Friday, February 7, 2014

COUNTING BY 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

This is a book of oddballs starting with the main character Willow. Willow doesn't fit in. This little girl is a genius about many things, but is considered odd by her schoolmates. And school is boring! Then tragedy strikes when her loving parents are killed in a car crash. With no next of kin Willow is lucky enough to find a temporary home with the family of her best friend, a highschooler named Mai. Mai's family are oddballs, too. Mother Patti operates a nail salon and considers the color red is lucky. The family lives in a garage behind the shop. Mai's older brother,Quang-ha, a troublemaker at school, has the same inefficient guidance counselor as Willow -- Dell Duke. Yet somehow all of these people come together create a new life for Willow and themselves. An amazing story of change and family that is destined to win awards.