Counting By 7’s is the story of 12 year old genius, Willow Chance. Willow has just joined a new school and is struggling to make friends and fit in. She’s accused of cheating on a test because she got a perfect score on it, so she is sent to the counselor, Dell Duke. Dell Duke is fascinated by Willow and her intelligence and asks her many questions relating to the stock market and other smart topics.
Mai and Quan are siblings who also visit Dell Duke. One fateful day, when Willow, Mai, Quan and Dell Duke are together getting ice cream and feeding ducks, a horrible accident happens. Willow is struck with grief as she deals with becoming an orphan with no suitable relatives that can take care of her. Willow just wants to fit in, but still be herself, even though that’s close to impossible as she’s not an average middle school student.
This story helps us understand how grief works and how to triumph over it, especially with friends and a cat. I really enjoyed this book and all the character development. I especially liked the story of Mai and Quan’s family. Counting By 7’s is a permanent resident on my bookshelf and deserves no less than five stars.