First published 2019
Year 10 student Alex Chen stares at the Cambridge Maths textbook open on the desk, knowing that Stage 5 mathematics will determine more than just academic success. The advanced algebra and geometry problems mirror the complex equations of teenage life at Riverside High. Alex struggles with quadratic functions while navigating friendship dynamics with study partner Maya and dealing with pressure from parents who expect mathematical excellence. Each problem set becomes a metaphor for larger questions about identity and belonging. When the regional mathematics competition approaches, Alex must solve not only for x and y but also for personal confidence and authentic self-expression. Palmer weaves mathematical concepts into a story about finding your own path through the structured world of academic expectations.
Genres: fiction, family-life, contemporary, adolescence, school, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Riverside High, Cambridge
Period: Year 10
Paperback · Cambridge University Press