Counting by 7s

Counting by 7s

Holly Goldberg Sloan

Counting by 7s, by Holly Goldberg Sloan, is a realistic-fiction story about a 12-year-old genius named Willow Chance. She is obsessed with plants and medical conditions. She also finds counting by 7s comforting and calming. She has trouble connecting with people other than her adoptive parents, but this doesn't stop her from living a peaceful and happy life. Well, that was until she was accused of cheating on her state test. That was when her entire life got flipped upside down. When Willow's adoptive parents die in a car crash, Willow no longer wants to learn about plants, or understand medical phenomenon. Not even counting by 7s calms her down. When she finds a temporary home with her new "best friend" and her family, Willow slowly finds her way back to normal and realizes that from tragedies, new things can from it.

Counting by 7s, is a heartbreaking story filled with laughter, hope, and light. The story beautifully describes one of our universal ways of feeling, loss. The story shows that no matter how much you have been through, no matter how much you work, loss is inevitable. Throughout your life, there will always be loss and sadness. No matter if it is a family member, a friend, or even your pet, you will lose people and maybe even hopes or dreams. Yes, this makes the story seem depressing. But this is very important in life and just in general. The story is teaching us that life cannot be perfect and that you have to make the best of it. I enjoyed reading Counting by 7s and it was a fun and relaxing read. It was written beautifully and had many twists and turns throughout the story. The story is also written in 3-4 different perspectives which I feel fits the story perfectly.

Grade Level:

- Suggested: 6th-8th

- Advanced: 5th

Genre: Realistic-fiction

Key Elements: Family

Possible Themes: Family, inclusion, uniqueness

Overall Rating: 4/5

Happy Reading!

-The Book Lover-

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