THE BRILLIANT CALCULATOR

An account of the life of the first female electrical engineer in America.

Edith Clarke was born on a farm in Maryland in 1883, one of nine children. Her father died when she was 7, and when her mother died five years later, her uncle sent her to boarding school, where she was meant to learn “manners and music.” Instead, Edith studied algebra and geometry. When she inherited money left to her by her parents, she enrolled in Vassar College, graduating with a degree in mathematics and astronomy. A critical illness convinced Edith to go after her dreams, and she earned an engineering degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but no one was willing to hire a woman engineer. She worked during the day computing calculations for a company building power lines, and she spent her evenings studying electrical current load in wires, which led to an invention, the Clarke Calculator—and a job as an engineer. Skillfully told and illustrated, this story is full of details and depth. The full-color images catch the eye and playfully include mathematical puzzles. Edith’s quotes are interspersed throughout, highlighting her love of math and her determination to succeed in a traditionally male field. This one will inspire and validate any readers who love mathematics and calculations, especially anyone who has felt marginalized within STEM fields. Edith and most characters present White. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Rousing encouragement for readers—especially math-minded ones—to follow their dreams.