Counting by 7's Reviewed By Kristi Godkin

Counting by 7s is written by Holly Goldberg Sloan, and it is a youth fiction novel. The story mainly takes place in, Willows Garden, Dell’s trailer, and in the apartment complex. The characters that play a main role are Mai Nyguen, Dell Duke, and Willow Chance. Willow’s world is tragically changed when her parents both die in a car crash, leaving her alone in a baffling world. This extraordinarily odd, but endearing girl manages to push through he grief. Her journey to find a fascinating diverse and fully believable surrogate family is a joy and a surprising novel to read.

                    

Throughout the novel the author introduces many character traits. Willow is a quiet girl who does not have many friends. She started a new school and does not talk much at all. She is also very sensitive, when her parents passed away. She is a very sweet person. She always has manners and is always organized and prepared. Like when she started a new school she had always had everything ready for class and was barely ever late.

Holly Goldberg Sloan was successful at explaining the central idea and it explains Willow so I know at every minute I know what she is feeling. I never wanted to stop reading and it kept me on my toes wondering what is going to happen next and if she wanted it to happen or if she did not want it to happen. She always found a way to keep the reader engaged by making something tragic happen or end the chapter leaving you with part of something not the whole story which made you have to keep reading to know what it finishes like, even through the sad parts.

         This novel taught me to trust and never give up and that if something bad happens you have to push through and get over it and not stop trying. I felt sad for Willow but then things in her life started changing and going the way she had hoped. In the end it was an awesome book.