Have you ever read a book where you have nothing in common with the main character but you somehow imagine that you are friends or even that character? That is a good book and that was Counting By 7s for me. The main character, Willow, is unique: She is really into plants, loves learning and books, wears a gardening outfit that a much older person would feel comfortable in, and doesn't understand much about relating to other people or making friends. Willow is also really into medical conditions and how things work. We have almost nothing in common yet I really enjoyed reading about how she sees the world and her personality.
She is essentially a genius and tests perfectly on a standardized test so her school thinks she cheated. This is when Willow meets Dell, who is assigned to be her counselor because the school administrator thinks Willow has behavior issues. Through Dell, Willow also meets Mai who becomes her only friend. Over the course of the book Willow, Dell, Mai, and Mai's family learn a lot about each other and themselves as they struggle to help Willow through a tragedy that is at the center of the book. One of the things I love most in books is when a character struggles through something and grows because of it. This is certainly true of Counting By 7s and Sloan, the author, made me love the characters. Though Willow is the central character, and the one who brings the other characters together, some chapters are told from different characters' perspectives. Each character has a lot of personality and endearing qualities that made me want to hear more about how their lives unfolded. You'd like Counting By 7s if you like books that are . . . emotional character driven unique about characters who grow and change about off beat / unique characters I would say this book was a solid 8 for me. I would strongly recommend it and am glad I finally picked it up after hearing so many recommendations! What are you reading lately?
3 Comments
Kelsey Stoyanova
6/1/2016 10:31:22 pm
Katy,
Reply
Katy
6/3/2016 09:32:09 am
Circle of helpfulness is such a good way to put it! It reminded me of the good of human nature and even though it was sad it was also very hopeful.
Reply
Tara
6/13/2016 03:55:32 pm
Absolutely loved this book as well. Read it last summer; love looking at the world through the eyes of characters.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
"'Have you really read all those books in your room?' Alaska laughing- 'Oh God no. I’ve maybe read a third of ‘em. But I’m going to read them all. I call it my Life’s Library. Every summer since I was little, I’ve gone to garage sales and bought all the books that looked interesting. So I always have something to read.'" -John Green
Archives
December 2016
Categories
All
|