Counting by 7s Book Review by Nuala G.

Counting by 7s, written by Holly Goldberg Sloan, is about change, the importance of family, and friendship. It made me laugh, cry, and feel gratitude for the life I have, even in light of the pandemic.

Counting by 7s is the story of a twelve-year-old girl named Willow who is incredibly intelligent. She is curious about almost everything, especially medical conditions and plants. When Willow’s adoptive parents are in a tragic car crash, her world falls apart in an instant. Throughout the rest of the story, her friends help her piece her life back together and she learns how friends can become your new family.

Counting by 7s illustrates the importance of family. Family seems like a given, but in Willow's life it’s not. Willow learns the hard way that family is what you make it. In the book, there are a lot of plot twists, but throughout the novel, the message stays consistent: family is the most important thing. Holly Goldberg Sloan demonstrates this in the most fascinating way.

Counting by 7s is an enjoyable read and, despite Willow’s loss, it is filled with happiness and humor. Throughout this pandemic, socializing with our friends has been different, we spend more time with our family, and we have lost a sense of normalcy. Willow has new friends and no parents, and almost every aspect of her life has changed. Even though our lives and Willow’s are very different, all of us still have dealt with change. For example, because of virtual school, I can wake up later and I am a faster runner. What good things have happened to you during the pandemic? In reading this book, I have realized that even though some parts of my life have changed, good things are still happening.