and also bring her enemies down? And can she trust Kai enough to let him into her heart? This engaging take on The Count of Monte Cristo, the first in a planned series, is set primarily in Shanghai in the present day but bounces back and forth in time to show Josephine’s long journey toward freedom. Along the way, debut author McBee effectively shows how she goes from being an unwilling pawn to an empowered queen. Jo’s unique way of understanding and interacting with the world informs much of the narrative, and readers will find it compelling yet also easy to visualize. Recurring themes include the opposing forces of revenge and justice, trust and betrayal, hate and love—all of which underscore Jo’s character arc. There’s a general sense of closure in the main storyline, but open questions, and a small cliffhanger, promise more to come.

An enjoyable thriller with an intriguing, relatable protagonist.

Kirkus Reviews