All the good things you may hear about Counting by 7s are true. It is one of the best middle grade books of 2013. In some ways it makes one think of Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper–not because the themes or stories are alike, but because the caliber of the story feels the same and the protagonists are so compelling.
Author Holly Goldberg Sloan voices one of the more memorable middle grade characters in recent memory: Willow Chance, a girl genius with a lot of genuine struggles. Willow tells her story in sometimes terse, but always poetic prose. From the opening pages, it is impossible not to love her; it is impossible not to feel her pain. With excellent supporting characters and redemptive themes about living, family, hope, and change, Counting by 7s is an affirming and rewarding read. Highly recommended! Put it at the top of your reading list.
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: None
Violence/Gore: Report of a miscarriage; report of an accident; report of accident with deaths (non-detailed); character falls and injuries self with mention of blood and need for stitches.
Sex/Nudity: Reference to a couple attempting to conceive (some innuendo in reference); reference to teenage pregnancy; characters watching TV shows with “hot girls”.
Mature Subject Matter:
Adoption; Foster Care; Death of a Parent; Family and Personal Crisis; Ethics.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
None noted
