Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt is the heartwarming story of Ally, a girl who has trouble reading and writing. When the story begins, Ally is deemed the class troublemaker. She is constantly sent to the principal's office because she doesn't complete her assignments, and no one takes the time to figure out why. All of that changes when Ally gets a new teacher. Mr. Daniels is kind and understanding. He works with Ally, and helps her understand why reading and writing are so difficult for her. 

I absolutely adore this book. In addition to tackling learning disabilities, Fish in a Tree showcases how damaging bullying can be. I think this book should be required reading for middle schoolers and adults alike. 

The only reason I removed a half-star from my rating is because I am disappointed the author includes a passage about never hitting girls. I wish we would move away from this gendered phrase. Violence should be condemned no matter one's gender.

Awesome story .... and if you know someone who has a learning disability, you will really connect with this book.  My son is dyslexic, and he is so pleased to find that he is not alone in his challenges.  Thanks!

I'm fortunate to work in a school with awesome educators, but the idea that dyslexia should or can be hidden is absolutely foreign to me.  I liked Ally and Mr. Daniels a lot, but really struggled with how the academic side of this didn't gel with my reality.

Highly recommend this text as an addition to any classroom library. Helps students understand themselves, as well as their classrooms.