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.”
EraContemporary
Pages378
Difficulty★☆☆☆☆ Accessible
AP Appearances0
Character Analysis
A twelve-year-old genius who counts by sevens, classifies everything, and has never learned how to belong. Willow's intelligence is both her defining trait and her primary obstacle — it makes her fascinating and isolating in equal measure. Her journey is not from smart to socialized but from isolated genius to connected human being.
How They Speak
Scientific register mixed with emotional simplicity. Uses words like 'genus' naturally but struggles with words like 'friend.'