Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

7 Reasons to love Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

1. Willow Chance - She’s a 12 year old girl obsessed with the number seven. She diagnoses medical conditions and wears a gardener outfit to the first day of middle school. And although she loses her adoptive parents in the first few pages, Counting by 7s is quirky and light-hearted. Willow is a wonderfully open and vulnerable character and her observations are honest to a fault and funny, too.

2. Dell Duke - From the outside, Willow’s school counselor is completely unlikable - overweight, inept, unmotivated, and probably a hoarder. “Dell Duke is not a bad person. He is just bad at being a person.” However, Dell’s actions and agreeableness make him increasingly likable as the book goes on.

3. Mai - Although fourteen years old and a high schooler, she is Willow’s first friend. She is determined, deliberate and strong willed. She is also one of the few people in this world that has true confidence, even when handling adults..

4. Quang-ha is Mai’s delinquent younger brother. Like Dell, he is immediately unlikable and angry. Very, very angry. He’s difficult to win over, but it’s worth it if you can do it. And of course Willow does.

5. Patty is Mai and Quang-ha’s mother and a Vietnamese immigrant. She’s incredibly resourceful and take-charge. Dell calls her a dictator (though not to her face), but she has Willow’s back throughout the entire novel.

6. Jairo Hernandez- He’s the only taxi driver in town who agrees to drive Willow where she needs to go... He’s caring, tender-hearted and grateful for any good fortune he receives.

7. Cheddar the Cat - He is humongous and unwanted, slightly dumb, but loving.