THE SHRINKING SETBACK

In this STEM-centric series’ second episode, learning to manipulate fractions and decimals helps three young superheroes defend the Arithmetic Meteor, which gave them their powers, from archnemesis Null Void.

Unwisely accepting free cans of Micro Cola from the thinly disguised, light-skinned villain leaves the suddenly mouse-sized Solvers—light-skinned Leo, dark-skinned Shahi, and tan-skinned Moe (who uses they/them pronouns)—in desperate straits. Only by learning how to make, convert, add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions and decimals are they going to be able to make sense of the ingredients for an Enlarging Formula and various other helpful concoctions. Much instruction ensues, with careless mistakes (notably one that subjects them to Sudden Additional Shrinking Syndrome: “We got SASSed!!”), definitions of terms, step-by-step examples, and problems laid out so that motivated readers can do the figuring right along with the costumed trio. Leo and Moe travel realistic learning curves while Shahi does most of the explaining, but all three wind up on the same page in time to put things right and deliver a rousing cheer: “Hooray for fractions!” “Hooray for decimals!” “Hooray for math!” The message that facility with fractions and decimals is helpful in daily life gets a good airing, too.

Numeracy drives this tale, but superhero action keeps the pedal to the metal.