Battle of the Books, Book 2: Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation

Confession time: Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation has been sitting on my classroom bookshelf since it was published in 2019. It’s even been recommended to me by students. Multiple times. And yet... I never picked it up. Not because I don’t love Stuart Gibbs (I do—big fan of the Moon Base Alpha and FunJungle series), but because something about this one felt like a harder sell. Maybe it was the title. Maybe it was the Einstein angle. Maybe I just wasn’t ready to commit to another series at the time.

But then it landed on the 2025–2026 Middle School Battle of the Books list, and I had no more excuses.

But Stuart Gibbs did not disappoint.

Charlie Thorne is kind of ridiculously brilliant—code-breaking, mountain-climbing, equation-solving levels of brilliant—but what I appreciated most was that Gibbs never let her feel like a superhero. She’s still a kid. A very skilled, very smart kid, sure—but her impulsiveness, her inexperience, and her emotions show through in ways that keep her real and relatable. She messes up. She learns. And you’re rooting for her the whole time.

Also, as a math teacher? The math component made me way happier than it probably should’ve. There’s something so satisfying about seeing actual mathematical ideas woven into a fast-paced adventure plot without it feeling forced or preachy. It’s clever, engaging, and honestly kind of inspiring.

So yeah—I finally read the book that’s been quietly judging me from my classroom shelf for the last five years. And it turns out, my students were right. It’s a great read.

Battle of the Books Challenge: Two Old Women

Since I'll be taking college classes to get my masters in teaching high school mathematics over the summer, I kicked off my 2025–2026 Battle of the Books reading challenge earlier than usual this year with a familiar favorite: Two Old Women by Velma Wallis. It’s been over two decades since I last read it, but diving back in felt like revisiting a well-worn trail—still sharp, still stunning, and still just as powerful as I remembered.

If you're not familiar, Two Old Women is an Alaska legend retold—It’s the kind of story that sticks with you—not because it’s flashy or dramatic, but because it quietly knocks the wind out of you. Two elderly women are left behind by their tribe during a brutal winter (which, let’s be honest, is a pretty solid reason to hold a grudge), and instead of giving up, they decide... nope, not today. They rely on what they remember, what they’ve learned, and a stubborn streak a mile wide to make it through. It hits that sweet spot of being both deeply Alaskan and universally resonant.

That said, I forgot just how quickly the story wraps up. I found myself wishing Wallis had lingered just a little longer—maybe given us a few more chapters about the women after their summer harvest. What did they do with their second chance? How did they shape the community that once left them behind? Honestly, I just wasn’t ready to say goodbye.

Still, that might be part of the book’s magic. It leaves you wanting more. It reminds us that strength doesn't always look the way we expect it to, and that quiet stories can carry loud truths.

Also — I read this one with a scoop of salted caramel gelato. Highly recommend.