Today, I’m reviewing Counting by 7’s by Holly Goldberg Sloan. I’ve wanted to read this book for ages, but it wasn’t exactly what I expected. From all the reviews I’ve read for it, and the books it’s been compared to (Mockingbird by Katherine Erskine, Wonder by R. J. Pallacio, Out of my Mind by Sharon M. Draper), I admit that I was a little disappointed with how it turned out, but I could still see myself reading it again.
The main character, Willow, is this adopted, genius, vegetarian-gardener-lover-of-all-things-science twelve-year-old girl. She’s so, so, so intelligent, it’s insane. So she has a hard time expressing emotion or her feelings, and she doesn’t connect to other people very well. (She does, but let’s just say it’s not her strong suit.) At first, I thought Holly Goldberg Sloan would completely flip this stereotype, so that I would be able to understand Willow in a way the minor characters in the book couldn’t. (I still had an advantage on them. I was inside her head!) But I didn’t, not really. I almost didn’t finish this book because at times, Willow made me bored. She’s like a monotonous encyclopedia with legs. Even when she lost her parents (no spoilers, I promise!), she was… surprisingly calm. And it was unnerving to me, even if that’s her personality, or how someone like her would react.
I did really like that I got to read the perspective of the other characters in the book, even some of the adults. I honestly liked them better than Willow. I loved to watch how these characters changed because of Willow, despite the fact that my feelings for Willow didn’t change very much. I was really happy with the ending – but no tears were shed! (Much to my surprise!) 😉 I liked that there was just enough time into the book to get to know Willow’s parents and a love for them before Willow lost them. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I grew to love the people who helped Willow through her grief, even though they themselves didn’t know Willow for very long at all. It was heartwarming and made me really happy to think about people like those, who would help a child like that, no matter what it meant for them.
Counting by 7’s is a powerful story because it did make me think of all the people who would come together for a kid like Willow. From her case worker, to the school counselor, to the Vietnamese nail salon worker who only knew that Willow was a friend of her daughter’s and needed help. I’m actually doing an essay for school on why a character in a book should have helped this stranger in need, and it boils right down to the fact that at some point or another, we’re all going to need help. We all have been in situations where we need a friend to give us a hug, some more than others. And as I was reading this story, no matter how much Willow bothered me at times, I was thinking, “There are people I rather dislike in real life, but I have no idea what their life is like. I don’t know if their parents died, like Willow’s, or if they’re just having a bad day because they got a C on their math test. But if what they need is what I have to give, I should give it, even if it’s as simple as a hug.”
The adorableness of this book was overwhelming! 4 stars. 🙂
This looks like a fun read. I will be trying to find it in the library! 🙂
I hope you do!
Me too! 🙂
I don’t think I’ll buy this book. I was thinking about it but I don’t like boring books so I wont. I have so many books I need to read that I’m going a little crazy. I hardly did any reading this weekend. I wrote quite a few open when… letters for my vousin though. Over all not a very productive weekend.
I’m so glad you liked one for the Murphys. Its been a while since I read it. This is my story behind it. So in 2013 we were visiting our grandparents for about a month( my mom, me, and my little sister). My Grandma was pretty sick( sh had cancer) and she was getting worse. My Grandpa would take to the library very often( he needed to get out of the house too) and I read a lot that trip. I got One for the Murphys and a few other books from the library. One day my Grandma was really really bad and me and Claire tried to stay out of the house. After a long time outside we came in and we watched some tv up stairs. My mom came up crying and told us my grandma had passed. Claire started crying really bad and I left the room and whet into the room we were staying in. I grabbed a book( one for the Murphys) and started half crying half reading it. I read most of it in one sitting. It was a way to comfort myself. I ignored everyone else and stayed in that room for a long time. Not eating or really talking to anyone. I don’t remember some of the book but I remember most of it. That’s basically the story. Its hard to tell it and not cry a little. Lol.
I’m getting kind of nervous. Today is a soccer skill test. Ill learn what team I’m on. I’m worried I’ll get winded. I haven’t worked out much the past few months. I worked out quite a lot yesterday though.
I promise I’ll try to ask my mom today. I just get so nervous.
I know! There’s always soooo many books to read. I have a list on my phone of books I need to read. The Princess Academy and Peter and the Starcatchers are both on it. 🙂 I honestly wouldn’t read it if you have so many others you want to read. I’ve wanted to read it for a while though so I’m glad I can at least say I finished it.
Awww, Brooke. I’m so sorry. My great-grandmothers, a great-grandfather and great-aunt all passed in my lifetime, but all when I was 2-7, so I don’t remember them very well. All the books I read are associated with memories for me, though, so I understand how you have your own story to go along with it. Sometimes fiction is so much better than reality.
I’m sure you’ll do great! I can’t wait to hear how you do. Don’t be too nervous. Just try and replace the jitters with excitement. 🙂
Okay, that’s fine. Haha I totally understand. I can tell my mom pretty much anything but sometimes she scares me a little. She always knows what I’m going to say before I say it. LOL!
I’ve read Wonder, Out of My Mind and Mockingbird, and they were all fabulous books. It’s too bad this book didn’t quite live up to those comparisons, but even if it’s close, I’ll read it. I also love how you garnered such an important message from this book.
All three of those books were amazing, weren’t they?? I wish I had been blogging when I read them (I read them all within a year or so of each other); they’re some of my favorites! I’ll be curious to see what you think of Counting by 7;s. 🙂
Hey, Emily!!
You’ve been tagged over at The Measure of a Book!! 🙂 I’ve started my own tag, and I hope you’ll join me as I ‘share the love’ by teaming up with other bloggers!
https://themeasureofabook.wordpress.com/2015/03/18/share-the-love-challenge-tag-bloggers-unite/
Thanks, Audrey!! I’m so doing this. 🙂
I had this in my pile of library books last month, but I unfortunately had to return it without ever reading it {too many books, so little time :)}. I think I will grab it again, just because I am a sucker for these types of middle grade novels! Great review!
Haha, boy do I know how that feels! Parting is such sweet sorrow… 😉
I’m a sucker for ’em, too! They’re really my favorite books.
Thanks, Bella!