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 … 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.
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It’s one of my all time favorite books this author is a genius
100% love this book so inspirational read this book!
this book is so amazing I know kids and adults will love
i could connected to the book like a self text connection
I really enjoyed this book. I lived watching the characters grow, especially Ally and Albert. What a great story about dyslexia. It taught me so much and it had some perfect analogies. Loved the imagery that was used.
Everyone Died At The End
Good
Here is a post I did last year about this Fish in a Tree:
I cry at the drop of a hat. Not in real life situations – in those cases I’m actually quite stoic. But if I’m watching a movie or reading a book, I will cry at every emotional scene. I’ll even cry at mundane ones.
There is an episode of the Cosby Show where Rudy and Mrs. Huxtable engage in World War 3 because the child wants to keep wearing her summer clothes in the fall. At the end of that episode, now clothed in a sweater and tights, Rudy turns to her mom and says “I’m sorry I didn’t put my clothes away when you asked me to; you were right and I was wrong”. Don’t ask me to explain why but it brings tears to my eyes every.single.time.
Where was I going with this? On my daughter’s recommendation I just finished reading ‘Fish in a Tree’ by Linda Mullaly Hunt. I cried in practically every chapter. So if you saw me downtown during lunch today and were worried – nobody died; I was just reading a really good book.
As mom to a semi-tween and semi-teen I know that kids sometimes feel things that they can’t or won’t share. Ms. Hunt has given words to those fears that haunt kids at this age (pun intended): Am I smart? Am I worth anything? Who am I? And helped her protagonist find answers in a way that is sure to inspire every kid. Forewarned, any child that dares to celebrate a 10th, 11th, 12th or 13th birthday in my vicinity is getting this book from me.
Personally I’m going through a season of life where I am plagued by self-doubt. For every time I get praise for work, raising kids, or serving at church, I can summon ten negative thoughts in my head to counter it. Am I spending enough time with my kids? Why did I yell that time? Why can’t I lose weight? Did I seriously just spend two hours playing candy crush? Why can’t I ever pick up the phone and call people? Wasn’t I going to BE SOMEBODY by now? Perhaps it’s my own version of a mid-life crisis.
Through the eyes of a little girl Ms. Hunt reminded me that fear is a liar, and my strengths far outweigh my weaknesses. So to Linda Mullaly Hunt I say, thank you. And to everyone else I say, go get the book.
I loved this book and I recommend fish in a tree
i loved it beutiful feel good story recommended for all ages
I think this is a amazing book
Great for any teacher or any parent with a kid who doesn’t “fit in” at school
This book is my favorite book of all time! I love it so much. It’s about a dyslexic girl meeting new people and going through ups and downs.
This book is based on the quote “Everybody is smart in different ways. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believe it is stupid”. The main character is a 6th grader named Ally. She has spent her whole life struggling to read. Instead of admitting she has a problem, or knowing that she isn’t dumb, she just needs help – she avoids school work to the point of getting into trouble. She doesn’t have any friends, and the class bully has it out for her. Her teacher leaves on maternity leave, and in comes a new teacher – a Mr. Daniels. He realizes right away that something is wrong with Ally and starts to get her the help she needs. Ally starts to make friends – a tough girl named Keisha and a smart boy named Albert. She gains confidence, and she realizes that it is okay to be different.
This was a great book. It had a valuable lesson. It shows that some kids who have an underlying diagnosable problem can be labeled as “trouble makers” and never given the help they actually need. But when that help is given, they thrive and become the people they are supposed to be.
It made me think a lot about Finley’s teacher that she had last year, Mrs. Holm. For two years, Mrs. Holm made Finley the person we knew she was underneath all the anxiety and worry. She gave her the tools she needed to become a confident learner, and showed Finley that she isn’t alone in her struggles. That there are adults that will be there to help. Good friends that will be by your side. We will always be grateful for that.
I really liked this book. It wasn’t a very long book, and it was written on a level for you tween/teen. (my daughter, Arlington said their teacher read it to them in class). But the message was great, and I recommend it.
I’m not done this book… but so far it is truly amazing!
I love all the characters in this book–from the artistic heroine to the peaceable but powerful sidekick named after Albert Einstein, and the teacher!
I think this is a good book for a 3rd-6th grader.
i really want to read the whole book