Céleste Harmonie is a manga published by Komikku. This series consists of two volumes, with a story by Nomane Mitsushiro. It’s a historical manga in the vein of titles like Anne de Bretagne (Casterman) or The Apothecary Diaries: Mysteries at Court (Mana Books).

The Dreams of a Young Girl

Sophie, a 12-year-old girl, is the second daughter of a fabric merchant. She lives in 18th-century Paris under the reign of King Louis XVI. Her life seems destined for assisting in the family trade, becoming a proper young lady, and finding a husband, as expected of girls at the time.

However, Sophie is different. Her only interest lies in mathematics. Her teacher gifts her the latest volume of the Royal Academy’s scientific journal, which serves as a guide for admission into the world’s first national school of science and technology, opening in Paris. This is her dream! A future unlike any other awaits her, but numerous obstacles must be overcome for her to achieve her destiny.

A Story from Another Era

This manga stands out by portraying the life and struggles of a singular young girl during a time when girls didn’t have the same opportunities as boys. It’s also a story about mathematics—how math governs the world and can explain everything. Some people view the world differently, experiencing it through a unique perspective, much like Einstein.

Sophie lives in an extraordinary world filled with geometric shapes and scientific formulas, seeing life through a different lens. The heroine exists in a society where women’s futures were typically limited to marriage and subservience to their husbands and families. Passionate and determined, Sophie’s story highlights the challenges faced by a young adolescent in a male-dominated, class-structured era.

A Unique and Enriching Universe

Unlike typical biographies, this manga is not a retelling of the life of mathematician Sophie Germain, who won the Grand Prize in Mathematical Sciences in 1815 and contributed to various fields with theorems like the "Sophie Germain Theorem." Instead, it shows how mathematics can be playful and engaging.

Beyond math, this manga delivers an important life lesson: if you believe in your exceptional destiny and work hard despite external criticism, you can achieve the impossible. The future belongs to dreamers and those who believe in themselves.

This manga is accessible to everyone; no prior knowledge of science is required. Even literary-minded readers can enjoy it, as scientific concepts are explained clearly and simply. In fact, it might even spark an interest in learning more—similar to how The Big Bang Theory introduced audiences to scientific humor.

The artwork is delightful, easy to follow, and action-packed, reminiscent of Spy x Family. If you’re looking for a manga with an original story that introduces you to a new universe while teaching scientific concepts in an entertaining way, this is a must-read.