A big-hearted book that leaves you determined to be a better person. Written simply, this is a perfect tale for every child able to read independently.
I read Fish in a Tree on a train journey through the Canadian Rockies and found it as inspiring as the striking landscape I travelled through. Ally is a Year 6 child who believes the mountains she needs to climb at school are just too great, so she stops trying. Rather than feel defeated in her studies, she puts all her effort into defeating the will of her teachers and ends up deeper and deeper in trouble. She finds friendships difficult, her self-esteem is so battered and her behaviour so isolating that others don’t seek out her company. It seems that her life is on a downward spiral and nobody, including Ally, can find a way to turn things around.
Mr Daniels, a new teacher, arrives – full of cheer and positivity. He offers the clean slate that Ally so desperately needs: here is her opportunity to try a new approach. She stumbles many times but rather than berate her, Mr Daniels gently wins her trust and encourages her. He notices her dyslexia for the first time and guides her through a new learning journey that transforms Ally’s school experience. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. 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.
Fish in a Tree is a warm hug of a book that reminds us of the responsibility we all hold in how we treat others. Every day, we can lift those around us with a kind word or gesture and this beautiful book leaves you wanting to find opportunities to be a better person. It is written simply, making it accessible to all children who are independent readers. I would also urge parents to enjoy this book; not only is it a delightful read but a vital one.
Be brave; be different!
Mrs Oshungbure