Reading Metrics
Description
When twelve-year-old Ava finds a magical pencil in her family's junk drawer, she discovers it can answer factual questions instantly. Along with her best friend Sophie, she tests the pencil's limits and soon relies on it for everything from homework to everyday dilemmas. As the pencil's answers grow more personal, it uncovers a scary truth about Ava's family that she would rather not know.
Quick Summary
Ava, a twelve-year-old with a love for math, finds an old pencil in the junk drawer that will answer any factual question she asks during a test it spits out the right answer, and soon she's using it for homework, trivia, and even life's little mysteries. The magic is fun at first, but the pencil starts to reveal family secrets that Ava wishes she'd never heard, turning a simple homework helper into a source of real emotional tension. The story balances light-hearted humor about school life with moments that feel genuinely moving, especially as Ava grapples with the responsibility that comes with knowing too much. Kids who enjoy stories about magical objects that have unexpected consequences will find this hard to put down, and it's a good fit for readers who liked the mix of mystery and heart in "The Homework Machine" or "The Girl Who Drank the Moon." Parents will appreciate that the book tackles themes of honesty, curiosity, and the fallout of secrets without getting too dark, though there are a few tense scenes when the truth comes out. All in all, it's a quick, thought-provoking read that shows how a seemingly perfect tool can make you think twice about what you really want to know.