Putting myself in willows shoes, it mustve been really difficult for. As much as this mustve seemed like more of a childrens book, it was exceptionally really, really good. Learn about 6 different elements of fiction in the story. The plot was very genuine, and quite relateable for many other people in this world. Counting by 7s is a childrens novel about loss, grief, family, and perseverance. John corey whaley, author of where things come back. Listen to counting by 7s by holly goldberg sloan at. Willow doesnt care what other people really think of her. The three member of the nguyen are patty, quangha, and mai. The 12yearold protagonist, willow chance, is a genius outsider whose parents are killed in a car crash as the book begins, but the accidents not described in graphic detail.
With these characters ages running the gamut from 12 to high school to mid30s and their voices included in a concurrent thirdperson narration along with willows precise, unemotional firstperson narration, readers may well have a hard time engaging. 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. S6336cou 2012 ficdc23 2012004994 the publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or thirdparty websites or their content. Parents need to know that counting by 7s is an exceptional novel that deals with a death and grief. Goodreads author topics about this book topics that mention this book. Losing ones parents is never easy, and for 12yearold willow chance losing her adoptive parents in a car wreck is devastating. In a sea of great middlegrade books this year, counting by 7s is a standout. This is a gorgeous, funny, and heartwarming novel that ill never forget. Willow loves medical issues, plants and the color red. Willow chance was adopted at birth by loving parents in bakersfield, california. Counting by 7s is the story of willow chance, a twelveyearold girl who has been identified at an early age as gifted. Jonah hernandez throughout the story their are 2 main conflicts including, character vs self and character vs world.
Character interview select a character from the novel and interview herhim. Powered by create your own unique website with customizable templates. A trailer for the book counting by 7s by holly goldberg sloan. Home characters conflict plot setting theme symbolism quiz think counting by 7s written by.
Counting by 7s is a delightful, powerful, and beautifully written book that i cant forget and want to give to everyone around me. Willow battles her self in trying to readjust to the world after her parents are killed. The nguyens actually live in a rundown garage in an alley behind their moms nail shop. While child care is trying to find willow foster parents she stays with her friend mai nguyen and her brother quangha nguyen. Mai is 14 year old girl and is willows best friend and acts like. Created as a part of inls 530 at the university of north carolina at chapel hill. Characters 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 instantly fell in love with the main character, willow. This is where she pretends to be living with the people who want to adopt her the nguyen family pattie, mai, and quangha. Twelveyearold willow is precocious, shy, and awkward. The secondary characters are interesting and welldrawn. The setting of counting by 7s is mostly at willows counselor, dell dukes, apartment.
It is through nature and gardening that willow is able to find herself once again after the death of her parents. Holly goldberg sloans quirky characters nestle into your heart and stay there, particularly 12yearold willow chance. Maria semple, author of whered you go, bernadette accolades for holly goldberg sloan. The book counting by 7s charts willows journey through her grief to the realization that her life will go on. Willow is an unforgettable character and her story will resonate with anyone who has suffered loss or change. As willow heals, she regains her delight in counting by sevens. The mother of two sons, holly lives with her husband in santa monica, california. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasnt kept her from leading a. 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 lives in bakersfield, california and comes home from school one day to the news that her parents have been killed in a traffic accident. Counting by 7s is just a really good read, a character driven book that also happens to have a compelling plot line. She loves gardening, studying about everything and counting by 7s.
After graduating from wellesley college and spending some time as an advertising copywriter, she began writing family feature films, including angels in the outfield and made in america. Fascinating and unfamiliar characters drive this story of love. While buying his books at the store, he is shocked by a swirling light and buzzer. These questions can help guide your students through a discussion on this novels plot, structure, and themes.
She is a 12yearold who has been categorized as highlygifted by educational counselors in her grade school. This is another book with a lot of strong female characters. A new york times bestseller, this contemporary story draws upon themes relevant to sloans own life. The central character in this book, willow chance, is a 12yearold with exceptional mental acuity. If you happen to be building a library or collection of books with strong female characters, this one would. This can be for a small book club, or for the whole class. Home characters conflict plot setting theme symbolism quiz think characters.
Counting by 7s by holly goldberg sloan is a heartwarming story about a girl who is different and loses everything. The book counting by 7s is about willow, who lost her parents twice and is now trying to find a home where she will be loved. Here is something interesting about each character. She learns to move forward with the help of unique friends and her love of soil and plants. She also loves plants and diagnosing medical conditions. Includes the following graphic organizers for counting by 7s. Rather than most of the other books ive read which often value comedy over quality, this book had a riveting plot line and well developed characters. But when her parents are killed in a tragic accident.
Counting by 7s is an inspiring book with a great, unique voice. Counting by 7s holly goldberg sloan character traits reading this is a character map for willow from the heartwarming story, counting by 7s by holly goldberg sloan students get to complete the chart by thinking about important things willow did, what might represent her, what is the theme of. You must also tell which page the quotationsentence came from. Counting by 7s, her first middlegrade novel, was a new york times bestseller. A graceful, meaningful tale featuring a cast of charming, wellrounded characters who learn sweetbut never cloyinglessons about resourcefulness, community, and true resilience in the face of loss. Authors purpose interviewing holly sloan, author of counting by 7s making inferences reading reflection summarizing chapters setting in counting by 7s main idea all about willow chance character st. Willow is an unforgettable character and her story will resonate with anyone who.
How she deals with this tragedy is what makes willow an amazing character. A school library journal best book of the year an e. Counting by 7s willow chance is a twelveyearold genius, obsessed with nature and diag nosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. Counting by 7s by holly goldberg sloan no spoilers. You must explain what each quotationsentence tells you about the character. Counting by 7s is the story of willow chance, a gifted twelveyearold who must move. Ask your character at least 5 questions and be sure to provide welldeveloped answers. 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. Counting by 7s is holly goldberg sloans first middlegrade novel, published in 20. Dell duke, her counselor at sequoia, believes she is a genius.
Patty is a single mom from vietnam and she runs a nail salon. The novel is set in presentday bakersfield, california, which sloan says is emblematic of the characters, in the sense that it is often. This 44page guide for counting by 7s by holly goldberg sloan includes detailed. Instead of just being simple and humorous, counting by 7s brought something else to the table. This heartbreaking story is filled with laughter, hope, and light. In a sea of great middlegrade books this year, counting by 7s is a. Willow finds out her parents have just been killed in an accident. She is a 12yearold who has been categorized as highlygifted.
You can copy as an entire packet or you can copy pages individually. Everything you need for a novel study on counting by 7s by holly goldberg sloan. In the book willow finds comfort in books, counting in 7s, and gardening. The book is about finding friendship and finding yourself. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Counting by 7s main character is willow chance, a little girl who has lost two sets of parents in her short life she never knew her blood parents. White read aloud honor book a dorothy canfield fisher childrens book award nominee a national public radio best book of the year praise for counting by 7s ha graceful, meaningful tale featuring a cast of charming, wellrounded characters who learn sweetbut never cloying. Counting by sevens is how she relaxes it calms her mind.
Willow chance is a twelveyearold genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. But a variety of characters come into her life that help her navigate the difficult. Praise for counting by 7s a graceful, meaningful tale featuring a cast of charming, wellrounded characters who learn sweetbut never cloyinglessons about resourcefulness, community, and true resilience in the face of loss. Then select 5 quotations from the text that you feel reveals the character s personality. While i do think it would serve as a perfectly solid subject for a study on character development, freytags pyramid, textual evidence of all stripes, and narrative writing, i also think it is one of those books that people just love to read, period. Featured content includes commentary on major characters, 25 important. The main characters in the book are willow, jimmy and roberta chance, mai, quangha, pattie, jairo and dell duke. Maria semple, author of whered you go, bernadette holly goldberg sloan writes about belonging in a way ive never quite seen in any other book. Counting by 7s by holly goldberg sloan, paperback barnes. She finds comfort in counting by sevens and doesnt fit in with the other kids. Mai nguyen kind, sweet and caring for others not just herself. There are many ways that you can use these resources.
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