Willow Chance is a quirky 12 year old genius who loves plants and numbers and diagnosing people's medical conditions. Most people find her to be off-putting and just plain weird, so her biggest support in life are her adoptive parents. But when they die in a car accident, Willow is left in the care of her indolent school counselor and the single mother of two new friends she made only weeks before. As Willow struggles with her grief, she inspires those around her to become better versions of themselves, and becomes part of a new, extended family for all of them in the process.
Counting By 7s is a touching, inspiring, funny book with flawed characters and a magical feel to it. While it is not without its issues - the ending is a bit too neat, among other things - it managed to do the thing I so often crave in fiction: it inspired me. It made me want to try harder, be kinder, and see the world through a slightly tilted lens, even if I don't possess whatever magic Willow has, because the magic isn't the point. Trying is.
