Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie Kingsley
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Nonstop adventure, science, and young genius in fun mystery.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In Stuart Gibbs' CHARLIE THORNE AND THE LAST EQUATION, 12-year-old supergenius (and very wealthy thief) Charlie is forced to help the CIA hunt down one of Einstein's lost -- and potentially world-ending -- secrets, while trying to figure out who the "good guys" really are. The CIA wants Charlie to figure out where Einstein hid his most powerful discovery: an equation that could benefit the world forever or destroy it completely. Charlie is skeptical that the CIA would always use it for good, but she also wants to keep it out of the hands of people she's certain would use it for evil. So she follows clues, dodges bullets, and addresses her odd family situation, all while translating the world through her amazing mathematical brain and showing off some world-class snowboarding skills.
Is It Any Good?
Engaging characters with adventurous lives hook readers from the beginning of this mystery, and the fast-paced adventure and an engaging plot keep them engaged to the end. In Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation, math is everywhere, mysteries are to be solved, and 12-year-olds can be trusted with the world's deadliest -- and most lucrative -- secret. It's a fun read, and it's so full of Einstein's theories that kids and adults can't help but come away with a better understanding of physics and history. On a personal level, Charlie's personal life is complicated, and her quest for the truth is a reminder that there's a fine line between good and evil in the world.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation shows the complexity of powerful knowledge. Would you have given Pandora to the CIA, kept it to yourself, or found another recipient? Why? Have you ever had a secret you didn't know whether you should share?
What special abilities do you have – and what abilities would you like to have?
What other good mysteries have you read?
Did any of the danger in the book scare you? Why or why not? How does your ability to handle tense content change as you get older?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Mystery
- Topics : STEM , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : September 17, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 18
- Number of pages : 400
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : April 20, 2026
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