And getting that diagnosis and the help she needed was truly life-changing, just like it was for the main character in this book.įor those of you out there reading this book who think that it's unrealistic that a kid could make it to 6th grade without being diagnosed, you are wrong. She felt seen for the first time because she had just been diagnosed officially with dyslexia a few weeks before. My daughter's class read Fish in a Tree when she was in 4th grade, and she was beyond excited. It's extremely hard for me to review this book objectively because it has a lot of personal meaning for me. 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. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker.

She is afraid to ask for help after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions.

But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing it is stupid.”Īlly has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. 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.

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt