Nothing Stopped Sophie: The Story of Unshakable Mathematician Sophie Germain

by Cheryl Bardoe Narrated by Caroline Turner Cole

Overview

The true story of eighteenth-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.

For six years Sophie Germain used her love of math and her undeniable determination to test equations that would predict patterns of vibrations. She eventually became the first woman to win a grand prize from France's prestigious Academy of Sciences for her formula, which laid the groundwork for much of modern architecture (and can be seen in the book's illustrations).

Award-winning author Cheryl Bardoe's inspiring and poetic text is brought to life by acclaimed artist Barbara McClintock's intricate pen-and-ink, watercolor, and collage illustrations in this true story about a woman who let nothing stop her.

Editorial Reviews

The New York Times Book Review - Julie Just

Barbara McClintock's illustrations in markers, gouache and collage show Sophie moving through life in a bright swirl of numbers, floating like thought balloons all around her. Refreshingly, Sophie Germain's story not only reminds us of the importance of perseverance, it recalls a time when discoveries were often made by hard-working amateurs—for the fun of it.

Publishers Weekly

07/09/2018
Growing up during the French Revolution, mathematician Sophie Germain found in her study of mathematics the clarity and order missing in the outside world. Bardoe details Germain’s shrewd determination—how she acquired notes from university courses and mailed in homework under a male name. When she becomes the first woman to receive a grand prize from the Royal Academy of Sciences, she gains notoriety as a mathematician. McClintock’s scenes of 18th-century France are infused with a golden glow; numbers loom along city streets and burst from Germain’s quill pen. Bardoe concludes this warm biography by emphasizing how later mathematicians built upon Germain’s work “to build the Eiffel Tower in Paris and modern skyscrapers and lengthy bridges all over the world.” Ages 4–8. (June)

From the Publisher

A Bank Street College Best Children's Book of 2018

An Amelia Bloomer List Selection 2019

A National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and Children's Book Council (CBC) Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12


A National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Best STEM Book


A National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Orbis Pictus Recommended Book

CCBC Choices 2019

A Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Selection 2019

2019 Mathical Award Winner, Grades K-2



A Booklinks Lasting Connections Pick


An Evanston Public Library Best Book for Kids

"Masterly... a superb picture book biography."
—The Wall Street Journal

"Refreshingly, Sophie Germain's story not only reminds us of the importance of perseverance, it recalls a time when discoveries were often made by hard-working amateurs—for the fun of it."—The New York Times

* "The artwork...is truly a sight to behold.... A highly recommended choice."
—School Library Journal, starred review

* "A compelling biography...a lesson in perseverance.... A highly recommended addition to the growing number of books about women who have made significant contributions to knowledge."
—School Library Connection, starred review

"Bardoe writes with precision and expert pacing.... [And] what McClintock accomplishes here is also a thing of wonder.... It's a remarkable story in an elegantly packaged piece of nonfiction.... Truly inspiring."—Julie Danielson, 7 Impossible Things

"Bardoe and McClintock have...gone into new territory, tried new artistic techniques, and brought to life ideas that until now have never been displayed in this way in a biography for kids.... I love this book."
—Elizabeth Bird, A Fuse #8 Production

"This portrait of a quiet heroine is elegant, striking, and sure to inspire."
—Kirkus Reviews

"Graceful and lyrical...an inspiring portrait of the plucky, self-taught mathematician."
—The Horn Book

"Bardoe's text is concise and clear, right down to kid-tailored explanations of Sophie's mathematical pursuits. McClintock's line and watercolor scenes are an engaging meld of literal scene-setting and whimsical mathematical symbolism."—BCCB

"Engaging.... Inspiring."
—Booklist

"McClintock's scenes of 18th-century France are infused with a golden glow; numbers loom along city streets and burst from Germain's quill pen. Bardoe concludes this warm biography by emphasizing how later mathematicians built upon Germain's work."
—Publishers Weekly

School Library Journal

★ 03/01/2018
Gr 1–3—An illuminating look into the life and work of Sophie Germain, a self-taught mathematician, who was the first woman to win a prize from the Paris Academy of Sciences. Bardoe's prose injects the title refrain often as the story unfolds. Germain, who came of age during the French Revolution, studied math despite her parents' wishes. Women were not allowed to attend university, but she secretly got notes from math classes and sent in homework using a male name. She worked for six years on a theorem to predict patterns of vibration, and experienced rejection at least twice before her work was accepted. 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. This makes the penultimate spread of Germain's prize-winning equation extending from her person and wrapping around the male scholars, even more triumphant in comparison. 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.—Kacy Helwick, New Orleans Public Library

Kirkus Reviews

2018-03-18
A girl mathematician? Impossible!"Telling Sophie not to think about math was like telling a bird not to soar," but that's exactly what people did. Growing up a middle-class, white female in late-18th-century France, Sophie Germain was discouraged from studying, especially from studying math, a discipline reserved for educated men. 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. She sneaked out of bed to learn the basics, corresponded anonymously with experts, and struggled for fair treatment. Becoming a mathematician was challenging, but as the story's repeating, titular refrain states, "nothing stopped Sophie"—not the French Revolution, not the sexism of the time, and not the mathematical complexities she worked through to discover the formula that made her the eventual winner of a prestigious academic contest. Resilience is the focus here, as well as the groundbreaking nature of her work; Sophie with her quiet focus and staunch dedication was able to make a difference by predicting patterns of vibration, information later used in architecture, as well as paving the way for other women in the field and, by implication, girls learning about math today.As an entree into the world of mathematics, this portrait of a quiet heroine is elegant, striking, and sure to inspire. (biographical and historical notes, bibliography, author's note, illustrator's note) (Picture book/biography. 6-10)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940177341767
Publisher:	Hachette Audio
Publication date:	01/26/2021
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	Up to 4 Years

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