Huhhh. This led me down a rabbit hole where I discovered that there are a large number of Newbery Honor books I haven't read, and that many of them from the title alone sound awful. Also that Bowditch actually won the Newbery :) (which is probably why I've read it at all; my library growing up had a special shelf for Newbery winners)

And, I mean, my dim memories of Bowditch indicate that he was very much the absent-minded professor type, which these days isn't that interesting for me to read about, and I totally would buy that the book hasn't aged well. But still! math problems! :)