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";s:4:"text";s:28289:"One comes to mind – The Orphans of Normandy (Amis, 2000). Heck, she even goes to school in her favorite gardening outfit! She loves gardening, studying about everything and counting by 7s. ⭐️ OUR MID-JULY BOOK CLUB READ: Overall I enjoyed reading the book and I thought it was a good solid read. The counselor, hopefully, is not representative of a typical person in his field; however, his character does present an identity study that could be intriguing if it were read by persons interested in such. Following our initial response this week, in the second week of February we will take a closer look at the unique characters that Holly Goldberg Sloan has created. by Dial Books. It also proves how she is getting over her OCD. As we began thinking about the themes that ran through this novel—the big ideas–my thoughts continuously focused around notions of identity and, to a degree, the sense of agency that Willow has about who she is. Willow Chance- A gifted twelve year old girl who lives in Bakersfield, California who comes home one day and finds out her parents have been killed in a car crash. I was immediately drawn into this story since Willow Chance narrates and shares her genius mind with interests and knowledge that is not normal for the average adult—much less a twelve year old girl. Holly Goldberg Sloan experienced losses – her husband in a swimming accident and the death of a good friend from college. Now a quote from counting by 7s 'if your lost you may have to swim against the tide'. This week’s responses will focus on pairing this novel with other books that might support and extend its central themes. Sandy ✨. This from a college bookstore. It was for me. The notion of intertextuality will continue next week as we share text sets that support or could include Counting by 7’s are shared. Each refers to her previous self and what they would have done before the life-changing event that forced them into different families as compared to what they find themselves doing now. There was nothing interesting about her advanced understanding and obsession with learning because when her parents died (that is not a spoiler... it happens right away) her obsession with learning and growing stopped. 8-15 year olds will definitely enjoy reading this book. WOW Stories needs your manuscript! Title: Counting by 7s Author: Holly Goldberg Sloan Genre: Contemporary, Middle Grade, PoC Publisher: Dial Publication Date: August 29 2013 Hardcover: 384 Pages In the tradition of Out of My Mind, Wonder, and Mockingbird, this is an intensely moving middle grade novel about being an outsider, coping with loss, and discovering the true meaning of family. Counting By 7s. I do not hear a single word they say.” She cannot go back to school. A wonderful book about a young girl who sees the world differently and likes the number 7. The author focused so much on other stuff that it took away from learnin. This sense of self plays into the ending of each book where Willow’s situation leaves her in the care of her new family but Frances has to face the decision at the war’s end as to whether or not to return to her mother or remain with the Shepards. In the latter half of February, our thinking will focus on intertextual connections that invite us to extend our thinking around the novel to universal themes. Styles. Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. They've been weird, because that's what it means to be hanging out on the edges of the curve, and for some of them I've taken a deep breath, crossed my fingers and hoped for the best for them in middle school. As mentioned earlier, using the novel Counting By 7’s as a focus study and then creating literature discussion groups around other novels or creating text sets of picture books and other related text, both written and visual, help students make these connections. Quotes; Character Interview; Willow Chance "On the 7th day of the 7th month (is it any wonder I love the number?) Because their weird makes them fabulous kids and will make them fabulous adults. Willow Chance is the main character of this novel. Which of the following is an antagonist in Counting by 7's? chapter 1 willow chance A genius shoots at something no one else can see, and hits it. Great Books to Give the Kids This Holiday. Your email address will not be published. I cried so much. Patricia Reilly Giff also writes wonderful books that relate to identity development in children. Counting by 7s is an enchanting middle grade novel with a lot of heart. Perhaps Sloan wanted us to realize that the situation with Willow forced her to finally open her eyes, but it is really hard for me to believe. Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. Four stars? But five? Clearly, the number of changes these children experienced at such an early age would have affected the development of their identities. See all 43 questions about Counting by 7s…, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Yes. Her teachers believe she cheats on … The intertextual connections of strong but changing identities that still remain true to the integrity of each offer powerful lessons on taking agency for both one’s self and others—lessons found in both historical and contemporary contexts. Part Two – Characters & Context Overview 70 terms. Counting by 7s is Holly Goldberg Sloan's first middle-grade novel, published in 2013. But I still found the counselor, despite his transformation, slightly creepy. The main character of Counting by 7’s is Willow Chance who was adopted by a really nice couple that loved her very much. I know that even now, my friends will often speak of their families, and how living with them or getting away from them or altering them may have been crucial in who they have become. This in itself provides the momentum for this story as well as an interesting situation within the British family, also Jewish, where the mother was previously Catholic. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn’t kept … In addition, we would put together sets of related texts that could expand the students’ knowledge base or broaden their perspectives. I totally adored this book and its characters. This book was very slow at the start and nothing was really happening, but as I continued to read more deeper into the book I loved it. Holly Goldberg Sloan was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and spent her childhood living in California, the Netherlands, Istanbul, Washington, DC, and Oregon (where she graduated from high school). February’s “My Take/Your Take” will begin with a focus on our initial response to Counting by 7’s. Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. We sit together outside the Fosters Freeze at a sea-green, metal picnic table. Sandy Copyright © 2006-2021 International Collection of Children's and Adolescent Literature. Counting by sevens is how she relaxes - it calms her mind. She also notes his mole and suggests he see a doctor and sure enough, it was cancer. When left without the family whose nurturing stance helped Willow to naturally develop her “genius” abilities and extreme interests in plants, medical conditions, and the number 7, Willow finds herself surrounded by a diversity of people whom she doesn’t even know too well. Required fields are marked *. Certainly a text set about the homeless in current times would not be out of place in this theme. The Book, Counting by 7s, by Holly Goldberg Sloan is an inspiring, humorous, and emotional book that most people can relate to. This is largely due to Willow herself as, once her parents died in the automobile accident, she began noting what the old Willow would do or think and what the newly evolving Willow might say or do. WOW is committed to creating an international network of people who share the vision of bringing books and children together, thereby opening windows on the world. After Willow’s loss, Sloan begins to help Willow rebuild a life, as we all must do, and although it is a different life, she carries the essence of Willow into this life, and she brings about transformation in those around her. While we know from socio-cultural theory that she will not leave behind her identity, in light of the fact we are always adapting and adopting other ways of being, her identity will change in light of the new culture/s she encounters. Home Characters Conflict Plot Setting Theme Symbolism Quiz Think Characters: Willow Chance: An adopted 1  2 year-old girl who loses her bright intelligence when both of her parents die in a tragic car crash, but perseveres through it and brings a different mindset into her world. As each face displacement from the family life in which they have built a sense of self and relationships to others, each displays a sense of agency as they actively take control of the situation. No, no, no, no, no.” For some, perhaps familiar places bring comfort. The author focused so much on other stuff that it took away from learning about the main character. Welcome back. Counting by 7s. GET BOOK! Finally, after a few weeks, she sums it up this way: “I experienced the hollow feeling of complete loss which is emptiness. V, Issue 4) might also be a text set that includes Counting by 7’s as Willow, though not disabled, must deal with an opposite special abilities situation and her story might prove an excellent anomaly within a set on young people dealing with disabilities. How great for kids to begin thinking about these big ideas. This quote describes Willow after the car crash because it describes her depression. She imagines the garage burning down and thinks “ the searing pain of losing my mom and dad would go up in smoke with me. answer choices ... What is the setting of Counting by 7s? Willow chance (the main character) was weird, quirky and funny. Then there is the Vietnamese woman who runs a nail salon. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn’t kept her from leading a quietly happy life... until now. I would be released then. Both stories end hopefully with the protagonists in the care of loving people. In the story, the protagonist, Willow Chance is an intelligent student whose talents are unknown. BURN THE IDEA OF CHILD GENIUSES BEING THESE ALL-AROUND AMAZING PEOPLE WITH *SKILLS* AND PERFEECCCCTTTTTT TEST SCORES AND MORALZZZZZ. Themes and Motifs. California. Counting By 7s. Janelle Laura_Kleman. But sometimes weird isn't the best thing to bring along for your adolescence. Refresh and try again. by Written by: Holly Goldberg Sloan. “I am taking a break from that,” she says. Part IV: Text Sets that Can Encompass this Novel So he regards this as a sign that she is his angel. (7, 14, 21, etc.) No matter how hard they try, other people do not understand because I am incapable of communication. 3 out of 5 stars! If Goodreads had seven stars, I would award it just that. 100000000, this book killed me and that takes a lot. Both girls throughout the story are shown as interacting in substantive ways with other characters—helping others to maintain their sense of dignity and to better their current social situation. These are her words: “I love plants. However, this book was definitely a disappointment. Counting By 7s. But the plot's a bit generic and the author's attempts to make Willow look smart are forced sometimes. so if you're looking for the next Matilda, read Counting by 7s! In her struggles to leave the past behind, she went through many changes. American Born Chinese (Gene Yang, 2006) is a graphic novel focusing on the problems of being a cultural outsider in the US. But I still had mixed feelings about this. A gruff old woman who lives in the country changes the lives and character of her grandchildren who visit from the city – and the books are funny. The heavy weight of it presses down on me in a force much greater than gravity. How good is the book counting by 7s? Between Sisters (2010) shares the story of an African girl in Ghana who must navigate the differences of rural and city life. Because their weird makes them fabulous kids and will make them fabulous adults. All I can say is that Willow Chance will capture your heart. Her life is turned upside down when her parents are killed in a car accident, and she finds herself left in the company of two recent acquaintances: Mai and Quang-ha Nguyen, and their mother, Pattie, who owns a nail salon. Each character in Counting by 7’s is quite unique, to say the least. Any review I wrote will not do it justice. This book has been on my To-Read forever and I was so excited to finally get to it. I didn't know what happened until i overheard one of them tell Dell that there has been an accident and my parents are dead. How do all of the characters fit their lives together and find ways to rely on each other? As Janelle explained, Willow is a “person of color” as she describes herself, adopted by white parents, and a genius who is interested in all things but especially plants and medicine. Willow stops talking. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. answer choices . 30 seconds . She soon senses that the relationship she develops with the British mother of her new family is closer than what she shared with her own mother. There are many picture books suitable for upper grades that could be put together to go with this book. I read this book last year but it was a really good book. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn’t kept her from leading a quietly happy life...until now. Just like that.” I think Willow and I would agree – the people we love can leave us, just like that. She wrote the screenplay for Angels in the Outfield and directed The Big Green, as well as a number of other successful family feature films. Readers have the most information about the protagonist Willow, a genius. A New York Times bestseller, this contemporary story draws upon themes relevant to Sloan's own life. It details the aftermath of this tragedy, and Willow's attempts to build a new life and a new home with a cast of other people who don't quite fit in. The voices are heard through a third person narrative that is written alongside Willow’s first person narrative. Counting by 7s is the story of Willow Chance, a precocious 12-year-old whose parents are killed in an automobile accident. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn’t kept … Janelle also mentioned the idea of social action in in Counting By 7’s given that Willow supported the needs of those around her. This inability represents the depth of her grief: she is unable to experience joy or access positive feelings. And that is why the deepest form of pain comes out as silence.” I work at an elementary school and over the years I've met hundreds of children. Like “I force myself to think of anything but the one thing that I'm actually always thinking about. Like “A genius shoots at something no one else can see, and hits it.” ― Holly Goldberg Sloan, Counting by 7s. It details the aftermath of this tragedy, and Willow's attempts to build a new life and a new home with a cast of other people who don't quite fit in. Sandy’s initial response: Learn more. She created a central garden within her apartment complex for the purpose of creating something beautiful for the residents. Along the way you no doubt will find the children around you more willing to share and discuss together the stories of the hard times along their paths and how they have come to see that they can make it and find happiness just as Willow did. “They were here,” she says, “and then they were gone. I really liked the cab driver, Jairo Hernandez, even though his part in the story was not always quite believable. Tami Charles is a former teacher and the author of picture books, middle grade and young adult novels, and nonfiction. He drives for Mexicano Taxi Company and you have to sort of get past that. Willow Chance is definitely an outcast in that she is obsessed with the number 7, obsessed  with plants, and obsessed with photographing strange skin … While we realize that one novel such as this most likely will not be used in the multiple ways we have considered this month, we do appreciate that it offers us the opportunity to think about intertextual possibilities for a book as we stretch our thinking around contemporary topics as perceived in our initial responses to Counting by 7’s. Obsessed with nature, medical conditions, the number 7, and the intricacies of everyday life, Willow Chance is far too brilliant to connect to most students in middle school and is eventually sent to a counselor when suspected of cheating after she scores a perfect score on the California standardized test. Although heart-broken and determined to help her family escape Berlin as well, Frances eventually finds herself slowly becoming attached to the Shepard family of which she becomes a part. There is no such thing as a perfect book. This heartbreaking story is filled with laughter, hope, and light. This is largely due to the complex group of people who are in Willow’s life. EPMS_BOTB. Counting by 7s The fourth of five selections for our summer 2017 study of Young Adult books, Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan is the story of Willow, a 12-year-old girl who loses both parents in a tragic accident and ends up finding a new family in unexpected places. A quick review of these issues might reveal connections that would be significant for readers depending on how our novel is being used. Whoo. In a sea of great middle-grade books this year, Counting by 7s is a standout. The characters are realistic, but have definite quirks about them, like Willow herself. The vast majority of them lie in the great bell of the bell curve, but there have been a smattering of outliers over the years. The other characters, while seemingly realistic, are in situations that are almost too coincidental—such as the taxi driver winning college money and Pattie having enough money in savings to buy an apartment building while she and her children were living in poverty (although I do know of people who secretly saved money until the “right” time came to disclose their funds—often a response to fear of extreme poverty). Willow Chance has a very busy, intellectual mind. The cover doesn't really do it justice in my opinion but it's such a beautiful story about how a girl changes five people's lives and I LOVED it. But to others, they only echo of what once was, and is no more. Twelve-year-old genius and outsider Willow Chance must figure out how to connect with other people and find a surrogate family for herself after her parents are killed in a car accident. There are many books available connected to community gardens and gardening. WOO HOO! When I was teaching intermediate students, there were many who met with loss – among others, a brother who was shot by a gang member, a mother who died of cancer, and the loss of grandparents. The Day of the Pelican (Katherine Patterson, 2009) is the story of a Muslim family who comes to the US to escape the threats of war and politics in their native Kosovo, but find themselves soon in the mentality of a post- 9 / 11 United States. Your students may have friends who are in foster care or who live in group homes and have never really understood what this “social service” is all about. Willow is aware that she does not really “fit in”. How does Willow find her path in life, and find things that make her happy? Home Characters Conflict Plot Setting Theme Symbolism Quiz Think Conflict. In pairing this book with others, several came to mind: A Year Down Yonder (Peck, 2002), Locomotion (Woodson, 2003), Wild Things (Carmichael, 2009), and The Book Thief (Zusack, 2007). This book ends in the best possible way a book about the death of a child's parents could end. Counting by 7’s is rich with big ideas. Yesterday happened. In the tradition of Out of My Mind, Wonder, and Mockingbird, this is an intensely moving middle grade novel about being an outsider, coping with loss, and discovering the true meaning of family. Willow Chance is a 12-year old girl, obsessed with plants and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds assimilating socially to be a major challenge. I am devastated. Their Vietnamese mother operates a nail salon and befriends Willow when her parents die. The novel “Counting by 7s” by Holly Goldberg Sloan is about a seemingly odd girl, Willow Chance, who struggles to fit in to a new school due to her giftedness and difference in interests. We’d love your help. Surely he would walk out of the next room any minute. Part III: Intertextual Connections to Other Novels I thought it was interesting that the author of Counting By 7’s, Holly Goldberg Sloan, enjoys gardening. Inside Out and Back Again (Thanhha Lai, 2011) relates the story of a young immigrant from Viet Nam who works diligently to become part of the culture of which she is now part. Through her voice, we learn of the realities of the grieving process, as mentioned in a previous blog, through her own voice. “I will shut my eyes and count to 7, not by 7s.”-Willow Chance, Holly Goldberg Sloan. While his sister is in the same living situation, she, being younger, seems much more accepting of her family’s situation—perhaps due to her having a social life at school and being the more responsible of the siblings. I spent a lot of time growing sun flowers when I was young.” It would no doubt be a worthy endeavor to grow something in the classroom with students who become interested, or with someone you love and awaken that possibility in them. We encourage thoughtful dialogue around international literature so that children can reflect on their own cultural experience and connect to the experience of others across the globe. These children were often sons and daughters of people who had immigrated to America. It creates a broad foundation for critical thinking and discussion and, believe it or not, their “reading comprehension” also will grow by leaps and bounds. A: Reading or going for a jog. Concepcion takes some of the seeds her grandmother has saved, and the children create a neighborhood garden. This Study Guide consists of approximately 71 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Counting by 7s. There is a new book out – The Orphan Train: A Novel (Kline, 2013) that brings together a teenager currently in foster care and an older woman who was sent west on an orphan train. At one point the enormity of the situation causes her to faint. Counting by 7’s would have given my students the opportunity to connect to Willow’s pain, and to learn from the way Willow walked through her grief and went on to have a meaningful impact on the lives of others. Her book Pictures of Hollis Woods (2004), takes the artistic Hollis from foster home to foster home until she finds one that keeps her, as the last line in the book says, “So there are five of us now: a mother, a father, two sisters, and a brother. For example, a set of materials about Viet Nam might help them better imagine the life Willow lived after her parents died. Part 1: Summary In the tradition of WONDER and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD this award-winning New York Times bestseller is an intensely moving, lyrically-written novel. Q: When was the first time you really felt better after your parents died? Who's your favorite character on Counting by 7s, and why? I am not ready to go back and I just will bring too much drama to the school and students. I also appreciated the many metaphorical statements this child genius made as they reflected a common sense view of the world that spoke to awareness and inquiry. Since I come from a back ground of teaching American history, I once put together a text set on the orphan trains and I think I would use it with Counting By 7’s. Tags: Question 30 . Counting By 7s is the story of Willow Chance, a twelve-year-old girl who has been identified at an early age as ‘gifted’. The intertextuality between these two books was quite striking as we understand the story on both counts as coming from the protagonists who are thoughtful, daring, and evidence a strong sense of identity in their initial contexts. The power of watching the cycle of life play out in the smallest of flower pots. I loved it. The brother already is dealing with a lifestyle that reflects a lower socio-economic status when Willow comes into their lives and takes up more space and resources, although she is able, for a while, to attend to her own monetary needs. She describes herself as a "Person of Color". Language and Culture Book Kits and Global Story Boxes, Exploring International and Intercultural Understanding, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, Everybody Counts: A counting story from 0 to 7.5 billion, International Collection of Children's and Adolescent Literature. Despite their quirkiness, the characters pull you in and they each become more than what they were when readers first meet them. Indiana. Willow receives temporary housing with a friend who lives in a garage. Willow Chance. For those who wish stories to have resolution, this one does despite the tragedy that initiates it; and while, at times, this resolution may seem a bit too convenient, Willow’s story reminds us that coincidence aligns with making the best decisions we can to keep life ever hopeful. She meets a surly teenage boy originally from Viet Nam when she is sent to the inept counselor and she becomes friends with his older sister who is in high school. This is one of those treasures recommended for ages 10 and up that I believe everyone can thoroughly enjoy, not just older elementary and middle-grade people. When her parents die, she can no longer count by sevens or she refuses to do so. I got to know everyone and I am happy that they found each other, and I am happy they found Willow who helped them become more than what they were. That helps me with my OCD and stress. Her appointments with Mr. Dell Duke resulted in her personal connections with a Vietnamese-American brother and sister who, along with their mother, become the people upon whom Willow depends following her parents’ death. Rounding out the cast of misfits is their clueless school guidance counsellor, Dell Duke and a taxi driver, Jairo Hernandez (my favorite.) A family.” The secondary characters are interesting and well-drawn. This quote Describes Willow because at the end of the book, she realized that counting by 7s wasn't as useful as counting to 7s. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published The publisher’s note on the back states: “In the tradition of Out of My Mind, Wonder, and Mockingbird, this is an intensely moving middle grade novel about being an outsider, coping with loss, and discovering the true meaning of family.” The descriptions and word use is not profuse but discerningly created focusing on the characters and the journey they take in supporting each other and creating a life for Willow and themselves. In over 350 pages through which a reader moves quickly, Holly Goldberg Sloan has written a story that invites you to imagine the possibilities of life after tragedy through the experience of a young genius who has lost both of her adoptive parents in a tragic accident. Q. Oh goodness. SURVEY . I agree with Janelle that learning is all about making connections. To see what your friends thought of this book. Willow Chance is a 12-year old girl, obsessed with plants and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds assimilating socially to be a major challenge. ";s:7:"keyword";s:28:"willow chance counting by 7s";s:5:"links";s:780:"Bun Bun Girls, One Main Financial Online Loan, Linear Functions Test With Answers, Ddm4 Isr For Sale, Td Bank Hr Contact Center, Hamilton Beach Dog Bone Maker, How To Record Computer Audio Windows 10, ";s:7:"expired";i:-1;}