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Fish in a Tree

Lynda Mullaly Hunt (Goodreads Author)

4.25 · Rating details · 51,469 ratings · 6,119 reviews

“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 ca ...more

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Hardcover, 288 pages

Published February 5th 2015 by Nancy Paulsen Books

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· 51,469 ratings · 6,119 reviews

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Mar 31, 2015 Brandy Painter rated it it was ok

Shelves: middle-grade, contemporary-fiction

Soooo....black sheep here in a big way, but I"m completely at a loss to explain why this has an average of nearly 4.5 stars. I actually ALMOST gave it 2 stars, but thought maybe I was being too nitpicky about the biggest problems I had with the book (see below). I still might come back and do that, but thought I would give myself some time to consider.

ETA: DAYS of considering this book in more detail has convinced me that I can't leave this at three starts so I've dropped it to my original thou Soooo....black sheep here in a big way, but I"m completely at a loss to explain why this has an average of nearly 4.5 stars. I actually ALMOST gave it 2 stars, but thought maybe I was being too nitpicky about the biggest problems I had with the book (see below). I still might come back and do that, but thought I would give myself some time to consider.

ETA: DAYS of considering this book in more detail has convinced me that I can't leave this at three starts so I've dropped it to my original thought of two.

Overall this book is fine. It's a little long for the story it's telling. (I'm always amused by the irony of a book written about a dyslexic student that a dyslexic student would break out in hives at the thought of being made to read it.) There are places where it reads like an American Girl movie (if the girl of the year ever came from a working class family) minus the musical numbers. Mostly I felt like it was more of a book for teachers. Or students majoring in education. With an incredibly unrealistic look at how bullying works and is resolved.

My (possibly) nitpicky major issue:
I'm a military brat myself and I was majorly distracted though the majority of this book by how WRONG Hunt got that. I must add the disclaimer that I'm an Air Force brat, but my father was once stationed at a base on an Army post so I'm fairly familiar with Army culture too.
Problems:
*Army families do not PCS every year. It would be every two years AT MOST. (one year deployment, one year on post for the active duty member). And the Army actually changed that policy in 2013 to every 3-4 years so families would have more stability.
*WHY was Ally the only military kid in her class????? Laughs forever at this. Even off post schools in a system with a military presence have a TON of military kids in them (and they tend to stick together). (And not all posts have DoD schools.) Seriously. If you've ever been to a military town, you know how much it affects the entire town's culture. Which leads me to...
*Where were they living? There is absolutely no mention in Ally's family of things that are par for the course to military dependents. If they weren't even living at/near the post where her father was officially stationed, why were they moving so much? Why did they have to go to a friend's house for internet?
*Unless I'm much mistaken (and I did double check to be sure about this), Army tanks don't have captains. They have commanders. (They wouldn't call it a captain because that is an officer rank and there are no officers in a tank crew. The commander of the tank is the highest ranking enlisted person on the crew.) And you can't fob me off by telling me Ally might be confused. When you are the kid of a career military person, you know their rank and their job.
*Maybe Ally's dad was National Guard called to Active but that REALLY doesn't explain why the family was moving every year. And even then a tank commander is usually a sergeant (I believe) and that's not a very high enlisted rank. And if you don't make your next rank in a certain number of years, you have to get out. Judging on Ally's brother's age, her dad can't be super young. But maybe he jus signed up later?

I know people will say it doesn't matter but it was a MAJOR distraction for me. (As you can probably tell.)

Minor (possibly) nitpicky bother:
OF COURSE it was a male teacher who rode in on his white horse to save the day. Because the women teachers are too distracted by their babies and what not. Blech all over that. ...more

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Jul 02, 2014 Donalyn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: children-s-realistic-fiction, 2015-nerdy-book-club-shortlist

Ally and her experiences will resonate with many children and teachers. A beautiful, hopeful story.

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Jul 15, 2019 Elyse Walters rated it really liked it

Audiobook… Read by Kathleen McInerney.

“Living in a world of impossible things like in ‘Alice in wonderland’.....in a world where nothing makes sense makes perfect sense to Ally.

Ally is so darn adorable and lovable!!!!
The sixth grader is a whiz at math, a terrific little artist, and has a priceless imagination....
but she can’t read.
She has fooled teachers -year after year... in different schools. The letters on the page wiggle and give her headaches. She has dyslexia. And probably a controvers ...more

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Jun 22, 2020 Heather K (dentist in my spare time) rated it really liked it

Shelves: paperback-or-hardcover, middle-grade

It's extremely hard for me to review this book objectively because it has a lot of personal meaning for me.

My daughter's class read Fish in a Tree when she was in 4th grade, and she was beyond excited. She felt seen for the first time because she had just been diagnosed officially with dyslexia a few weeks before. And getting that diagnosis and the help she needed was truly life-changing, just like it was for the main character in this book.

For those of you out there reading this book who thin ...more

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Dec 28, 2015 Adam James rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2015

I'm pretty confused at the amount of 4 and 5 star reviews for this one. It's almost like people haven't read this exact book 57 times already.

Apparently I'm in the minority in proclaiming there to be way more wrong with Fish in a Tree than there is right.

So...we have a book about a dyslexic child that's close to 300 pages. Is Hunt trying to give dyslexic kids a panic attack?
Also, as a sixth grade reading and writing teacher, it's UNFATHOMABLE to believe that a child could make it all the way t ...more

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Oct 27, 2015 Emily rated it it was ok

Ugh. Two stars is definitely generous for this one, but I guess I would recommend it (not very enthusiastically) to middle-graders who like problem novels and aren't old enough to notice that this is hackneyed as hell. There is a mean girl who is cartoonishly mean, a sassy black best friend (SERIOUSLY?), a smart kid who talks like Data (ARGH), a super shy Japanese girl who talks in broken English (*headdesk*), and a warm-hearted cool male teacher who wears funny ties and saves the day while sayi ...more

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Jan 01, 2015 Amanda rated it it was ok

This was a fairly sweet story, but I felt like it was too much what is "trendy" right now - writing books about children with difficulties fitting in who make great discoveries about their identities and gain sudden confidence. This is an easy story to tell, but it's not realistic.

Furthermore, I felt that the characters were very stereotypical and not well-developed. This bothers me in children's books because the popular girls are always mean, the nerdy kids get beat up all the time, and the t ...more

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Dec 04, 2016 DaNae rated it did not like it

Shelves: disability, z150-in-2016

Really? A student makes it to sixth grade without any educators realizing she can't read? ...more

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May 06, 2015 Jeannette Nikolova rated it really liked it

Read on the WondrousBooks blog.

"I want to give him an answer, but I have both too many words and not enough."

To be honest, this book was an unexpected gem for me. I liked the cover and I was in for some new books from NetGalley, but I didn't think it would be awesome, I expected a pleasant enough read at most. Turned out it was quite the amazing book after all.

Fish In A Tree tells the story of a young girl who can't make the words and letters stay in place and always feels out of her dep ...more

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Dec 27, 2018 Manybooks rated it liked it

Shelves: challenges-special-needs, school-story, childrens-literature, book-reviews

I do indeed feel more than a bit conflicted regarding Lynda Mullally Hunt's Fish in a Tree. As while I have definitely found the novel very much and generally an engaging and emotionally satisfying reading experience (and have especially enjoyed main protagonist Ally Nickerson's voice, appreciate her struggles with undiagnosed dyslexia, and have also found her two best friends Albert and Keisha both personally relatable and generally for the most part realistically enough drawn and depicted by t I do indeed feel more than a bit conflicted regarding Lynda Mullally Hunt's Fish in a Tree. As while I have definitely found the novel very much and generally an engaging and emotionally satisfying reading experience (and have especially enjoyed main protagonist Ally Nickerson's voice, appreciate her struggles with undiagnosed dyslexia, and have also found her two best friends Albert and Keisha both personally relatable and generally for the most part realistically enough drawn and depicted by the author), there are definitely and unfortunately (at least in my opinion) also some potential issues with Fish in a Tree. Now for one, I am actually not all that sure as to what the specific time frame of Fish in a Tree is meant to be. Because if the storyline of Fish in a Tree is indeed heavily based on Lynda Mullally Hunt's own school experiences with unnoticed dyslexia (as appears to be the case according to the author's note at the back of the book), then the basic premise of Ally Nickerson being in grade six and no one having as yet figured out that she cannot read (and obviously at first not really believing it either as she is obviously rather a genius with regard to both art and mathematics) does indeed make quite a lot of sense. However, if Fish in a Tree is in fact supposed to be a totally and utterly contemporary story (taking place now or at the latest just a few years ago) I would definitely have to wonder and question a trifle that Ally's dyslexia had not been noticed considerably earlier (as in today's school systems, teachers are as far as I know supposed to keep an active eye open for learning challenges, especially the less obvious and noticeable ones such as dyslexia, and indeed, it also seems as though Ally's older brother Travis has also gone through school not ever actually learning to read).

And for two, and even more of a negative, while I certainly have much loved reading about Ally's special and amazing new teacher Mr. Daniels and how he not only realises she has considerable problems with reading and gets her tested for dyslexia but also how he tirelessly and even on his own time works with her to help her cope and achieve reading ease and personal confidence, in my humble opinion, Mr. Daniels also is simply just a bit too stereotypically perfect (somewhat too good to be true, almost unrealistically supportive and wonderful in every way), just like main villain, main mean girl Shay is in my opinion equally just a bit too stereotypically horrid and almost like an evil fairy tale witch like caricature (for even though bullies do exist and sadly often make things very difficult to anyone even remotely different, as I can certainly attest to from my own personal experiences at school, in my opinion, Lynda Mullally Hunt has gone somewhat too far with regard to Shay, as she is just a cardboard slab of nastiness and frankly, most people, even bullies, are not totally stereotypical, not so totally one-sided). But the above all having been and necessarily said, I have still very heartily enjoyed reading Fish in a Tree and have found much of the presented narrative both engaging and entertaining (and also often heartbreaking and saddening). However, considering the author's tendency towards presenting and featuring more character types than nuanced and varied individuals with both positive and negative, both laudatory and not so acceptable personality traits, I can and will only consider a three star ranking maximum for Fish in a Tree (for a generally engaging and emotionally charged Middle Grade school themed story that would nevertheless require rather more character development and depth in order for me to consider it with a higher star ranking). ...more

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Jul 12, 2018 Nat rated it really liked it

3.5 stars

“Great minds don’t think alike.”

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Jan 14, 2015 Claudia rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2015-rdg-challenge, 2015-challenge-175-books, ya-books

4.5 stars...strong, relatable book about a girl with a secret. Ally gets into trouble all the time at school because she won't do her reading and writing. She won't follow directions, and she makes really bad decisions about what she does and says.

She is a talented artist, as her brother is a talented mechanic...as long as they don't have to read the directions.

For years they have both hidden the fact they can't read or write. They distract, they overcompensate, and they just take the hits as b 4.5 stars...strong, relatable book about a girl with a secret. Ally gets into trouble all the time at school because she won't do her reading and writing. She won't follow directions, and she makes really bad decisions about what she does and says.

She is a talented artist, as her brother is a talented mechanic...as long as they don't have to read the directions.

For years they have both hidden the fact they can't read or write. They distract, they overcompensate, and they just take the hits as being a troublemaker instead of a struggling reader.

I know Ally...I've had Ally. To hear her side of the story brings OUR struggle to light.

Ally is dealing with so much...her dad is deployed, her classmates bully and tease her, she has no friends. And she carries her distress about not being able to read with her as a constant weight.

Then, the new dynamic teacher arrives and sees what no one else ever saw...not her former teachers at the six other schools, not her principals. No one.

He is the savior who jumps in with his knowledge of reading and dyslexia from his special education classes and he's the one who works with her patiently..

But Ally and her friends are the ones who change the climate of the classroom and form new friendships.

Albert is brilliant and messy and another oddball. Keisha is a talented, inventive baker with a mouth and courage to speak up. The three form a friendship that warms your heart.

That half-star is for my disappointment that the career educators are shown to be blind to Ally's struggles. Disinterested, frustrated. The only thing her first teacher seems to know how to do is to send Ally to the office.

It's the new, inexperienced teacher who turns it all around. Who know and sees...BUT he does not stop the bullying in his classroom. That bothered me.

It would be refreshing to read a book about a career teacher who has been reaching out and helping kids for a career, and not just for a semester.

Niggling regret, I know. But 39 years with kids makes me protective of those hard-working teachers who have stuck it out for the long run and touched kids lives for years. ...more

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Jul 19, 2019 Moonkiszt rated it it was amazing

Shelves: belief-without-a-shadow-of-a-doubt, books-libraries-reading-bks-on-bks, stay-in-school-academics, dontfreakout, kids-against-all-odds, re-readable, morphing-into-something-else, warm-fuzzies, fulfilling-the-measure-of-creation, bookclubbable

Fish in a Tree

I hope every reader takes the time to read this book. . . .it may be aimed at juveniles (don’t like that label!) but I know more grown-ups than kids that could do with this author’s fantastic message: we all learn (read / think / behave) differently. We need to investigate and accommodate all modes of learning to enable success.

I so enjoyed the teacher, Mr. Daniels, who steps up and fills the Teacher shoes as they should be filled! The reader is shown Ally’s successes sprinkled in ...more

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Jun 11, 2015 Natalie rated it did not like it

Shelves: teaching, 2016, did-not-finish, junior-fiction

I started listening to this and had to stop about 10% in. It was so annoying.

1. The narrator, the gal we're supposed to be all sympathetic for, is freaking annoying. When she scribbled all over her desk....oi.

2. As a teacher I have a hard time believing that this girl made it all the way to sixth grade with no one seeing that she can't read. We're required to give individual reading assessments twice a year, usually takes me two whole days to get through the whole class, and if a child can't r I started listening to this and had to stop about 10% in. It was so annoying.

1. The narrator, the gal we're supposed to be all sympathetic for, is freaking annoying. When she scribbled all over her desk....oi.

2. As a teacher I have a hard time believing that this girl made it all the way to sixth grade with no one seeing that she can't read. We're required to give individual reading assessments twice a year, usually takes me two whole days to get through the whole class, and if a child can't read, we would know immediately, starting in Kindergarten. Also, how could her parents not notice anything? I resent the implication that teachers are that clueless. I've taught a couple kids with dyslexia and I worked hard to get them the support they needed.

3. Honestly, I didn't really get the big deal about the sympathy card. I teach fifth grade and if a kid gave me that I would just assume they didn't know what it meant. They give me weird stuff from the heart all the time. Definitely would not send to the principal's office.

4. Even though I didn't read this far I could tell what was coming with the mention of the new male teacher. He was going to be cool and hip and save the day. Never mind that he's a substitute. I have the greatest respect for subs, I was one before I graduated, but it's not the same as a teacher. It's just not.

5. The reader on the audiobook compounded my feelings about the narrator by giving her the whiniest voice in the world. It was so grating and made me hate the MC even more. I didn't feel sympathy for her at all.

6. The stereotypical bully girls. I've taught 1st, 4th, and 5th grade and I have never ever seen kids act that way. Never. I've also never seen kids mock other kids in front of the whole class like that and if they even tried I would be all over them in 2 seconds. Don't get me wrong, kids can be mean as snot but I've never seen them act the way that Hunt depicts.

7. I read through several other reviews and I'm so glad I stopped. I will not be attempting any other books by Hunt. Her other book, One for the Murphys, had some similar issues, but I liked it better than this one. ...more

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Jul 25, 2014 Bennett rated it liked it

Shelves: childrens-and-mg, female-pov, disabilities, 2015-release, realistic-fiction

3.5 stars

"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 Nickerson has successfully hidden her inability to read from all the many schools she's been in throughout her life. But a new teacher forces her to address the problem, and pushes her to places she'd never thought she could go.

This book was fine. 3.5 stars in basically the very middle of the rating spectrum, so I'm just kind of neutral.
description

All 3.5 stars

"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 was a likeable protagonist, and she had some good moments. I couldn't really picture her as the troublemaker she supposedly was before the story began, however.

Enter Mr. Daniels, a typical hip, young, change-your-life teacher. Those pop up a lot in books like these. What can I say? He just wasn't unique. I felt like he didn't have much of a character except for his perfect-teacher-ness. He reminded me of Mr. Terupt (Because of Mr. Terupt), and the counselor from There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom.

Ally's friends also seemed contrived and overused. Keisha, the confident friend. Albert, the so-smart-he's-quirky friend. I've seen both too many times.

The story itself is good. I was entertained through the whole novel.

Although, I did find Shay (typical mean girl) to be a bit unrealistic. If someone was actually THAT mean to everyone, she wouldn't have any friends. Even her school yard minions would soon leave. She was relentlessly vindictive, and it never stopped. What type of monster does that?

Mr. Daniels seemed to favor Ally A LOT. I had a teacher who had about four favorite students, and it stunk. (view spoiler)

It was an okay book, but I think Lynda Mullaly Hunt could've used about two more revision drafts before sending this to print. ...more

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Jul 12, 2014 Michelle Haseltine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: middle-school, bookaday2014, summer-reading

This is a book written with so much heart! It's a book for teachers everywhere. Mr. Daniels is the teacher we all want to be. It's a book for any student (or any person) who feels less than or invisible and wants to fit in. I laughed and cried and I really felt everything that Ally was going through. The characters are so real to me...I miss them. This is one of those books that you don't want to miss!!! Get ready for an amazing reading experience! I know it's a book I'll be returning to again a ...more

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Apr 29, 2015 Barb Middleton rated it really liked it

Shelves: disability, friendship, realistic, bully, anger

I read oodles of books. Always have. Always will. Sure wish these blogs were around when I was growing up in the age of typewriters. My reading experiences are quite different than the students I chat with on a daily basis. They come at books with their own unique perspectives. Just like me. Just like you. This book has an appealing emotional punch that is similar to "Wonder," by R.J. Palacio and terrific character development. As an adult reader who has many favorites when it comes to books on I read oodles of books. Always have. Always will. Sure wish these blogs were around when I was growing up in the age of typewriters. My reading experiences are quite different than the students I chat with on a daily basis. They come at books with their own unique perspectives. Just like me. Just like you. This book has an appealing emotional punch that is similar to "Wonder," by R.J. Palacio and terrific character development. As an adult reader who has many favorites when it comes to books on children with disabilities, I'm getting pickier over what is original and stands out in the herd. While some parts of this story were touching, others fell short.

Sixth grader Ally is in school and her teacher is going on maternity leave. She asks her students to write a short paragraph on themselves for the long-term substitute teacher. The teacher and Ally get in a power struggle because Ally doesn't want anyone to know she can't read or write. Ally gets angry at being forced to write and scribbles hard on the desktop because she knows she'll get out of the activity. The teacher sends her to the principal and cleans the desk. Hmmm... usually the kid would clean the desk but this is one frustrated teacher. And she plays right into Ally's hands.

Ally's brain will think one thing and she'll blurt out another. Making friends is like washing peanut butter out of hair. She is bullied by Shay but also laughed at constantly by other kids in class. Most think she is trying to be funny and her quick-witted responses are often accidental - she doesn't mean to be a jokester or sassy-mouthed. The result is she fools the adults around her and successfully hides her disability. Other outliers in her class are picked on such as Albert, the scientific genius; Oliver, the ADHD tornado; and Keisha, the cooking prodigy. When the new teacher shows up he figures out that Ally has dyslexia and the two bond as she deals with her learning difficulty. More importantly, he draws out the potential in her and she learns to read and believe in herself.

The beginning sets up the stereotyped teacher that can't manage students and is exasperated by an uncooperative student. Her character is flat and perhaps it makes her a more obvious foil to the substitute teacher, Mr. Daniels; however, her lack of complexity made me not as engaged in the plot until Mr. Daniels chalks his way into the classroom scenes. Ally's inner monologue shows the emotional turmoil of a kid that is full of self-doubts. Students will empathize with Ally as she agonizes over making friends, feeling like a loser, and dealing with her problem. She lashes out at others and desperately wants to fit in with her peers. When she makes friends with the other misfits, Albert and Keisha, she finds power in friendship. Although when Ally first meets Keisha she asks her if she likes eggs and rambles on about all the different ways she likes eggs. This painful exchange magnifies her social ineptness. By the end this drastically awkward girl has all but disappeared.

The middle of the story takes off with characters defined by distinct traits and voices. Ally's brother shows that he has an engineer-type brain but suffers from the same learning fate as Ally. The dad is deployed overseas in the Middle East and the mom is doing the best she can with her children. The brother's ingenious design of windshield wipers without a motor reveal his innovative and inventive spirit. Mr. Daniel's character shows he's not always perfect either. Sometimes he singles Ally out to praise her and give her confidence that makes her feel like a charity case, other times he shares her secret. The complexity of trying to teach Ally is captured not only with her fragile ego, but with Mr. Daniel's not always making the right choices when dealing with her. This strengthens the authenticity of their relationship and shows that Ally can forgive even when she's been hurt by adults. I thought Mr. Daniel got preachy at times changing the focus from Ally's internal changes to a slight didactic tone on how to behave, especially at the end.

The humor balances the darker themes of bullies, anger, and misunderstandings. Ally tells Albert and Keisha why Shay is hell-bent on making her life miserable and it is easy to see why they don't get along. And it is Ally's fault. I won't spoil it, because it is so Ally. Needless to say Ally's mistake and Shay's relentless put-down's are understandable. Shay's mother is a bully, as well as her daughter, making Shay's character more understandable and engaging. The author creates strong characters that pull the reader into the plot along with themes such as self-acceptance, confidence, and communication, to name a few.

The ending doesn't seem authentic because Ally goes from this impulsive kid that is a bit odd to a leader in the classroom that the kids look up to, ask advice, and want to be friends with in a very short time. It did not add up with the evolution of her character. Perhaps when Keisha, Albert, and Ally fantasize about the future about how successful they will be and are dreaming big, it sent me spinning off the cliff. I just needed them to be settled in their skin and instead the focus shifts toward them being successful in the eyes of the world and that jarred with me because up to that point they were being successful in their own eyes. In the book, "Absolutely Almost," by Lisa Graff, the boy learns to accept himself without outward success and it seemed more authentic; whereas, this is more wish fulfillment. There is nothing wrong with it, but it made the resolution feel off.

Novice readers have limited emotional experiences and reading is one way they can live vicariously through characters and be exposed to emotions before they happen in real life. This exposure helps prepare them to have empathy for others. By representing the inner qualities of a character such as feelings, beliefs, assumptions, intentions, and thoughts, an author can produce a way for readers to empathize with fictional characters giving them a strong emotional engagement that supports their cognitive and social development. This book does just that. And while I'm coming at it from as an adult reader and see some holes, I know that most will want to be on team Ally. A great addition to any library. ...more

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Sep 13, 2014 Kellee Moye rated it it was amazing

Shelves: realistic-fiction, about-books-or-reading, bullying, middle-grade, my-favorite-reads-in-2015, unleashing-readers, schneider-award

Full review at: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=5674

5 stars times 100. I adore so much about this book.
Ally is so many students that I have had over the years that just needed a teacher to take the time.
Mr. Daniels is the teacher that I hope I am, that I wish I could be, that I want all teachers to be, and that I want to be friends with.
Ally's journey is one that I hope I inspire my students to have.
Keisha is the friend I wish I'd had.
Albert is so many student in our schools that are ju ...more

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Aug 25, 2019 Jill Williamson rated it it was amazing

Shelves: bullying, middle-grade-contemporary, mit-e-4th-grade-list

This is a book my fourth grade class will be reading as a read-aloud this year, so I wanted to read it ahead of time so that I was familiar with the story. It's about a girl named Ally who hates to read and write. She spends a lot of time in the principal's office because when her teacher puts her on the spot, she misbehaves rather than admit her struggles. Then she gets a new teacher who manages to reach Ally and discover that she struggles with dyslexia, which at first is scary to her, but eve ...more

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Feb 21, 2015 LauraW rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: from-library, good-for-teaching, tween, middle-grades, audiobook

This book was compelling enough that I listened to the whole thing in two days and it is an encouraging look at a whole bunch of different kids who eventually learn to value each others strengths. I think kids will probably enjoy it and be able to see themselves in at least one of the characters.

There are, however, some things that make me a bit uncomfortable about it. Several of the characters seem like caricatures of certain types of kids: the brain, the girl bully, the outspoken confident kid ...more

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Jun 30, 2014 Ms. Yingling rated it liked it

Ally struggles in school, often getting in trouble for flippant behavior that she uses to deflect the teacher's attention to the fact that she has trouble reading and writing. When she gives her teacher a sympathy card at a baby shower, she gets in even more trouble, but no one at school still pays attention. Her family has moved around quite a bit because her father is in the military, but her brother has had problems with reading as well. Luckily, the substitute for the pregnant teacher, Mr. D ...more

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Jul 10, 2014 Nancy rated it it was amazing

I was pleased to get my hands on an advance copy of this book. Being a huge fan of the author's first novel, ONE FOR THE MURPHYS, I was a little skeptical how this story would compare. However, I should not have worried. Mullaly Hunt has done it again! The author has a real talent for making fictional characters come alive, like "reach out and touch them and share their ice cream" alive, for her readers.
The story tenderly follows the struggles of a student named Ally, a bright young woman whose ...more

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Mar 24, 2015 Holly rated it it was amazing

WOW! I love a book that makes me want to cry when it's over because it's THAT good. If you loved Wonder, or Out of My Mind, or So B. It, or Counting By Sevens, this HAS to be your next read. I loved the way Hunt developed the characters in this story...I felt like I genuinely got to know all of them. Even though the "bully" in this story was dealt with a bit formulaically, the point was made and the lives of all the characters were better for it in the end. This was an incredibly engaging way to ...more

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Mar 27, 2018 Kavya_E1 rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Fish In a Tree, by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, is a stand-alone novel about a young girl named Ally Nickerson who enjoys school but struggles in reading. It’s not for a lack of trying but she tends to avoid books because she fears her limitations will be exposed. To cover for herself, she makes minor mischief at school that leaves her misunderstood by her teacher and peers. But when a new teacher arrives, he helps Ally see her true potential. Combined with a fledgling self-confidence and new friends, Al ...more

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Feb 10, 2018 Amber rated it it was amazing

Loved this book , and while it is geared towards upper primary, early secondary ,I think it is a must read for all adults too who have ever felt ,judged for being different or has lived with the difficulty of dyslexia. Don’t be put off by the title it relates to one of Albert Einstein’s best quotes,

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Mar 01, 2016 Soraya Laboy rated it really liked it

A story about finding your true friends, bravery and grit; about asking for help when you need it, and offering help when you see it is needed; about realizing that just because you struggle in school doesn't mean you don't have amazing gifts and talents that will take you far. ...more

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Oct 12, 2019 Hissa rated it it was amazing

WHAT A FUN READ!
I enjoyed this book too much! The story of Ally and her struggles will resonate with me for a very long time.
It’s a light book with a deep message.
That every child, adult and teachers should read.
It shows how important it is to be a good teacher! 👏🏻❤️

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Jul 19, 2014 Mary Lee rated it really liked it

This book will be a sure hit with teachers. Kids will likely recognize classmates in the realistic classroom. Great message about grit and celebrating differences.

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Apr 25, 2020 Ulises Estrada rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020

I love this book, and the message it has, and the characters (except Shay), but why that ending?
Seriously, I just turned the page and that was it, the end.
I mean I get it, but I thought something else was going to happen.
Ally's development was excellent from the beginning of the book to its end and she has become one of my favorite characters. ...more

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Oct 21, 2015 Cathy rated it it was amazing

This was an amazing book! I listened to it in the car and was absolutely riveted by the storyline. Every teacher can think of a student that has behavior issues and/or an attitude that is inexplicable and annoying. Every teacher will wonder, "Did I miss something? What did that child need from me?" This book tells a story like this from the viewpoint of a child who is oh so smart & talented in so many ways, but does not succeed in school. As a result she is frustrated and acts out. Highly recomm ...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
6-3 The Book Jungle: Fish in a Tree 5/5 Stars	2	6	Sep 25, 2020 01:49PM
6-2 The Book Jungle: Fish in a Tree 5/5 Stars	1	1	Sep 03, 2020 04:57AM
6-1 The Book Jungle: Fish in a Tree 5/5 Stars	1	3	Sep 03, 2020 04:56AM
Morpheus: Fish In a Tree	1	4	Aug 17, 2020 09:06PM
Great Middle Grad...: BOTM for January is FISH IN A TREE	13	53	Oct 29, 2019 05:36PM

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About Lynda Mullaly Hunt

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Quotes from Fish in a Tree

“Everyone is smart in different ways. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life thinking that it’s stupid.” — 62 likes

“Well…alone is a way to be. It’s being by yourself with no one else around. And it can be good or bad. And it can be a choice…. But being lonely is never a choice. It’s not about who is with you or not. You can feel lonely when you are alone, but the worst kind of lonely is when you’re in a room full of people, but you’re still alone. Or you feel like you are anyway.” — 21 likes

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