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Counting by 7s

Holly Goldberg Sloan (Goodreads Author)

4.16 · Rating details · 57,757 ratings · 7,801 reviews

Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn’t kept her from leading a quietly happy life...until now.

Suddenly Willow’s world is tragically changed when her parents both die in a c ...more

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Hardcover, 380 pages

Published August 29th 2013 by Dial Books

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Lists with This Book

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein

Newbery 2014

119 books — 491 voters

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

Middle Grade Novels of 2013

377 books — 859 voters

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Average rating 4.16 ·

Rating details

· 57,757 ratings · 7,801 reviews

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Aug 20, 2013 TheBookSmugglers rated it it was ok

Shelves: poc, diversity, wait-a-minute-what, what-the-fuck-is-this-shit, charming-mg

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Original review posted on The Book Smugglers

Warning: this review contains spoilers

It is difficult to pinpoint the exact moment when I fell out of love with Counting by 7s but it happened slowly yet inexorably in the hours after I finished reading it.

On the surface, this is an innocuous book, full of good intentions: it is a book featuring different stories about diverse PoC characters (including its protagonist). It is also a beautiful story about different kinds of families, about deep connect ...more

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Apr 22, 2017 Cristina Monica rated it really liked it

Shelves: middle-grade

A second can feel like forever if what follows is heartbreak.

Loss. It’s a universal state of feeling. While it’s true that it doesn’t spare anyone, people react differently to it. Still, society has provided us with five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

Willow knows this. She is highly gifted. If she could, she would spend entire days studying nature. She can tell you you’re ill just by spending ten minutes in your company. So of course she’s aware that one day l ...more

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May 06, 2013 Donalyn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: children-s-realistic-fiction, 2013-nerdy-shortlist

My friend, Colby, has been raving about this book for months, but I was afraid it would make me cry. It did, but not in the ways I expected. This heartbreaking story is filled with laughter, hope, and light. Willow is an unforgettable character and her story will resonate with anyone who has suffered loss or change. The secondary characters are interesting and well-drawn. In a sea of great middle-grade books this year, Counting by 7s is a standout.

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Sep 30, 2016 jv poore rated it it was amazing

Shelves: donated, friendship, children-s-books, realistic-fiction, survival-stories, middle-grade

This is one of those treasures recommended for ages 10 and up that I believe everyone can thoroughly enjoy, not just older elementary and middle-grade people.

I can't imagine the person who would not be charmed, then completely smitten with young Willow, who at the tender age of 12 has her world shattered. An admirable and awe-inspiring person Before, her strength, courage and resolve After show the reader what a real-life super-heroine is all about.

Even cooler, we see her spirit, determination ...more

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Oct 24, 2017 Aj the Ravenous Reader rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, lol, physically-owned-books, middle-grade, emotionally-intense

“When you care about other people, it takes the spotlight off your own drama.”

I didn’t give the cover much thought aside from thinking it’s cute but after reading the book, just looking at it forms a lump in my throat that if I didn’t control would certainly leak out of my eyes. *sniffs* Willow, an incredibly smart young girl represents the lone red fish in the cover swimming in a different direction as she loses her sense of balance, direction and meaning after the accident that took the l “When you care about other people, it takes the spotlight off your own drama.”

I didn’t give the cover much thought aside from thinking it’s cute but after reading the book, just looking at it forms a lump in my throat that if I didn’t control would certainly leak out of my eyes. *sniffs* Willow, an incredibly smart young girl represents the lone red fish in the cover swimming in a different direction as she loses her sense of balance, direction and meaning after the accident that took the life of both her parents in a single day. Counting by 7s has always been her sort of stability, her comfort until the accident happened and a huge chunk of her brightness toward her own life has snuffed out.

“And that is why the deepest form of pain comes out as silence.”

I’m not giving the book five stars because some parts of the plot and even Willow’s character are quite unbelievable but I’m very forgiving in this case because it’s a middle grade book. What I did love about Willow is her keen and spotless scientific, usually very funny observations and how she brings changes to the lives of the people she touched. Here are just some of her very insightful observations:

“Teenage boys are so easily amused.”

“It has been my experience that rewarding and heartbreaking often go hand in hand.”

“I experienced syncope, a transient loss of consciousness, more commonly known as passing out. Yes, I fainted.”

“I wish I that I were old enough to just go live in the Amazon and study the plants there, because it is possible that one of them holds the key to the cure for cancer.”

“I will try to convey a positive attitude, while at the same time monitoring my blood pressure and vital signs. There have been cases of stress-induced cardiomyopathy, which also is known as broken heart syndrome.” (I’ll quote the entire book if I could)

And even though the rest of the characters are slightly stereotyped, it didn’t stop me from enjoying their memorable roles in the story and how together, they form a connection and bond even stronger than that of a family. This middle school book is actually a health book, an encyclopedia, a dictionary, a psychological reference and a literary read all in one and that will make you laugh and cry alternately. Middle school reads never fail me. ...more

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Dec 02, 2013 Patricia rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya-books, book-group-selection, read-in-2013

I work at an elementary school and over the years I've met hundreds of children. The vast majority of them lie in the great bell of the bell curve, but there have been a smattering of outliers over the years. They've been weird, because that's what it means to be hanging out on the edges of the curve, and for some of them I've taken a deep breath, crossed my fingers and hoped for the best for them in middle school. Because their weird makes them fabulous kids and will make them fabulous adults. ...more

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Sep 06, 2013 Neil (or bleed) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, i-loved-it-aka-all-time-faves, owned-paperbacks, 2016-reads, 2016-favorites, middle-grade

I totally adored this book and its characters.

Counting by 7s is absolutely a heartwarming novel that tells a realistic and profound story of a girl who lost her adoptive parents in a car accident. A coming-of-age novel that shows the growth and understanding of a little girl towards life and the people around her. A sweet and sad story of a genius child who just wants to make friends and love them and be loved back.

I bought this book for the fact that the main character, Willow Chance, is a geni I totally adored this book and its characters.

Counting by 7s is absolutely a heartwarming novel that tells a realistic and profound story of a girl who lost her adoptive parents in a car accident. A coming-of-age novel that shows the growth and understanding of a little girl towards life and the people around her. A sweet and sad story of a genius child who just wants to make friends and love them and be loved back.

I bought this book for the fact that the main character, Willow Chance, is a genius. You know, I have a fascination about genius people and wished I was one. But damn, I'm not. Well, I was a top student from elementary up to college during my school days (yep so braggy lol) but that was it. I still don't know a lot of things. I want to be that kind who can answer everything with conviction and eloquence but poor me, I can only answer questions that don't required a critical-thinking mind. Hahaha.

Okay. Enough of the drama.

As I've said, Willow Chance is a genius or an above average child. I like her automatically. And I like how almost everything interests her. At first she's like a common child out there who do the things she wants but after her parent's car accident, it is prominent as the story progress how she grows as a child, who just don't think about scientific and intellectual ideas but also wonders about peoples' emotions. She is truly adorable and admiring. And the affection between her and the other characters is making my heart beats a little faster for the surge of emotions I didn't expect to come.

Yes, this book centered on Willow but this book also touches real life issues, such as adoption/fostering a child, continuing education, livelihood, psychology and all others. It has a well-balanced amount of drama and humor that made my reading experience so good.

Counting by 7s also carries inspirations and realizations in terms of reaching your dreams, of not losing hope, of the love, care and happiness brings by your family and friends.

It is truly a remarkable book for me. ...more

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Oct 28, 2013 Shelley rated it it was ok

Shelves: mocknewbery, youth, ijones

An excellent introduction to the Manic Pixie Dream Girl phenomenon for kids. Watch the quirky, plucky, feisty, vocabulary obsessed orphan genius change the lives of everyone around her, just by existing. Whoo.

Obviously, not wowed. It had a very magical world sort of feel to it, a bit of fairy tale in its oddness. They kept saying she was a genius, but except for a few offscreen things (passing tests for adults), you never felt that. Also, before her parents' deaths (which, how odd to have the di ...more

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Sep 16, 2014 Elyse Walters rated it liked it

"It said I was highly gifted.
Are people lowly gifted?
Or medium gifted?
Or just gifted? It's possible that all labels are curses. Unless they are cleaning products.
Because its my opinion it's not really a great idea to see people as one thing.
Every person has lots of ingredients to make them into what is always a one-of-a-kind creation.
We are all imperfect genetic stews. ( THIS WAS MY FAVORITE QUOTE.... and near the first half of this book -- so I wasn't tired -YET- of this child's chatter)

Wil ...more

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Oct 08, 2013 Sam Bloom rated it it was amazing

Shelves: adoption-related, 2013, childrens-realistic-fiction

There is no such thing as a perfect book.
But I believe pretty strongly that there IS such a thing as the right book at the right time for the right person.
Counting by 7s was the right book at the right time for me. And for that reason I will probably love it forever.
But it certainly isn't a perfect book. In fact, there were some issues that, at many times, would have been deal breakers for me.
Like the author's apparent aversion to paragraphs. What's wrong with writing in paragraphs? Why the need ...more

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Dec 20, 2013 Samuel rated it it was ok

Shelves: children

Counting by 7s is the story of Willow Chance, a precocious 12-year-old whose parents are killed in an automobile accident. It details the aftermath of this tragedy, and Willow's attempts to build a new life and a new home with a cast of other people who don't quite fit in.

The book is getting a fair amount of awards buzz, and a lot of reviewers have really positive things to say about it. Having finished it, however, I find myself unpersuaded.

The biggest problem I had is with Willow herself. I di Counting by 7s is the story of Willow Chance, a precocious 12-year-old whose parents are killed in an automobile accident. It details the aftermath of this tragedy, and Willow's attempts to build a new life and a new home with a cast of other people who don't quite fit in.

The book is getting a fair amount of awards buzz, and a lot of reviewers have really positive things to say about it. Having finished it, however, I find myself unpersuaded.

The biggest problem I had is with Willow herself. I didn't believe in her for a second -- she reads like the kind of genius you see on a TV show rather than one you might actually encounter in real life. She effortlessly learns and recalls information about gardening, zoology, epidemiology, dermatology, beekeeping, astrophysics, computer hardware, legal agreements, spatial design, astronomy, network hacking, modernist poetry, and multiple foreign languages (Spanish, Latin, Vietnamese), to the point that even Marilyn Vos Savant might be hard-pressed to keep up. She aces a test that apparently not a single other child in the state of California has gotten perfect, and yet she hasn't so much as skipped a grade. As middle school prodigies go, she's slightly less realistic than Susan and Mary Test, and significantly more problematic than Early Auden, whom I've already complained about at length.

That might work if it were played for laughs, or if it were in some kind of larger-than-life tall tale, but Counting by 7s is ostensibly contemporary fiction with no fantastic elements. Willow's character kept jarring me out of that world with her impossibility.

This is even more true because the facts in the book have moments where they veer away from the truth significantly. Willow has a story she tells (and references repeatedly) about the flock of green-rumped parrots that lived by her house. However, the book is set in Bakersfield, California, and according to the Official California Bird Records, there has never been a recorded sighting of a green-rumped parrot (or parrotlet, which is what it's usually called) in California, much less a flock of them moving into someone's backyard. If she's an expert in zoology at the level at which she is presented -- and, especially since the book shifts constantly between first and third person narration, there's no reason to view Willow as an unreliable narrator -- that seems like the sort of mistake she wouldn't make.

Counting by 7s has a heartwarming plot, and the sentence-level writing is quite good, if presented in a somewhat stilted cadence. But, in the end, I'm not convinced about this one at all.

This review also appeared at abouttomock.blogspot.com ...more

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Mar 08, 2019 Rachel Reads Ravenously rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: middle-grade-or-childrens, paperback

3.5 - 4 stars

A great story about how connections are formed and how strangers become friends and family. I think I would have loved this more if I had been in a different mind frame because some the the heavier emotional parts of this book were too much for me. But I can see why it's loved.

(Sidenote, this is like the 3rd middle grade book I've read starring a young girl as an undiscovered genius and I am wondering why there are so many of these in this genre).

Follow me on ♥ Facebook ♥ Blog ♥ ...more

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Nov 06, 2017 Mariah Roze rated it liked it

This book has been on my To-Read forever and I was so excited to finally get to it. However, this book was definitely a disappointment. There was nothing gripping about it that made me want to keep reading... There was nothing interesting about her advanced understanding and obsession with learning because when her parents died (that is not a spoiler... it happens right away) her obsession with learning and growing stopped. The author focused so much on other stuff that it took away from learnin ...more

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Apr 27, 2013 The Reading Countess rated it it was amazing

Shelves: realistic-fiction, arc

It's hard to garner five stars from me. Four stars? Yes. But five? That's nearly impossible. If Goodreads had seven stars, I would award it just that.

This is the story of Willow, a genius who simply has never fit in-until tragedy strikes and she is forced to find her niche in a world that simply doesn't seem to have space for someone like her. Or does it?

Counting By 7s is about what truly makes a family, about acceptance and the human spirit to overcome and adapt. It's about being open and conf ...more

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Mar 02, 2015 Whitney Atkinson rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2015, unhauled, childrens

3.5 stars

I'm a bit disappointed in this. It started out with a flashback that didn't end for about 50 pages, and I loved everything then. The main character is so smart and quirky and such a role model. But then it snaps back to reality when she's trying to recover from a family tragedy and I found that the book got really boring. Her bright and intelligent personality went away, and I couldn't make sense of a lot that happened with the plot. I didn't understand a lot of the character interactio ...more

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Aug 04, 2013 Kristine rated it really liked it

Shelves: e-book, childrens-chapter, mock-newbery, firstreads-netgalley

4.5 stars Best of the Year So Far - Review to Come

This book is far from perfect, but the strongest book I've read so far this year. Willow is a 12-year-old prodigy who's been adopted by parents with very little other family. Right at the start, her parents die in a car accident.

-RANT-
Let me get this out of the way first: I loathe dead parent/grandparent books. It's just such an exhausted literary trope for me that it grates against my consciousness in all imaginable ways. So let me get my beef ...more

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Jan 03, 2014 Snotchocheez rated it it was ok

The entire time I read this, there was an arhythmic thumping in the back of my head. It was (I think) an un-cadent tattoo to remind me it seems like I've read variations on this book's theme a dozen or more times. (It doesn't help that the book I've just started reading after this one (The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt) has nearly the same exact plot points as this one, just written for a significantly more mature audience),

An overfamiliar theme (a child's grief after losing his or her parents) is n ...more

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Jan 26, 2017 Lara (Bookish_turtle) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, want-to-reread-hopefully-soon, read-in-2017, favourites, 5-stars, profile

Okay, I've read this book so many times and love it so much that I figure I should write a review!

I really just love this book so much, so if you insult it, we can't be friends. Not really. If you don't like this book, then I won't judge you (or at least I'll pretend not to) ... But seriously. I am in love with this book.

It is a YA realistic fiction, bordering on middle grade, but to make myself feel better I'm calling it YA.

The main character is unique! This is such a generic statement made abo ...more

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Feb 06, 2017 Toph rated it liked it

Shelves: asian, african, latin-american, southeast-asian

A decent book about moving on from a life-altering tragedy. But the plot's a bit generic and the author's attempts to make Willow look smart are forced sometimes.

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Dec 11, 2017 Anisha A rated it it was amazing

Shelves: my-favorite-books

I read this book last year but it was a really good book.

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Jun 11, 2016 Bee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: library-books, standalones

I'm not crying YOU'RE crying. Oh goodness. This book was so ridiculously amazing. The cover doesn't really do it justice in my opinion but it's such a beautiful story about how a girl changes five people's lives and I LOVED it. It also had some pretty strong Matilda vibes (she even loves the library!) so if you're looking for the next Matilda, read Counting by 7s!

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Jan 19, 2014 Philip rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: everybody

Recommended to Philip by: Jacki Fulwood

Shelves: young-adult

SNOW DAY!!! WOO HOO! I woke up and started reading this as I ate my breakfast. I had coffee and coffee cake... again. Then I played with the kids some. Then I told them, back off... I was reading. Then we built a snow fort. Then I read. Dinner. Read. Put the kids to bed. Read. My wife said, "Philip... there's no way we're having another snow day tomorrow. You should really turn off the light."

I had 20 pages left. 20 pages... It feels SOOOOooooo good to be so into a book that the only thing you w ...more

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Jul 03, 2018 Sarah Dorothea rated it liked it

Shelves: the-book-club

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 3 out of 5 stars! ⭐️ OUR MID-JULY BOOK CLUB READ: Overall I enjoyed reading the book and I thought it was a good solid read. The story was quite cute and some chapters really touched me. 😊📚✨

Here is what the childrens novel is about: Counting by 7s is a children’s novel that deals with a death and grief. The 12-year-old protagonist, Willow Chance, is a genius outsider whose parents are killed in a car crash as the book begins. After Willow loses her parents in a car crash, the counselor takes ...more

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Apr 26, 2013 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, diversity-yay

Gah, the adorableness of this book. Middle grades can be so good, because they give that focus on family so often wanting from YA, and I just love the family of colorful characters brought together here. Counting by 7s is an enchanting middle grade novel with a lot of heart.

One of my favorite stories to see in fiction, aside from a slow burn hate to love relationship is that of a family forming out of people who aren't necessarily related. Sure, a lot of people love their birth families, but ju Gah, the adorableness of this book. Middle grades can be so good, because they give that focus on family so often wanting from YA, and I just love the family of colorful characters brought together here. Counting by 7s is an enchanting middle grade novel with a lot of heart.

One of my favorite stories to see in fiction, aside from a slow burn hate to love relationship is that of a family forming out of people who aren't necessarily related. Sure, a lot of people love their birth families, but just because you're not related to someone it doesn't preclude them being your family. The connections between people, what makes a familial bond, has very little to do with blood, and more to do with supporting and motivating one another. This message is one that I find so important.

Willow Chance is, as the blurb says, a genius. She's smart to the degree that she has difficulty interacting with other people, because she cannot fathom why they do not find the intricacies of gardening or language or multiples of seven fascinating. Middle school proves a torture, because no one wants to hang out with the weird girl who's dressed like a janitor (to blend in with nature, you see). To make matters worse, she aces a test and is accused of cheating. Because of that, she's sent to counseling with the worst counselor ever: Dell Duke.

What Dell discovers is that Willow is not a cheater or a troublemaker, because he gives her SAT tests and she aces them all. He also watches her learn Vietnamese over the course of a couple of weeks. The girl's brilliant. Dell becomes a bit obsessed, in a professional way not a creepy way, with Willow and feels the odd urge to try to help. Then both of her parents (not her biological ones either) die, leaving her at the mercy of the foster system again.

Spontaneously, another family, the son of which is also forced to go to counseling with Dell, adopts Willow and they form this strange little family. The book is just so touching. They all are made better by their relationship, even though there are so many hardships. There's a lot of diversity and self-improvement and emotion. Over the course of the book, I came to care for all of them, even Dell, which I did not expect.

There are a lot of middle grade books about genius children or at least much smarter than average children. To be frank, these are my favorite ones, because I like children that act more maturely. Though Willow's well-read and clever, her character definitely does read convincingly like a twelve-year-old. The narrative voice is fabulous and convincing. Willow just jumps right off the page and into your head.

However, much as I love the narrative voice and the emotions, the writing did leave me wanting. The problem is that, while I love the way Willow's perspective is done, we don't just get her perspective. A drifting third person limited interrupts. That could be fine, except for the fact that the third person perspective reads EXACTLY LIKE WILLOW'S. Also, Willow's perspective in the first chapter has a sort of talking to the audience flair, so the third person sections really don't fit with that sort of style.

A touchingly emotional middle grade, Counting by 7s is one that I recommend rather highly. I'll definitely be looking to try more of Sloan's work, even if I wasn't entirely pleased with the perspectives in this work. ...more

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Sep 15, 2013 Londa rated it really liked it

Shelves: first-reads, free-review, middle-grade

STANDING OVATION!!

I have this slightly odd habit. I only do it when I encounter a truly fantastic book, and well it happened last night.

See... I usually start reading a book while standing at the bar in my kitchen. Everything lands there when we get home...library books, school work, junk and not-so-junk mail. Most of the time, when I get a new book, being the nerd I am, I can't help but read the first few pages. From there I USUALLY put the book on the shelf, or in my bag, or somewhere else. STANDING OVATION!!

I have this slightly odd habit. I only do it when I encounter a truly fantastic book, and well it happened last night.

See... I usually start reading a book while standing at the bar in my kitchen. Everything lands there when we get home...library books, school work, junk and not-so-junk mail. Most of the time, when I get a new book, being the nerd I am, I can't help but read the first few pages. From there I USUALLY put the book on the shelf, or in my bag, or somewhere else. Once in a great while, the book will get stuck to the counter and I find myself stuck with it like Pooh to his Hunny Jar. Yesterday, after the rest of the house was snoring, I decided to read the first few pages of Counting by 7's. Three hours later, I was still standing by the bar when my devoted hubby asked me if I knew what time it was! No, I didn't and thank goodness I had just finished because it was pretty dang late!

This book is wonderful! Willow is an awesomely wonderful child who seems a bit 'aspergery'. She never really fit in anywhere until tragedy forced her and special people around her into a 'new normal' I can relate to this story on so many different levels and I am sure that many others will too. It is a perfect match for the middle-grade audience that it is written for, and I highly recommend it.

There is one issue that I have with this book that almost caused me to rate it a 4, (view spoiler) but any book that keeps me standing for 3 hours, deserves a pass for one or two flaws.

Bravo!

Edit: As I kept thinking about it, I am going to have to go with a 4 because of the spoiler above. A 5 means that I would not change a thing about the novel, or if I would change/prefer some detail change, it would have to be very minute. Still a really fantastic read though!

...more

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Feb 18, 2015 Caroline rated it liked it · review of another edition

3.5/5 stars

THIS book was better than I thought it would be but I still found a few things wrong with it. The story follows Willow, a twelve year old genius reeling from the tragic loss of her parents. I really enjoyed the parts of the story which surrounded her grief and the reaction of someone so young to a loss so huge. I think those parts were really well done. I also really enjoyed the variety of characters and felt that they were realistic and did not feel fake.

A lot of the time I dislike ...more

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Sep 23, 2019 Adrianna Polit rated it it was amazing

I cried so much. This book is literally amazing. Any review I wrote will not do it justice. All I can say is that Willow Chance will capture your heart.

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Jun 06, 2015 Kerry rated it really liked it

A wonderful book about a young girl who sees the world differently and likes the number 7. Her life is dramatically altered forever and this story follows her journey and the people who she meets and touches along the way.
A story of being different, life, tragedy, love, friendship and family. How one person can change the lives of those around her and how family isn't always the one we're born into.
A great read and a story that pulls at the heart strings.

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Nov 30, 2014 Elsie rated it really liked it

This book was very slow at the start and nothing was really happening, but as I continued to read more deeper into the book I loved it. Willow chance (the main character) was weird, quirky and funny. 8-15 year olds will definitely enjoy reading this book. Now a quote from counting by 7s 'if your lost you may have to swim against the tide'

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Jun 30, 2018 Nicay Magnate rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kindle, favorites

I decide that when my head begins to pound from now on, I will shut my eyes and count to 7, instead of by 7’s.

I became in a reading slump for weeks, and to get rid of the slump I decided to pick a book that interests me. And then suddenly, I found this gem because aside from the fact that my book friends I know loved it, the first few paragraphs really mesmerized me that I can’t put the story down.

To read the full review, click HERE. ...more

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Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Counting by 7s	1	2	May 20, 2020 03:14PM
Counting By Sevens	1	5	Oct 28, 2019 01:20PM
Willow	25	37	Sep 12, 2018 05:16AM
Who's your favorite character on Counting by 7s, and why?	5	30	Sep 12, 2018 05:14AM

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About Holly Goldberg Sloan

Holly Goldberg Sloan

984 followers

Holly Goldberg Sloan was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and spent her childhood living in California, the Netherlands, Istanbul, Washington, DC, and Oregon (where she graduated from high school). She wrote the screenplay for Angels in the Outfield and directed The Big Green, as well as a number of other successful family feature films.

The mother of two sons, Holly lives with her husband (the writer ...more