The story revolves around Mari, a 6-year-old genius who lives with her uncle Frank. Mari's exceptional intelligence creates tension between Frank and Mari's grandmother, a renowned scientist who wants to raise Mari to be a great mathematician like her mother. The grandmother believes that Mari's unique abilities require special care and nurturing, but Frank is hesitant, fearing that his mother's methods will ruin Mari's childhood.
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Mari's mother, Frank's sister, was also a genius who was driven to suicide by her mother's relentless pressure to succeed. Frank wants to protect Mari from a similar fate, but the grandmother is determined to raise Mari in her own image.
The conflict escalates, and the two parties take their dispute to court. However, just as it seems that the grandmother will gain custody, Frank devises a plan to outsmart her. He agrees to let Mari be adopted by a new family, but this turns out to be a ruse, and the family is actually in cahoots with the grandmother.
Frank eventually discovers the truth and rescues Mari, but not before she is forced to confront the harsh realities of her family's past. In the end, Frank comes to realize that he must find a balance between nurturing Mari's exceptional abilities and allowing her to have a normal childhood. The story concludes with Mari attending university at a young age, surrounded by older classmates, and Frank working to ensure that she can thrive and be happy.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. A 6-year-old girl named Mari is extremely intelligent and can solve complex mathematical problems.
2. Mari's uncle, Frank, has been educating her at home and is hesitant to send her to a traditional school.
3. Mari's mother was a genius mathematician who died, and Frank is trying to raise Mari on his own.
4. Mari's grandmother, a renowned scientist, wants to take custody of Mari and raise her to be a great mathematician like her mother.
5. Frank's lawyer argues that Mari's grandmother is not a suitable guardian because she forced her own daughter to study excessively and didn't allow her to have a normal life.
6. Mari's grandmother claims that prodigies like Mari need special care and attention to develop their talents and change the world.
7. The judge decides that Mari should live with an adoptive family, but Frank later discovers that this family was part of his mother's plan to take custody of Mari.
8. Frank tries to rescue Mari and proposes a deal to his mother: if she publishes Mari's mother's solution to an important equation, he will give her custody of Mari.
9. Mari's mother had solved the equation before her death and asked Frank to publish it after she passed away.
10. Mari is eventually allowed to attend university, where she excels and is able to develop her talents.
11. Frank learns to balance Mari's education with allowing her to have a normal childhood and make friends.