Richard Feynman was an American physicist who received a Nobel prize in 1965. Catherine is a bright school girl who especially enjoys her Maths and Science classes. Her father tells her about Richard Feynman, and gives her a poster. She starts to read anecdotes about his life in a book he published called Surely Your Joking Mr Feynman.
Catherine’s life becomes increasingly complex as she tries to sort out a crush on a boy, where she fits in with the groups at school, dealing with a very bright and confident boy who arrives at the school, and ultimately with her parents marriage problems. She decides to put her thoughts into words by writing to Feynman, even though he is dead. As she reads more of the book about him she finds that even her hero has aspects of his life she cannot admire.
This is a charming and thoughtful book that touches on a number of real situations for young people, and from the point of view of a young high achiever. It would be most suited to younger high school students but is a thought provoking and enjoyable read for older students. The book consists entirely of letters to Feynman, but the overall storytelling still works well.
I must confess that I had similar mixed reactions to the Feynman book, so I found this book especially engaging. While some things get sorted out in Catherine’s life, we leave her contemplating the great sadness in the life of one of her friends, so the book balances hope with an understanding of difficulties that deeply impact some teenagers.
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