Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan. Dial, 2013.

The Review…

photo from parnassusbooks.net

Twelve-year-old genius Willow Chance has exactly one friend, and she’s only known her a few weeks. When tragedy takes the only family Willow has, her new friend Mai decides she cannot abandon this strange girl. Mai, along with her brother, mother, and the school therapist, creates an elaborate lie to keep Willow out of the scary and unpredictable world of foster care. As the group works to live out the lie they have created, their dependence upon one another builds into a steady working relationship. Before they know it, the life they have been pretending becomes just life. But with the court date to determine Willow’s future looming, each member of this makeshift family must face the fact that this is, after all, just temporary. Holly Goldberg Sloan’s story is diverse, original, tragic, hopeful and heartwarming. With well-developed, diverse and believable characters in a challenging circumstance, Counting by 7s is a beautiful story recommended for ages 10-13.

The Opinion…

I picked up an ARC of this book at ALA this summer, based on a recommendation by my librarian friend Amy, who actually hadn’t read it, but picked it up based on another recommendation by another librarian friend.

I’m glad I did. I really enjoyed this book. I love a good grief story. And if you know me well, you know that I HATE bad grief stories. So if I am recommending a grief story, you can trust that it is realistic, believable, heart breaking and, hopefully, hopeful.

The publish date isn’t till August 29, so don’t run out to the pub right away. Just know that when your pub does get it in, it’s definitely worth a check out.