Fish in a Tree

by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Paperback, 2017

Status

Available

Genres

Children's Books

All Topics

Fiction

Collection

Children's Circulating

Publication

Puffin Books (2017), Edition: Reprint, 320 pages

Description

Juvenile Fiction. Juvenile Literature. HTML:The author of the beloved One for the Murphys gives listeners 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.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member debs4jc

This book is told from the point of view of an elementary school student named Ally. Ally has a hard time with school, and when she hears their class is going to get a new teacher she is worried. Ally has gone to a lot of schools and had several teachers, but none of them have really caught on to

how much she struggles with reading. When Mr. Daniels arrives she is wary, but she soon finds that he has taken a genuine interest in her and he even seems to find ways for her to excel, without having to read or write. He eventually helps her discover that she has a reading disorder and that with extra help she can learn. This book was a great way to see into the struggles of someone with a "hidden" disability who has fallen through the cracks of the educational system. The dedication of the teacher to take the time to notice Ally's struggles and figure out ways to help her was inspirational and heartwarming. So was Ally's courage as she learned to accept and trust in the help that was being given. I would definitely recommend this book, not just for younger readers but also for those interested in literacy issues.

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LibraryThing member kimpiddington

Reading this book made me happy for all the students that have passed through Lynda's classroom-it is obvious that she was an A+ teacher-kind, caring, and a champion for all- just like Mr. Daniels.

LibraryThing member Sullywriter

Uplifting story about a dyslexic sixth grade girl with a caring teacher and supportive friends.

LibraryThing member emaloney5

Can't wait to dive into this text. It's a great pairing with Because of Mr. Terupt and Mr. Terupt Falls again!
One teacher truly can change everything!

LibraryThing member Auj

Great story about a girl with a learning difference and how her teacher helps her cope. Very little is said about diagnosis, and the process. The book just mentions taking a couple of tests. This is actually a good thing because it doesn't detract from the story itself.

LibraryThing member lindamamak

Learning to live with a disability can be very stressful, but Ally finds the perfect teacher to help her overcome her fears.

LibraryThing member JRlibrary

Picked it up because several American teachers mentioned that this is the book they like to start reading to their class at the start of the year. While I enjoyed it, I wouldn't use it for my read aloud because the student is in grade five and I teach an older grade. A very creative kid who can't

read, with the help of a new teacher, figures out how to handle her problem.

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LibraryThing member ewyatt

Ally struggles in school. She hides the fact that she can't read behind a tough act and bad behavior. When she is moved to a new class, she starts to blossom thanks to a caring teacher earning his special ed credentials and two new friends. Seeing Ally start to shine and gain confidence in herself,

despite the mean girls in her class is inspiring and touching.

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LibraryThing member brangwinn

Written for middle school readers, this is a sensitive story about a girl with undiagnosed dyslexia. She is a misfit, and along with two other misfits she finds her voice. Her teacher, Mr. Daniel, helps her admit she has a problem and helps her overcome it. Although , the dyslexic child probably

won’t read it, the story has a lot to say about bullies and standing up for yourself.

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LibraryThing member Salsabrarian

Narrated by Kathleen McInerney. Another inspirational story about a teacher sensitive to a student with special needs. Earnestly told if a bit mawkish.

LibraryThing member little_manb

Genre: Fiction
Review: By far my favorite book. Its an amazing story of a child who believed she could not accomplish anything because of her dyslexia but has a teacher who believed in her is a touching and amazing story. I would really recommend this book to any young teen and adult. I can really

give you a new view on dyslexia and how one should always believe in their student.
Uses: Can be used in class to teach children that being different is okay and that one should not judge a book by its cover. It can also be used to teach teachers and students about dyslexia.

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LibraryThing member foggidawn

Ally's got a bit of a reputation as a class clown and occasional troublemaker. She's good with numbers and art, but has trouble reading because of the way the letters seem to move on the page. She makes her difficulties into a joke, and she's fooled a lot of teachers so far. But when Mr. Daniels, a

long-term sub, takes over for her regular teacher, he sees Ally's smart, creative side in a way that nobody else ever has. Over time, Mr. Daniels helps Ally overcome her difficulties while celebrating her unique skills and talents.

This book falls firmly into the category of "inspirational teacher story," as you can see from the summary above. There aren't a huge number of novels featuring dyslexic protagonists out there, so there's some value in that. I was displeased to find that this book perpetuates the "Einstein did poorly in school" urban legend that's been pretty well debunked; I thought the book would have been better served if the author had used a less controversial example of a famous person who struggled with academics. On the other hand, Ally's voice is smart and funny, and that made for an enjoyable read.

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LibraryThing member alaina.loescher

This book was so powerful and would make a great read aloud. Ally's resilience in coming to terms with her dyslexia was so very inspirational. Also, Mr. Daniels is the type of teacher that every teacher wants to be, which gave this book points for me. I am a big believer that everyone has their own

unique strengths and viewpoint to present to the world, and this book really shows why continuing to hold this belief as a teacher can be life changing for my students.

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LibraryThing member EmLu

This is a heartwarming coming of age story featuring a character with a learning disability, and based off of the author's childhood experiences. Beautifully written, it's both a great book and a wonderful tool to help understand a common learning disability.

LibraryThing member Whisper1

While her Newbery award-winning book One for the Murphy's was excellent, this one fell flat for me.

A young girl struggles with a learning disability. She is excellent with making a thought into a wonderful image, but she cannot read. As a result, she learns many coping mechanisms, some of which get

her into trouble.

Landing in the principal's office more than she would like, she is embarrassed to tell others that words simply mean nothing to her.

Finally, a very gifted teacher pays attention to the fact that she is bright, but is dyslexic. Eventually, she learns ways in which to compensate and use all senses to learn to read.

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LibraryThing member Calabrom2

Amazing book! This story is about a child who struggles academically and deals with the a bully at school. With the help of her teacher she gains confidence and begins to enjoy school.

LibraryThing member VClarke

If you know Connecticut well, then you may get a kick out of this book! Fish in a Tree takes place in West Hartford, and includes many landmarks. There is even a field trip to the Noah Webster House! Ally, a young girl who struggles to read, often uses her attitude to avoid her problems. Students

can relate to Ally's struggles and feelings as she deals with learning disability, being bullied and family life. After year's of struggling, Ally's long term substitute teacher, Mr. Daniels, begins to notice that Ally does not have an attitude problem, but a reading problem. I love the emphasis the book places on different learning styles. Great for struggling readers on many levels!

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LibraryThing member kerribrary

I liked the premise of this book a lot, but I think I would have liked it a lot more if I'd read it rather than listened to the audiobook. The audiobook was fine, but sometimes it made the characters seem more like caricatures of people rather than fully developed characters. There were just some

moments when their dialogue didn't seem like what a kid would actually say. That said, it's still definitely a book worth reading. Great underdog story about learning to believe in yourself and not let other people's opinions (or what you THINK other people's opinions are) have an impact on how you see yourself.

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LibraryThing member Tessa.Johnson

I love this book! It is a great story of overcoming diversity, asking for and accepting help, friendship, and perseverance. I have already started looking for the Playaway version for two kids at school who I know will connect with it, if they are willing to give it a try. I'm sure many others

would connect with Ally and her hesitations around school. She has dyslexia, she comes to find out, but that doesn't stop her from being a fantastic artist with a vivid imagination that comes through in every chapter of this engaging story.

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LibraryThing member Kmacuk15

Genre: Fiction
Summary: This book is about a girl named Ally who has dyslexia but no one knows it, not even her. This book is about her journey through school and her journey through life.

LibraryThing member mcortner15

This realistic fiction book is a great read! I enjoyed it all the way through as it continued to intrigue me each chapter. The touching story about a student with dyslexia and how her life is changed because of her teacher gives me inspiration to make a difference in my future students' lives.

LibraryThing member sgrame

Ally is in 6th grade and gets into trouble. She does this sometimes to hide the fact that she cannot read. Faced with a past filled with bullying from kids who do not understand, she finally gets a new teacher who looks at things in new ways... including Ally. Insisting that she is smart, he takes

the time after school to teach her chess and give her help with her reading. Although the year starts out rough, with someone believing in her and giving her a few tools to help, Ally grows in self-confidence as well as ability. This is an excellent book to help people see life (and words) through another's eyes. 276 pages long, this book is recommended for grades 4-6.

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LibraryThing member canderson15

This book was about a girl named Ally that struggled a lot in school with reading and writing. Throughout this story, we see how her teacher helps her to be confident and be able to use various tools to be able to read properly. This was a good novel because of the way that the point of view of

Ally is expressed it gives clear insight into what it is like to learn with dyslexia.

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LibraryThing member Brainannex

Teacher bait. A young girl has difficulties in school and begins to overcome them slowly but surely. Absolutely adored Hunt's earlier book, One for the Murphys.

LibraryThing member Annalisebradshaw

This is wonderful novel is about a girl named Ally who is in the 6th grade and struggles from dyslexia. The novel starts with Ally thinking that something is wrong with her brain, while her teachers perceiver her as a behavior student. This soon changes when a new teacher takes the time to

understand the reasons behind Ally's behaviors. Together they discover Ally's learning difference as she navigates the struggles of being a middle schooler and developing friendships with unlikely characters.

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