Calculated

Gr 9 Up–A white teenage girl with an incredible gift for math cycles through an array of identities and captors who want to exploit her talent. Josephine finds herself under the control of Madame, who uses the young prodigy’s gifts to further her own wealth. Things are going well until she attracts the eye of Madame’s lover, Lev. Feeling betrayed, Madame sends Jo to be dealt with by King. King is known to make problems disappear, but realizes the girl’s talent for calculations would be useful for him. King strips Jo of her name, referring to her only as Double-Eight. She settles into her life as one of King’s captives and begins to lose all hope. In the darkest hours, she meets a fellow prisoner named Red, who mentors her to use her gift for the greater good. Now filled with a new passion and another new identity, she begins her new life in China, working to try and save the Chan business before it goes bankrupt. She struggles to express her feeling for Chan’s son Kai and trust those around her. Under the shadows of her own identity, she plots against her captors. This delightful book will hook readers from the first page and have them longing for more.