Ally Nickerson is dyslexic, but doesn't know it. She's tricked her teachers for years, and believes that her learning disability is entirely her fault. Ally finds herself in difficult situations at both home and school, with no visible escape. Art is her only distraction. The book offers a window into the workings of a fellow human's mind, which I find fascinating.
Fish in a Tree
By Lynda Mullaly Hunt
| Interest Level | Reading Level | Reading A-Z | ATOS | Word Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 4 - 8 | Grades 2 - 8 | W | 3.7 | 48814 |
A New York Times Bestseller!
The author of the beloved One for the Murphys gives readers an emotionally-charged, uplifting novel that will speak to anyone who’s ever thought there was something wrong with them because they didn’t fit in.
“Everybody is smart in different ways. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing it is stupid.”
Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions. She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there’s a lot more to her—and to everyone—than a label, and that great minds don’t always think alike.
The author of the beloved One for the Murphys gives readers an emotionally-charged, uplifting novel that will speak to anyone who’s ever thought there was something wrong with them because they didn’t fit in.
“Everybody is smart in different ways. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing it is stupid.”
Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions. She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there’s a lot more to her—and to everyone—than a label, and that great minds don’t always think alike.
Publisher: Puffin Books
ISBN-13: 9780142426425
ISBN-10: 0142426423
Published on 3/28/2017
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 320
Book Reviews (143)
This is an amazing story to read. If you are a teacher like this in the book you are definitely awesome. The writer definitely took time into this book to write it. Every student teacher should read this book.
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Best book EVER !!!!!!!!!!!!
This book made me cry and feel melancholy, but in a GOOD way. This book is realistic fiction, so I can totally relate to it. This book is about a girl that has dyslexia, a chronic condition that makes you have trouble with reading. The girl's name is Ally. Ally is prone to trouble, but she can't help herself. Every year, she has to get through days of bullying, teasing, and mean teachers and classmates. Nobody likes her. One year, however, she gets a kind teacher, Mr. Daniels, that helps her improve her reading skills, a brave friend named Keisha, and a kid named Albert, who has secrets of his own. The three of them face conficts together and stay true to each other. Nobody actually likes to be made fun of and be left out, and this book is a perfect way to demonstate that.
I personally LOVE this book! <3 I've read it a gazillion times and I think this book is amazing! Honestly, Ally felt like a 4th or 5th grader instead of a 6th 7th grader. I think the author could have made more details in it. The story was great and the plot was great, maybe elaborated a little more would be better.
Every time Ally goes to a new school, she hides her inability to read by creating clever, but disruptive distractions. Ally is tired of being called loser and slow, but she is afraid to ask for help. She thinks that no one could cure her. But, Ally's newest teacher, Mr. Daniels, believes that she is a creative and bright kid beneath the troublemaker and helps her reveal them. Ally finally makes some friends, baking whiz Keisha and science and facts obsessed Albert, who also try to help her. They stand together against those in their class who are not so kind. As they begin to fit in with everyone else, surprising things begin to happen in her classroom that reveal to her that there is a lot more to her and everyone else than a label, and not everyone thinks in the same way as everyone else.
Really nice book but the perspective didn't feel right it. It felt like a 4th grader instead a 6th grader. Other than that, the plot was very nice to read about and I never knew that Albert Einstein and those other people had dyslexia!! Which is very cool. Oh, and Thomas Edison is not an angel inventor. Do some research. I would recommend this for ages 9+
Ally has a learning disability called dyslexia and to her first teacher Mrs. Smith she was very rude to her and sent a sympathy card, she actually thought it was just a card because she couldn't read and she just thought the yellow roses were pretty. When she gets moved to Mr. Daniels class she realizes that getting praise from the teacher feels surprising good! She meets new friends, Keisha and Albert and Keisha likes to bake and Albert is a walking encyclopedia. She helps Albert feel better and even runs for class president! She also gets enemies like Shay and when they are competing for class president Ally wins and sees Shay's mom get mad at Shay....However, Ally's got friends like Albert and Keisha.
This book is really good. I really recommend it, it shows a lot of conflict between the characters. This book is very interesting. Very fun and persuasive to get along with everyone.
I like this book because it tells you that if you can't do something, you always have room to improve!