Fish in a Tree

Fish in a Tree

• Genre: Fiction; middle grade contemporary realistic
• Originally Published: 2015
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 550L; grades 5-8
• Structure/Length: 51 chapters; approx. 320 pages; approx. 5 hours, 44 minutes on audio
• Protagonist and Central Conflict: Middle-schooler Ally has successfully avoided others discovering the extent of her difficulties with dyslexia—including her parents, teachers, and friends. Now, though, a teacher named Mr. Daniels in Ally’s new school tries to convince her that she is more capable of reading and writing tasks than she ever believed.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Learning differences; dyslexia; bullying; abuse

Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Author

• Bio: Born in 1960; youngest of five siblings; graduated high school in Connecticut; pursued early career as a teacher; enjoyed composing song lyrics to convey emotion, which segued to fiction writing; currently a writer of middle grade and young adult; also travels for school visits and presentations to writing groups; won the Tassy Walden Award for New Voices in Children's Literature for One for the Murphys (2012)
• Other Works: One for the Murphys (2012); Shouting at the Rain (2019)
• Awards: SCBWI Crystal Kite Winner; School Library Journal Best Book (2015); Global Read Aloud choice (2015); ALSC Notable Book (2016); SCBWI Summer Reading List (2016)  

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:

• The Advantages of Difference
• Persevering Through Struggles
• The Power of Words (and Speaking Up for Yourself)