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Bennett's Reviews > Fish in a Tree
Fish in a Tree
by
by
Bennett's review
bookshelves: 2015-release, female-pov, realistic-fiction, childrens-and-mg, disabilities
Jul 25, 2014
bookshelves: 2015-release, female-pov, realistic-fiction, childrens-and-mg, disabilities
3.5 stars
This book was fine. 3.5 stars in basically the very middle of the rating spectrum, so I'm just kind of neutral.
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.
"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.
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.
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Reading Progress
July 25, 2014
– Shelved as:
to-read
July 25, 2014
– Shelved
July 25, 2014
– Shelved as:
childrens-and-mg
July 25, 2014
– Shelved as:
realistic-fiction
July 25, 2014
– Shelved as:
female-pov
July 25, 2014
– Shelved as:
2015-release
June 2, 2015
–
Started Reading
June 3, 2015
– Shelved as:
disabilities
June 3, 2015
–
Finished Reading
P.S. That human beings like Shay and Jessica exist, should not be in dispute. The more important question (and lesson) is whether human beings will grow better.