Good maths novels/non-fiction books for 12 yr old?

[annh]

DH has asked me to find some fun maths book for DS1 (12) which is either a fact book but presented in an interesting way (maybe like some kind of mystery or puzzle?) or a fiction book which weaves in some maths? I am exhausted after my first day back at work in 2 years and am throwing myself on the collective wisdom of MN, rather than googling aimlessly for the next hour!

What about The Curious Incident?
I've been trying to Google it: I think there are two versions - an adults' (contains naughty words?) and a children's. The protagonist is 15 y.o. (although his mental age is a matter of debate)

Yeah The Curious Incident is fab but the language of the one I read would make it a no-no for under 15s, say.

Shame I thought. Didn't realise there was a clean version!

Holes by Louis Sachar is a marvellous book and very suitable; not mathsy but a good puzzle.

I just asked mathematician dh and he said if your ds is very bright then he might be able to manage Godel, Escher, Bach.

If you're looking for maths things, Marcus de Sautoy is good at making ideas readable - I'm thinking of getting this one of his for DS (12) for Christmas.

The Phantom Tollbooth is also good, but maybe a bit young for a 12-year-old.

Or maybe one of the Jostein Gaarder books like the Solitaire Mystery or Sophie's World (though that one is more philosophical)?

If he's not read The Number Devil then he might enjoy it. DS1, 11, has read and enjoyed both the Marcus de Sautoy and the Godel, Escher, Bach mentioned. The Cabinet of Mathematical Curiosities and the other similar Ian Stewart book are never far from his side.

He has also enjoyed the Simon Singh book on Fermat's Last Theorem.

I'll ask him tomorrow what else he's enjoyed recently.

My DS enjoyed www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/hans+magnus+enzensberger/michael+henry+heim/the+number+devil/6258347/ at your DS's age, however he wasn't amazing at maths just wanted to understand it more so may be a bit easy?

It looks quite good though

sorry crap link there - again

Brilliant, thank you all for the suggestions! Yes, he is quite bright and coasting along at the top of the class, we want to give him some books that really make him think, and show maths in a "different" light rather than the one presented by the National Curriculum. Onwards to Amazon!

Oh and in case we're all bored with these genius MN children, if anyone has any ideas of books on how to make DS2 (9) in Yr 5, grasp the basic principles of multiplication and division, that'd be most welcome too!

There's a series like 'horrible histories' called 'murderous maths' which covers all sorts of things.

"surely you're joking, Mr Feynman" - anecdotes from Nobel-winning physicist. Great read even if the maths/physics bits still go over my head.

At 12 my dad lent me Lewis Carroll's Pillow Problems which was lots of good problems. Although being a maths geek but not genius in the slightest I just read the answers...

Oh, and Flatland! Wonderful book.
And the Phantom Tollbooth - only a bit is about numbers but it's a great read.

Try "Alex's Adventures in Numberland" (Alex Bellos).

Very readable - covers maths from basic (what would life be like without numbers), through to advanced.

It doesn't matter if you read the chapters in order or not, so you can hop to follow interests.

Royal Institution sells DVDs of its Christmas Lectures, and they had Marcus de Sautnoy on a few years ago (prime numbers and codes): he might like those too?

DD1(13) read the childrens version of The Curious Incident when she was 10. Just quizzed her on it, and she said she loved it, but there were some confusing words. She then went on to say it would probably be OK for DD2 (just turned 8) now.

A colleague recommended "Why Does e=mc2" but that was more physics than maths and a bit much at 12.

I also vote for Murderous Maths. I blogged about how I got my daughter to read them, she loves them now, but your son is obviously keen to read maths stories. If he's keen on looking at how maths is used in real life, he may enjoy watching some of the excellent short videos on Ted.com, just search "math" from the hompage. My 9 and 11 year olds love watching them. Hope this helps

this one is good - might be a bit light for a 12 year old though penrose

Sorry for hijack but any books like this suitable for struggling 10 year old ds2? TIA

Think I'll get him the number devil from the library as no doubt he'll say it's too difficult?

this would be good for him

Also number devil is not too hard it has a good story as well.

This one might make him laugh is in most libraries

thanks skippyjonjones