The Golden Compass

Author: Philip Pullman
Format: Audiobook

It was a pretty good story. Took me a while to read this one, it didn't leave me wanting more. I think I prefer audiobooks read by one talented individual rather than a cast of people like this on. The Lyra characters voice and accent really got on my nerves. I like how Pullman mixes ideas from religion, physics, and mathematics into his fantasy world. There's even a mention of imaginary numbers.

The Number Devil

Author: Hans Magnus Enzensberger
Format: Print

A quick little adventure; this would be ideal for the middle school student. It does a great job of raising your curiosity but leaves the "why?" for you, the adventurer, to discover. I also like the analogy it gives for proof which I will use in class. It compares writing a proof to crossing a river, you have to jump from rock to rock.