The Ishango Bone

Wilson%E2%80%99s latest chronicles the journey of Amiele, orphaned as a child and sold into child slavery in North Africa. Because of her unusual brilliance, Amiele is able to escape her enslavement via enrollment as a university student in Marrakech and later transfer to Cambridge, where she matriculates as the first female student at Trinity College. Amiele%E2%80%99s exceptional mathematical mind enables her to study abroad at Princeton, but when she disproves a well-known math hypothesis, she provokes jealousy among other academics and suspicion by government agencies. This well-rendered character%E2%80%99s ability to persevere and excel despite adversity forms the basis of Wilson%E2%80%99s moving novel. The intellectual nature of the author%E2%80%99s exploration of math and physics may not appeal to some readers, but Wilson very capably weaves the academic nature of Amiele%E2%80%99s work with the drama of her personal life.