Happy Pi Day! Here Are the Best Books with Nerdy Characters

Can you recite the full numerical value of pi by heart? That’s okay, neither can we. (Well, no one really can because it’s an irrational number, which means it technically never ends or repeats. So you couldn’t ever actually recite the whole thing.) But we still love a reason to celebrate, and Pi Day!

You could spend the whole day committing pi’s value to memory (short version: 3.14; longer version: 3.141592653589793238 . . .). Or you could chow down on some delicious pie. Heck, you could bake a pie (or multiple pies—oh, wait, how about 3.14 pies?!) and invite some friends or family to feast on your yummy creations. Of course, you could devote the day to the study of mathematics, whether you’re pursuing some extra credit to boost that GPA, catching up on math homework, or studying for the SATs. (This might be the most responsible option, just sayin’.)

But our absolute favorite way to celebrate Pi Day involves reading (obviously). Why not spend March 14 cuddled up with a good book that features at least one character who would totally revel in the nerdiness of a holiday devoted to a mathematical figure such as pi? That’s right, we’re talking about books starring smarty-pants characters!

Need some inspo for your 3.14 reading selection? Check out our round-up of the best YA books for Pi Day starring super-smart, maybe-a-little-bit-nerdy characters below!

 

YA Books for Pi Day

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute

From the bestselling author of the Brown Sisters trilogy, comes a laugh-out-loud story about a quirky content creator and a clean-cut athlete testing their abilities to survive the great outdoors—and each other. These days, there’s nothing between these two ex-best friends other than petty insults and academic rivalry. But when they both sign up for a survival course in the woods, they’ll have to trudge through not just mud and dirt but their messy past. As this adventure brings them closer together, will they find that too much time has passed . . . or just enough to spark a whole new kind of relationship?

Chaos Theory

Chaos Theory

By Nic Stone

Coming 01.02.24

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin delivers a gripping romance about two teens: a certified genius living with a diagnosed mental disorder and a politician’s son who is running from his own addiction and grief. Don’t miss this gut punch of a novel about mental health, loss, and discovering you are worthy of love.

One of Us Is Lying

One of Us Is Lying

“Pretty Little Liars meets The Breakfast Club” (Entertainment Weekly) in this addictive mystery about what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive.

Pay close attention and you might solve this.
On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention.

Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule.
Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess.
Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing.
Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.
And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High’s notorious gossip app.

Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention Simon’s dead.

Does My Body Offend You?

Does My Body Offend You?

A timely story of two teenagers who discover the power of friendship, feminism, and standing up for what you believe in, no matter where you come from. A collaboration between two gifted authors writing from alternating perspectives, this compelling novel shines with authenticity, courage, and humor.

Great or Nothing

Great or Nothing

A reimagining of Little Women set in 1942, when the United States is suddenly embroiled in the second World War, this story, told from each March sister’s point of view, is one of grief, love, and self-discovery.

Horror Hotel

Horror Hotel

This addictive YA horror about a group of teen ghost hunters who spend the night in a haunted LA hotel is The Blair Witch Project for the TikTok generation. Enjoy your stay . . .

Love from Scratch

Love from Scratch

This summer, Reese Camden is trading sweet tea and Southern hospitality for cold brew and crisp coastal air. She’s landed her dream marketing internship at Friends of Flavor, a wildly popular cooking channel in Seattle. The only problem? Benny Beneventi, the relentlessly charming, backwards-baseball-cap-wearing culinary intern—and her main competition for the fall job.

The Matchbreaker Summer

The Matchbreaker Summer

A pitch-perfect summer camp rom-com about two teens with nothing in common who come together to help break up a romance and unexpectedly start one of their own . . .

Radha & Jai's Recipe for Romance

Radha & Jai's Recipe for Romance

To All the Boys I Loved Before meets World of Dance in this delectable love story that combines food, dance, and a hint of drama to cook up the perfect romance.

Did you love this article on YA books for Pi Day? Check out other book recs here, and get social with us at @getunderlined!

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