This is a story for students who have ever felt stupid or left out.
This is a story for teachers who have tried to make a difference or who need to be reminded of the fact that each student is talented and has potential...it just may show up differently.
This is a story for parents to be open to getting their children the help they may need...it's not going to stigmatize them for life.
This is a story for everyone.
Albert Einstein was a genius. He apparently also had dyslexia...and so does the main character (Ally) in Fish in a Tree. (It just doesn't get a name/diagnosis till over halfway through the novel.) This story makes you laugh, especially with Albert's (a regular child genius, if I do say so) quips/thoughts and Keisha's comebacks. (Albert and Keisha become Ally's best friends.) It also breaks your heart to see the bullying of kids who don't treat those who are different with any lick of respect or kindness.
Over the course of the novel, Ally grows in her understanding of the difficulties she faces in school. She also learns to appreciate those things at which she is talented, such as art. Her teacher, Mr. Daniels, guides her in striving to reach her potential and persevere in learning how to read.
Did I mention this is one of our incoming 6th graders' summer reading books? Pretty pumped about that...
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