Counting by 7s

About this book

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 car crash, leaving her alone in a baffling world. The triumph of this book is that it is not a tragedy. This extraordinarily odd, but extraordinarily endearing, girl manages to push through her grief.

Similar grade-level books

• 
  To Kill a Mockingbird
  Harper Lee · 870L
  Get it on Amazon→
• 
  Of Mice and Men
  John Steinbeck · 630L
  Get it on Amazon→
• 
  The Giver
  Lois Lowry · 760L
  Get it on Amazon→
• 
  The Outsiders
  S.E. Hinton · 750L
  Get it on Amazon→

See all books like Counting by 7s→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Realistic Fiction title, typically at grades 2–8. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on realistic and autistic children; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

• Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association)

  • recommended·2nd grade · Michigansource: Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) — Michigan's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 2-82-34-): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
  • recommended·3rd grade · Michigansource: Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) — Michigan's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 2-82-34-): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
  • recommended·4th grade · Michigansource: Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) — Michigan's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 2-82-34-): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
  • recommended·5th grade · Michigansource: Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) — Michigan's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 2-82-34-): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
  • recommended·6th grade · Michigansource: Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) — Michigan's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 2-82-34-): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
  • recommended·7th grade · Michigansource: Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) — Michigan's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 2-82-34-): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
  • recommended·8th grade · Michigansource: Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) — Michigan's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 2-82-34-): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.

Common questions

What grade level is Counting by 7s?

Counting by 7s is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 2–8. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

How long does it take to read Counting by 7s?

It takes about 6h 25m to read Counting by 7s (351 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 385 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign Counting by 7s?

Counting by 7s appears on reading lists for Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is Counting by 7s banned in schools?

Counting by 7s does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.

What themes does Counting by 7s explore?

Central themes in Counting by 7s include realistic, autistic children, genius, eccentrics and eccentricities. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.