Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Ally is an inquisitive and artistic fifth grader, who has a severe reading disability that makes reading almost impossible. This book provides the reader with an understanding of what life is like for a student with Dyslexia. Ally is teased and eventually is convinced that she is stupid. She has very few friends and isolates herself in order to become invisible. It isn’t until she enters fifth grade with her teacher, Mr. Daniels, that someone finally recognizes all of her gifts and gives her the confidence to work through her disability. “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.”

The author provides detailed insight into the mind of a student struggling with a reading disability because of her own struggles with dyslexia. This is an excellent book to read with middle grade students towards the beginning of the school year in order to teach empathy and compassion. Students learn that people with reading disabilities have other talents. It is an excellent springboard to talk about and celebrate all of our differences.  

Reviewed by Diana Foster