Counting by 7s
Holly Goldberg Sloan (2013)
“A twelve-year-old genius loses everything and discovers that the family you build can be stronger than the one you were born into.”
At a Glance
Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius obsessed with nature, medical conditions, and the number seven. When both her adoptive parents are killed in a car accident, Willow — who has never fit in anywhere — must navigate the foster care system and the terrifying prospect of being truly alone. Through a Vietnamese nail salon owner, a troubled teenager, a disorganized school counselor, and a taxi driver, Willow discovers that the family you choose can be as real as the one you lost.
Read full summary →Why This Book Matters
Became one of the most widely read middle-grade novels of the 2010s. Praised for its representation of neurodivergence, its multicultural cast, and its refusal to sentimentalize grief. Used extensively in schools to teach empathy, diversity, and the concept of found family. Named to numerous state reading lists and best-of-year lists.
Diction Profile
Technical scientific vocabulary mixed with the emotional directness of a twelve-year-old narrator
Moderate