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Counting to D
The kids at Sam’s school never knew if they should make fun of her for being too smart or too dumb. That’s what it means to be dyslexic, smart, and illiterate. Sam is sick of it. So when her mom gets a job in a faraway city, Sam decides not to tell anyone about her little illiteracy problem. Without her paradox of a reputation, she falls in with a new group of highly competitive friends who call themselves the Brain Trust. When she meets Nate, her charming valedictorian lab partner, she declares her new reality perfect. But in order to keep it that way, she has to keep her learning disability a secret. The books are stacked against her and so are the lies. Sam’s got to get the grades, get the guy, and get it straight—without being able to read.
227 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 2014
2 people are currently reading
992 people want to read
About the author
Kate Scott
2 books23 followersKate Scott lives in the suburbs outside Portland, Oregon with her husband Warren. Kate was diagnosed with dyslexia as a young child but somehow managed to fall in love with stories anyway. COUNTING TO D is her first novel. When Kate isn't writing, she enjoys listening to audiobooks, camping, and spending time with her friends and family. Kate also spends a lot of time doing math and sciency things and is a licensed professional engineer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
November 6, 2014
“Dyslexia is the affliction of a frozen genius.”
----Stephen Richards, author, film director, self-help expert
From Albert Einstein to Leonardo da Vinci to Muhammad Ali to Agatha Christie to Henry Ford, each one of them was a remarkable genius in their own field, but unfortunately they were all a victim of Dyslexia. I sometimes wonder how they all got through their high schools.
Kate Scott, another victim of Dyslexia, is an American author, who had penned down this tale of a young girl named Sam, a dyslexic girl, in her new book Counting to D, and shows us how she copes with her Dyslexia among her peers at such a tender age.
Thanks to the author, Kate Scott, for providing me with a copy of her book, in return for an honest and biased review.
Samantha Wilson, a math’s prodigy, is the smartest and intelligent girl among her peers ...but she is also illiterate. Sam was diagnosed with Dyslexia at a very tender age, but that didn't make her any less smart. Due to her mom's new job, she had to move to Oregon with her, leaving behind her only two good friends, Arden and Gabby. In Oregon, she decides to keep her diagnosis as a secret, thereby joining up with the coolest and smartest kids club, called the Brain Trust. But along her struggle to keep up her grades high, she makes some good friends like Eli, Kaitlyn and aah, her crush, Nate, of course, he's another prodigy kid.
What can I say about Samantha, a.k.a, Sam, she's a sweet little darling! I can almost write an essay by babbling about her goodness. I LOVED her and mind you! You guys too might fall in love with her. Although Sam was dyslexic, that didn't make her any less sociable among her peer group. She's a typical teenager, struggles with the issues of being a sophomore just like a regular teenager. I can't believe how fearlessly she hides her dyslexic smart and tries to act up all and smart. She loves numbers and love counting them while coping up with stress. The message of this novel is very strong, like not falling into the same old norm. Sam tries to flow with the regular kids and doesn't like to accept the fact that she is different than the rest. The teenagers going through a lot on being a sophomore in their school and also the issues that are faced by them are very strikingly explained. This book is nowhere close to making us feel sympathetic for Sam or for her condition, instead it makes us understand about the problems and issues faced by Sam. And that makes the book more and more believable and alluring.
Other than Sam, and her quirky and bubbly nature, there are lots of supporting characters, I mean like Sam's new friends, like Eli, Kaitlyn, Sam's mom, and all these characters are very intense as well as appealing. Reading about them will certainly make you wonder that the author has a deep psychological grip on her characters, some are funny, some are nosy, some are intimidating, and some are friendly. The plot is wrapped up in a myriad of so many beautiful emotions that can be so relatable in a young teenager's POV. The story will unfold just like some old classic film on your mind. I will recommend for all the teenagers to read this book and for all the adults to get amazed by this author's incredible debut work.
----Stephen Richards, author, film director, self-help expert
From Albert Einstein to Leonardo da Vinci to Muhammad Ali to Agatha Christie to Henry Ford, each one of them was a remarkable genius in their own field, but unfortunately they were all a victim of Dyslexia. I sometimes wonder how they all got through their high schools.
Kate Scott, another victim of Dyslexia, is an American author, who had penned down this tale of a young girl named Sam, a dyslexic girl, in her new book Counting to D, and shows us how she copes with her Dyslexia among her peers at such a tender age.
Thanks to the author, Kate Scott, for providing me with a copy of her book, in return for an honest and biased review.
Samantha Wilson, a math’s prodigy, is the smartest and intelligent girl among her peers ...but she is also illiterate. Sam was diagnosed with Dyslexia at a very tender age, but that didn't make her any less smart. Due to her mom's new job, she had to move to Oregon with her, leaving behind her only two good friends, Arden and Gabby. In Oregon, she decides to keep her diagnosis as a secret, thereby joining up with the coolest and smartest kids club, called the Brain Trust. But along her struggle to keep up her grades high, she makes some good friends like Eli, Kaitlyn and aah, her crush, Nate, of course, he's another prodigy kid.
What can I say about Samantha, a.k.a, Sam, she's a sweet little darling! I can almost write an essay by babbling about her goodness. I LOVED her and mind you! You guys too might fall in love with her. Although Sam was dyslexic, that didn't make her any less sociable among her peer group. She's a typical teenager, struggles with the issues of being a sophomore just like a regular teenager. I can't believe how fearlessly she hides her dyslexic smart and tries to act up all and smart. She loves numbers and love counting them while coping up with stress. The message of this novel is very strong, like not falling into the same old norm. Sam tries to flow with the regular kids and doesn't like to accept the fact that she is different than the rest. The teenagers going through a lot on being a sophomore in their school and also the issues that are faced by them are very strikingly explained. This book is nowhere close to making us feel sympathetic for Sam or for her condition, instead it makes us understand about the problems and issues faced by Sam. And that makes the book more and more believable and alluring.
Other than Sam, and her quirky and bubbly nature, there are lots of supporting characters, I mean like Sam's new friends, like Eli, Kaitlyn, Sam's mom, and all these characters are very intense as well as appealing. Reading about them will certainly make you wonder that the author has a deep psychological grip on her characters, some are funny, some are nosy, some are intimidating, and some are friendly. The plot is wrapped up in a myriad of so many beautiful emotions that can be so relatable in a young teenager's POV. The story will unfold just like some old classic film on your mind. I will recommend for all the teenagers to read this book and for all the adults to get amazed by this author's incredible debut work.
March 10, 2014
As an author myself, I generally don't agree to read and review books. I find it extremely difficult (read: impossible) to give an honest critical review because I don't want to adversely affect my OWN good name. But sometimes it's really hard to say no! Especially when you know and like the author. So it was with a bit of trepidation and a whole lot of, "Please let me like it, please let me like it".
Well. I am here to say that Kate Scott? I will read your books any day. Hook me up!
COUNTING TO D was fantastically good.
It had everything I didn't know I loved about a young adult contemporary story.
Let me give you a run down . . .
It has brains--literally. Sam is a freakishly smart girl. And I'm now positive that Kate must be, too, because she doesn't just skim over the math or science--she lets us climb into Sam's brain where it's all numbers all the time. If the author had skimmed over that part of Sam the story simply wouldn't have read the way it needed to. Instead, Sam went from being a potentially dry, unrelatable character to someone completely REAL, a person I'd like to KNOW, a person I'd like to be FRIENDS WITH.
It has great friendships. Real friendships. No one is perfect, everyone is real. Judgements are made--and then forgotten as Sam discovers the true character behind the people in her life.
It has romance. And just the right amount of romance. Because it's not really about the romance, but about Sam and how she feels about herself. The romance in the story perfectly offsets Sam's internal journey and provides the character foil Sam needs to grow.
It has a message without really delivering a message. It's there. Believe in yourself. You're good enough. Everyone's "different". Everyone needs a friend . . . And so many more. They're all there. But they aren't beating you over the head with a two-by-four, they're organic to the story. They are perfect.
I really can't say enough good things about this book. My respect for Kate Scott has gone up about a hundred points (and I thought she was pretty cool to begin with!) and I hope everyone buys this book and reads it--young or old. It's perfect for anyone.
And you just might learn a little algebra while you're at it because 4<3 x 7:) = 19<3:)
Well. I am here to say that Kate Scott? I will read your books any day. Hook me up!
COUNTING TO D was fantastically good.
It had everything I didn't know I loved about a young adult contemporary story.
Let me give you a run down . . .
It has brains--literally. Sam is a freakishly smart girl. And I'm now positive that Kate must be, too, because she doesn't just skim over the math or science--she lets us climb into Sam's brain where it's all numbers all the time. If the author had skimmed over that part of Sam the story simply wouldn't have read the way it needed to. Instead, Sam went from being a potentially dry, unrelatable character to someone completely REAL, a person I'd like to KNOW, a person I'd like to be FRIENDS WITH.
It has great friendships. Real friendships. No one is perfect, everyone is real. Judgements are made--and then forgotten as Sam discovers the true character behind the people in her life.
It has romance. And just the right amount of romance. Because it's not really about the romance, but about Sam and how she feels about herself. The romance in the story perfectly offsets Sam's internal journey and provides the character foil Sam needs to grow.
It has a message without really delivering a message. It's there. Believe in yourself. You're good enough. Everyone's "different". Everyone needs a friend . . . And so many more. They're all there. But they aren't beating you over the head with a two-by-four, they're organic to the story. They are perfect.
I really can't say enough good things about this book. My respect for Kate Scott has gone up about a hundred points (and I thought she was pretty cool to begin with!) and I hope everyone buys this book and reads it--young or old. It's perfect for anyone.
And you just might learn a little algebra while you're at it because 4<3 x 7:) = 19<3:)
December 17, 2013
Originally posted at Sporadic Reads
The ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
From the very beginning, I knew that I was going to like this book. It took me less than a day to finish it. It was that engaging. The story was told via Sam Wilson's animated perspective.
Sam Wilson was diagnosed with dyslexia at a very young age, but she was also the whiz kid who's very good with numbers. Although she's a math genius, she uses numbers as a coping mechanism. Throughout the book, you will see her counting in her mind, or under her breath.
It was hard for Sam to fit in. She only had two close friends, Arden and Gabby, who accepted her for who she is without judgment. Unfortunately, her mother dragged her to Oregon from San Diego because of a job that she can't refuse. Sam was terrified, but Gabby told her that it was a chance to start over.
We follow Sam to Oregon where she found herself in the midst of the Brain Trust, all seniors. A group of highly competitive friends: Lissa, Haroon, Miles, Graham and Nate. Nate a.k.a. Nacho, brought Sam to the group because he found out that she was taking 5 AP classes and was only a sophomore. She knew she had to keep her learning disability a secret because these people lived to compete against each other, and getting a B means bad.
Sam and her relationship with her mother suffered a little bit during their big move. Her mom is a super-architect, and had to do a lot of overtime to make up for a long time of being unemployed. Her dad, on the other hand, left them when she was little. Although she and her mom's relationship suffered a little, they do have a strong bond. They can talk about anything (that Sam wants to).
Sam's character is very likeable. For someone who had to cope with her learning disability everyday, she's the one who seemed most normal. I guess, you can say that I can relate to her, even though I do not have a learning disability, sometimes I feel different and weird amongst my family and friends. (I do talk aloud to myself sometimes.)
The supporting characters were also likeable. She met Eli - the jock, and Kaitlyn - the popular girl, in English class. I really liked Eli. He's a jock, but he cared enough about Sam that he bought her a Harry Potter book because he doesn't want Sam to quit learning how to read. And Kaitlyn made Sam feel that she can be normal, even though she's notably intelligent.
What I loved about this book is the fact that it inspired me to stop trying to fit in the norm. We shouldn't confine ourselves inside a box. We should try to push the boundaries, and try new things, to never quit, to accept what you can't change and work with it. The book ended without loose ends, which I always love. I believe that the ending was just perfect!
The ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
From the very beginning, I knew that I was going to like this book. It took me less than a day to finish it. It was that engaging. The story was told via Sam Wilson's animated perspective.
Sam Wilson was diagnosed with dyslexia at a very young age, but she was also the whiz kid who's very good with numbers. Although she's a math genius, she uses numbers as a coping mechanism. Throughout the book, you will see her counting in her mind, or under her breath.
It was hard for Sam to fit in. She only had two close friends, Arden and Gabby, who accepted her for who she is without judgment. Unfortunately, her mother dragged her to Oregon from San Diego because of a job that she can't refuse. Sam was terrified, but Gabby told her that it was a chance to start over.
We follow Sam to Oregon where she found herself in the midst of the Brain Trust, all seniors. A group of highly competitive friends: Lissa, Haroon, Miles, Graham and Nate. Nate a.k.a. Nacho, brought Sam to the group because he found out that she was taking 5 AP classes and was only a sophomore. She knew she had to keep her learning disability a secret because these people lived to compete against each other, and getting a B means bad.
Miles : “Are you a real girl or only a pretend girl like Lissa?”
Sam : "I have a uterus. Is that real enough?"
Sam and her relationship with her mother suffered a little bit during their big move. Her mom is a super-architect, and had to do a lot of overtime to make up for a long time of being unemployed. Her dad, on the other hand, left them when she was little. Although she and her mom's relationship suffered a little, they do have a strong bond. They can talk about anything (that Sam wants to).
On the topic of Nate:
"Why is that weird? In case you haven’t noticed, the world is coed. The whole idea that little girls are only allowed to play dolls with other little girls while the little boys are busy playing with their trucks is beyond stupid. I’m the textbook definition of a geek, Mom. Boys who make their own computer games, and forget to bathe, have way more in common with me than girls who don’t want to think about anything but fashion and makeup. Haroon and Miles are nice guys. They’re my friends, and gender doesn’t have anything to do with it.”
Sam's character is very likeable. For someone who had to cope with her learning disability everyday, she's the one who seemed most normal. I guess, you can say that I can relate to her, even though I do not have a learning disability, sometimes I feel different and weird amongst my family and friends. (I do talk aloud to myself sometimes.)
The supporting characters were also likeable. She met Eli - the jock, and Kaitlyn - the popular girl, in English class. I really liked Eli. He's a jock, but he cared enough about Sam that he bought her a Harry Potter book because he doesn't want Sam to quit learning how to read. And Kaitlyn made Sam feel that she can be normal, even though she's notably intelligent.
What I loved about this book is the fact that it inspired me to stop trying to fit in the norm. We shouldn't confine ourselves inside a box. We should try to push the boundaries, and try new things, to never quit, to accept what you can't change and work with it. The book ended without loose ends, which I always love. I believe that the ending was just perfect!
December 31, 2014
"So many books so little time", may well be attributed to Frank Zappa, but long before I read his quote I said it too. For me it is not a cute saying, but a mantra and it's true, true, true. Unlike most of the world and the girl in this book, I didn't read my first book alone (without aid of the tapes I read along with while learning how to "read"), until after getting my MA, having been both a teacher and an administrator in education. I was passed along through the education system having been labeled "stupid and lazy". I had intelligent parents, and siblings who excelled in those very same systems that failed me. In my sophomore year of high school, my guidance counselor advised me to quit school as I was never going to make anything of my life. One private school later I found a way to "cheat" my way into college, graduated in three years, slogged my way through twelve years of educational work and while slogging my way through and another degree finally hit the wall. My disabilities I'd done so well to escape caught up to me. I did something that should have been done when the problem made it's appearance in second grade, I got tested. I was found to be reading at a 1% level and was certified Dyslexic, with a specific learning disability language acquisition which includes decoding and comprehension. I wished I'd been the girl in the story, having had my disability caught early on. That was the draw back in the story. This Honor student had it good. She never had to drag her inability around with her for thirty six years and take another eleven years to actually read. I think it would have made the book better if she had really struggled.
This next year will mark my 14th year of reading and my second year in goodreads...how good can it get!
This next year will mark my 14th year of reading and my second year in goodreads...how good can it get!
March 23, 2015
This was a really great book, and I really enjoyed reading about her life! It was great to read!
March 2, 2014
3.5 stars.
This book is a book that stood out for a lot of right reasons. I loved that it focused on a teenage girl with some learning difficulties in a realistic and empowering way.
First Line of Counting to D
“Numbers danced in the back of my mind.”
My Thoughts on Counting to D
I really appreciated how well rounded Sam was a character. Yes, she had learning difficulties and equally, yes, she was outstanding at maths however there was so much more to her than her learning abilities/disabilities. She was also a typical teenage girl who just wanted a circle of friends to have fun with. She is a really likeable character; her struggles with reading have made her determined and focused and I just engaged with her immediately.
After Sam moved she tried to reinvent herself and that touched me a bit as it’s something I’ve tried to do in the past. However the true you always wins out in the end and if people can’t accept that then that’s just tough. Sam wants to be ‘normal’ and tries bend herself into a shape that can squeeze into a round hole. She pretends and assimilates which is both frustrating and understandable.
Nate was one of new friends that she made. They had a spark that slowly developed into more and yes by more I mean romance! It was awkward and cute all at the same time. And it was special but at the same time I never felt that Nate was going to be the love of her life. And I loved that element of reality as too often in books first relationships are made to seem too permanent and that is rarely the case in the real world.
However what makes this book one to read is how it handled diversity. Sam’s inner conflict about her spelling and reading were all too easy to believe. And my heart just went out to her when she asked one of her teachers if she was autistic and her teacher’s honest and heartfelt reply was really moving.
Overall I really enjoyed this one, I think it’s important that stereotypes are shattered in books and Counting to D does an admirable job in doing just that. It spotlights living with dyslexia in a thoughtful way and also gives some useful skills in overcoming some of the difficulties that it can cause. Well worth reading.
Who should read Counting to D?
I’d recommend this to you if you like contemporary YA that deal with realistic characters and realistic settings. This is also a good one to read if you are looking for more diversity in your books as it highlights a teenage girl struggling but also coping with a learning disorder.
Thanks to Kate for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
This book is a book that stood out for a lot of right reasons. I loved that it focused on a teenage girl with some learning difficulties in a realistic and empowering way.
First Line of Counting to D
“Numbers danced in the back of my mind.”
My Thoughts on Counting to D
I really appreciated how well rounded Sam was a character. Yes, she had learning difficulties and equally, yes, she was outstanding at maths however there was so much more to her than her learning abilities/disabilities. She was also a typical teenage girl who just wanted a circle of friends to have fun with. She is a really likeable character; her struggles with reading have made her determined and focused and I just engaged with her immediately.
After Sam moved she tried to reinvent herself and that touched me a bit as it’s something I’ve tried to do in the past. However the true you always wins out in the end and if people can’t accept that then that’s just tough. Sam wants to be ‘normal’ and tries bend herself into a shape that can squeeze into a round hole. She pretends and assimilates which is both frustrating and understandable.
Nate was one of new friends that she made. They had a spark that slowly developed into more and yes by more I mean romance! It was awkward and cute all at the same time. And it was special but at the same time I never felt that Nate was going to be the love of her life. And I loved that element of reality as too often in books first relationships are made to seem too permanent and that is rarely the case in the real world.
However what makes this book one to read is how it handled diversity. Sam’s inner conflict about her spelling and reading were all too easy to believe. And my heart just went out to her when she asked one of her teachers if she was autistic and her teacher’s honest and heartfelt reply was really moving.
Overall I really enjoyed this one, I think it’s important that stereotypes are shattered in books and Counting to D does an admirable job in doing just that. It spotlights living with dyslexia in a thoughtful way and also gives some useful skills in overcoming some of the difficulties that it can cause. Well worth reading.
Who should read Counting to D?
I’d recommend this to you if you like contemporary YA that deal with realistic characters and realistic settings. This is also a good one to read if you are looking for more diversity in your books as it highlights a teenage girl struggling but also coping with a learning disorder.
Thanks to Kate for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
February 1, 2014
Fifteen-year-old Samantha Wilson is a paradox by any normal American teenager’s standards: she’s the brainiest kid in her school… and she’s also illiterate. That’s what it means to be dyslexic and a maths genius. But Sam’s had enough of not fitting in. When she and her mother move to a new city, Sam decides to hide her illiteracy from her classmates.
Counting to D is a refreshingly original novel for young teens which offers an invaluable life message: to look beyond the labels we brand ourselves with. Scott encourages her reader not just to re-imagine disability, but also to look past even the most mundane high school stereotypes: the mean popular girl, the dumb jock, the brainiac nerd. Scott’s main cast of characters weren’t all likeable but they were all complex regardless of their social standing, or personal skills and setbacks.
Counting to D isn’t subtle in delivering its message, and the exposition occasionally feels forced. As a European reader, some parts of the story also went over my head - I don’t know much about the American schooling system, and Sam is understandably focused on her grades and her classes - but the story itself is a quick, compelling read and the subject matter makes it perfect for reluctant readers.
The real strength of the novel is its protagonist, Samantha Wilson. As a dyslexic author, Scott clearly understands how important disability representation is, and how to write Sam and her disability with care and respect. Sam is a dyslexic maths genius, but she never becomes the inspirational poster child of so many other stories which feature disabled characters. The story focuses entirely on her - her struggles, her strengths, and her journey towards self-acceptance. The narrative touches upon dyslexia, autism, and attention deficit disorder, all of which are explained for readers unfamiliar with them, and never once does Scott fall back on harmful stereotypes or tropes. I would definitely recommend Counting to D for American young readers.
Many thanks to MindBuck Media for providing a copy of Counting to D in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher: EB Elliott Books
Rating: 4 stars | ★★★★✰
Review cross-posted to Paperback'd
Counting to D is a refreshingly original novel for young teens which offers an invaluable life message: to look beyond the labels we brand ourselves with. Scott encourages her reader not just to re-imagine disability, but also to look past even the most mundane high school stereotypes: the mean popular girl, the dumb jock, the brainiac nerd. Scott’s main cast of characters weren’t all likeable but they were all complex regardless of their social standing, or personal skills and setbacks.
Counting to D isn’t subtle in delivering its message, and the exposition occasionally feels forced. As a European reader, some parts of the story also went over my head - I don’t know much about the American schooling system, and Sam is understandably focused on her grades and her classes - but the story itself is a quick, compelling read and the subject matter makes it perfect for reluctant readers.
The real strength of the novel is its protagonist, Samantha Wilson. As a dyslexic author, Scott clearly understands how important disability representation is, and how to write Sam and her disability with care and respect. Sam is a dyslexic maths genius, but she never becomes the inspirational poster child of so many other stories which feature disabled characters. The story focuses entirely on her - her struggles, her strengths, and her journey towards self-acceptance. The narrative touches upon dyslexia, autism, and attention deficit disorder, all of which are explained for readers unfamiliar with them, and never once does Scott fall back on harmful stereotypes or tropes. I would definitely recommend Counting to D for American young readers.
Many thanks to MindBuck Media for providing a copy of Counting to D in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher: EB Elliott Books
Rating: 4 stars | ★★★★✰
Review cross-posted to Paperback'd
September 20, 2013
I really liked this book! It revolves around a unique narrator--a teen who is uncommonly intelligent but who also has dyslexia. It's both a good story and a good look at how we don't tend to fit into the boxes and categories people want to put us in (or that we want to put ourselves in). I recommend it for the youthful or adult YA reader.
Read
September 6, 2016I’m not sure what to be more amazed by: the description of dyslexia presented in this book that’s so different from what I imagined dyslexia is or the fact that author Kate Scott is dyslexic herself and was functionally illiterate for the first twenty years of her life.
So here’s what I thought before I read Counting to D: People with dyslexia mix up letters, so dyslexia might appear as dyslxeia. But that’s now how it works, which Sam explains during the course of Counting to D. (Read Scott’s description of dyslexia here.) This was an interesting look at someone with a learning disability that’s often misunderstood.
What I loved was Sam’s natural smarts (she’s practically a math genius) in contrast to her inability to read. To fit in with the brainy crowd at her new school—and to keep the cute valedictorian from thinking her stupid—she hides her dyslexia. But as the story goes on, she shares some of her struggles with Nate and a reading teacher she’s forced to see. Through that, I got to learn how dyslexia works. It was fascinating to watch Sam learn the alphabet and struggle to identify an S or a B. That, I think, is the novel’s strength: revealing a learning disability that so many people misunderstand. It’s clear Scott understands dyslexia—not just that she’s done her research, which she obviously has, but that she’s struggled with it herself.
Sam’s narration slips into a teaching mode a little too often (she’s very self-aware for a teen) and the conflict is resolved a little too easily, but the romance is cute and the story has a nice moral for teens: You can be both brilliant and illiterate. Your faults (or strengths!) don’t define you.
- See more at: http://thewordsonpaper.blogspot.com/#...
So here’s what I thought before I read Counting to D: People with dyslexia mix up letters, so dyslexia might appear as dyslxeia. But that’s now how it works, which Sam explains during the course of Counting to D. (Read Scott’s description of dyslexia here.) This was an interesting look at someone with a learning disability that’s often misunderstood.
What I loved was Sam’s natural smarts (she’s practically a math genius) in contrast to her inability to read. To fit in with the brainy crowd at her new school—and to keep the cute valedictorian from thinking her stupid—she hides her dyslexia. But as the story goes on, she shares some of her struggles with Nate and a reading teacher she’s forced to see. Through that, I got to learn how dyslexia works. It was fascinating to watch Sam learn the alphabet and struggle to identify an S or a B. That, I think, is the novel’s strength: revealing a learning disability that so many people misunderstand. It’s clear Scott understands dyslexia—not just that she’s done her research, which she obviously has, but that she’s struggled with it herself.
Sam’s narration slips into a teaching mode a little too often (she’s very self-aware for a teen) and the conflict is resolved a little too easily, but the romance is cute and the story has a nice moral for teens: You can be both brilliant and illiterate. Your faults (or strengths!) don’t define you.
- See more at: http://thewordsonpaper.blogspot.com/#...
January 13, 2016
I’m not going to lie, I’ve been anticipating this book for a while, so when I was contacted and offered the opportunity to review it in advance, there may have been some happy dancing, squeeing and celebratory cheese. BUT, for the record, the anticipation in NO WAY jaded my opinion of this wonderful book.
Sam, short for Samantha, is a sweetheart. I’d take her for my best friend in a heartbeat. She reminded me of Esther from Dicken’s Bleak House (who is, let’s face it, the SWEETEST protagonist in all literature), and while she’s desperately longing to be “normal,” there’s no way under the sun she could ever pass for ordinary. Still, she’s learning who she is and what makes her tick in a way that’s highly relatable. This is a journey of self-discovery.
Some contemporary novels take you into the darkest places of your soul and then try to redeem themselves. This one didn’t dip into that awful place that always leaves me sad or depressed for days. It was heart-warming, light, and a “D”elight to read!
I SO loved this book and will be placing it on my recommended reading list.
Sam, short for Samantha, is a sweetheart. I’d take her for my best friend in a heartbeat. She reminded me of Esther from Dicken’s Bleak House (who is, let’s face it, the SWEETEST protagonist in all literature), and while she’s desperately longing to be “normal,” there’s no way under the sun she could ever pass for ordinary. Still, she’s learning who she is and what makes her tick in a way that’s highly relatable. This is a journey of self-discovery.
Some contemporary novels take you into the darkest places of your soul and then try to redeem themselves. This one didn’t dip into that awful place that always leaves me sad or depressed for days. It was heart-warming, light, and a “D”elight to read!
I SO loved this book and will be placing it on my recommended reading list.
July 11, 2016
This is a becoming of age story, full of growing pains and later happiness. I enjoyed the telling and the tale of this young adult book. Counting to D doesn’t make a lot of sense until you figure that is about a very intelligent girl who can’t read or right. The story is riveting, interesting and enjoyable. Kate did a very good job with her first book in a subject that is close to her heart.
Dyslexia has many faces and for Sam, the character in this story, it is an up hills battle that she has learned to play very well. She has a audiographic memory, so she gets all her school books in audio form and memorizes them easily enough. She can fool a lot of people a lot of the time, but not all of them all the time.
She is fifteen and in a new school. She hopes to be a normal teenager until it all falls apart and the school makes her take a Special Ed class. Anxiety comes to her, in the way of counting, and, as a genius in math, numbers take over her mind. Still it is hard for her to come back to normal…her kind of normal.
This is a beautiful story that will give you a good feeling at the end. Great job Kate Scott.
Dyslexia has many faces and for Sam, the character in this story, it is an up hills battle that she has learned to play very well. She has a audiographic memory, so she gets all her school books in audio form and memorizes them easily enough. She can fool a lot of people a lot of the time, but not all of them all the time.
She is fifteen and in a new school. She hopes to be a normal teenager until it all falls apart and the school makes her take a Special Ed class. Anxiety comes to her, in the way of counting, and, as a genius in math, numbers take over her mind. Still it is hard for her to come back to normal…her kind of normal.
This is a beautiful story that will give you a good feeling at the end. Great job Kate Scott.
December 10, 2013
A vibrant window into dyslexia via protagonist Sam Wilson, a self-described whiz kid with the inability to read or write. As much as overcoming the challenges of a learning disability or settling into life at a new school, Counting to D explores the universal theme of vulnerability, and does so in both Sam and other fun, surprising characters: a valedictorian with attachment issues whose Spanish name is Nacho, a popular girl who claims her sister is the bitchy one, a star athlete who pushes Sam to read by taking her to Powell’s and buying her Harry Potter.
An inspiring read. Perfect for anyone looking for insight on dyslexia or just the kid next door trying to fit in.
An inspiring read. Perfect for anyone looking for insight on dyslexia or just the kid next door trying to fit in.
February 5, 2014
Updated Review ( Giving away a copy on the blog ! Ends February 15th 2014 - http://thepassionatebookworms.com/rev...)
Reading Counting to D was an experience that I could not have predicted.
Basically, I loved it all. I cannot think of one thing that I would change about this story. The main character is Dyslexic, She is a Math genius who excels in almost all of her classes despite the fact that she is illiterate and has problems with spelling and reading the simplest words, ” Of ” for example. Reading the story from Sam’s POV was kind of mind boggling at times. When she describes how she learned to read I just let it all kinda.. settle into my brain.. just how difficult that has to be. The English language is hard enough as it is.. I mean really.. if you think about it it is honestly ridiculous. I got frustrated right along with her!
The additional cast of characters was perfect. Kate Scott didn’t create fake characters, some loved her and encouraged her, some made fun of and belittled her. They were all unique and added something to the story that needed to be there. Nate is adorable and the weirdest perfect fit I could have wanted for Sam as a reader. Sometimes I just wanted to shake him, and her for that matter. But I can’t deny how perfect it was. The characters in the story are not all what they appear to be at first glance. They all have layers to them that slowly get peeled away as the story goes on and Sam learns that she isn’t the only one hiding a bit of themselves.
This was a story about accepting who you are. About inner strength as well as understanding that it is ok to accept help. Kate Scott puts you inside the mind of a person with dyslexia and tries to show readers just how complicated it is. There were moments where I just had to pause and think ” ok, wow… how would you process that!?” It was a topic that I haven’t come across in YA before, i’m not saying there are no other books out there- I just hadn’t read any. I think it is a brilliant way to teach readers what this kind of situation would be like without it feeling like you are reading a textbook.
I feel like i’m only focusing on the learning aspect of the story.. really there is just so much more. It is a wonderful story of friendship, it has humor and just a bit of romance. I cannot express enough how much I recommend this story! Just to readers in general. It’s not just for YA readers, or contemporary fans, I think the uniqueness of it will appeal to a vast array of readers.
Another factoid that I love about Counting to D is that it is printed using a font that is specially designed to be easier to read for dyslexics.
Because I enjoyed this story so much I will be purchasing a copy for myself that I can share with family and friends. Therefor I am going to Give away the ARC copy that was provided to me! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter. If you are not interested in it for yourself but know someone who may like it please send them over so they can enter! ( Unfortunately because this is a physical copy I cannot ship outside of The US. I will offer up 1 Ebook Copy for a NON-US resident to win – will be sent after release date – February 11th )
***********Original review ***** There was nothing that I didn't love about this story. It had a unique MC that I fell in love with, an honest voice that I could relate to, surrounding characters that added to the story in their own way and just... An overall feel to the story that kept me interested and immersed. Full review to come very soon!!***
Reading Counting to D was an experience that I could not have predicted.
Basically, I loved it all. I cannot think of one thing that I would change about this story. The main character is Dyslexic, She is a Math genius who excels in almost all of her classes despite the fact that she is illiterate and has problems with spelling and reading the simplest words, ” Of ” for example. Reading the story from Sam’s POV was kind of mind boggling at times. When she describes how she learned to read I just let it all kinda.. settle into my brain.. just how difficult that has to be. The English language is hard enough as it is.. I mean really.. if you think about it it is honestly ridiculous. I got frustrated right along with her!
The additional cast of characters was perfect. Kate Scott didn’t create fake characters, some loved her and encouraged her, some made fun of and belittled her. They were all unique and added something to the story that needed to be there. Nate is adorable and the weirdest perfect fit I could have wanted for Sam as a reader. Sometimes I just wanted to shake him, and her for that matter. But I can’t deny how perfect it was. The characters in the story are not all what they appear to be at first glance. They all have layers to them that slowly get peeled away as the story goes on and Sam learns that she isn’t the only one hiding a bit of themselves.
This was a story about accepting who you are. About inner strength as well as understanding that it is ok to accept help. Kate Scott puts you inside the mind of a person with dyslexia and tries to show readers just how complicated it is. There were moments where I just had to pause and think ” ok, wow… how would you process that!?” It was a topic that I haven’t come across in YA before, i’m not saying there are no other books out there- I just hadn’t read any. I think it is a brilliant way to teach readers what this kind of situation would be like without it feeling like you are reading a textbook.
I feel like i’m only focusing on the learning aspect of the story.. really there is just so much more. It is a wonderful story of friendship, it has humor and just a bit of romance. I cannot express enough how much I recommend this story! Just to readers in general. It’s not just for YA readers, or contemporary fans, I think the uniqueness of it will appeal to a vast array of readers.
Another factoid that I love about Counting to D is that it is printed using a font that is specially designed to be easier to read for dyslexics.
Because I enjoyed this story so much I will be purchasing a copy for myself that I can share with family and friends. Therefor I am going to Give away the ARC copy that was provided to me! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter. If you are not interested in it for yourself but know someone who may like it please send them over so they can enter! ( Unfortunately because this is a physical copy I cannot ship outside of The US. I will offer up 1 Ebook Copy for a NON-US resident to win – will be sent after release date – February 11th )
***********Original review ***** There was nothing that I didn't love about this story. It had a unique MC that I fell in love with, an honest voice that I could relate to, surrounding characters that added to the story in their own way and just... An overall feel to the story that kept me interested and immersed. Full review to come very soon!!***
January 19, 2014
This review can also be found here: http://www.not-so-literary-heiresses....
I've been a bit wary of reading ARCs by first-time authors after a couple of painful attempts when we chose to not publish a review, just to be kind. We like to see authors succeed, obviously, since we're big fans of the written work, so I'm loathe to cast the first stone. Disliking something that's already widely popular doesn't throw me into a guilt trip because then, I'm just another reader with a different opinion.
Anyway, we received a request to review Counting to D and I just found the premise of a dyslexic genius so interesting that I agreed. Sam is a compelling character. She's fifteen and counts by prime numbers or exponents of seven in her head when she's stressed, hides her disability by relying on her audiographic memory, and has to make friends for the first time when her mom gets a job in Oregon and they move miles away from her two best friends. I've had trouble finishing books lately (hence, the lack of reviews), and this one was a breeze as Sam kept my attention throughout.
Apparently, my understanding of dyslexia was all wrong -- I honestly thought it just had something to do with letters jumping around within a word. Sam explains that it's "the inability to comprehend the symbolic representation of sound" and "that makes it hard for my ears and my eyes to communicate." The book also mentions some famous people who had dyslexia like Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Disney and Agatha Christie. Who knew! I haven't met anyone who's dyslexic here in Manila, and that makes me a bit concerned that maybe we just don't have the tools to identify it and equip the kids with the tools they need. Anyway.
From the blurb, I thought that there would be a lot of two-facedness and keeping secrets, but I was surprised that the teenagers in this book are pretty straightforward and honest. Sam's love interest, Nate, is a senior and is the valedictorian. He's a big nerd too, which I thought was cute and I didn't appreciate Sam checking out Eli, the cool basketball dude, every once in a while. I found it cute whenever Nate got jealous and tried to hide it.
Sam's a well-balanced girl. I get how she reacts to things, despite my initial distaste at the phrase "my stupid mother" on the second page because it was screaming bratty, ungrateful teenager to me. I eventually discovered that that was just a reaction to having to move and that she's really a good daughter. There's a lot of unsupervised hanging out in bedrooms, which really seems to be the norm in YA nowadays. Is that also a norm in real life? I really have no idea with kids nowadays.
The cast of characters is interesting, though I expected more from the "Brain Trust" than a group of guys (and one girl) who like to compare test scores. I had imagined them planning to dominate the world or something more spectacular than bitching about who was the nerdiest nerd.
Counting to D is a quick, enjoyable read. Since Sam's only fifteen, it's more tween than teen so it's fluffier than my taste dictates but that's okay. I've been on the lookout for non-angsty innocent reads anyway!
An advance readers copy was provided by Elliott Books in exchange for an honest review.
I've been a bit wary of reading ARCs by first-time authors after a couple of painful attempts when we chose to not publish a review, just to be kind. We like to see authors succeed, obviously, since we're big fans of the written work, so I'm loathe to cast the first stone. Disliking something that's already widely popular doesn't throw me into a guilt trip because then, I'm just another reader with a different opinion.
Anyway, we received a request to review Counting to D and I just found the premise of a dyslexic genius so interesting that I agreed. Sam is a compelling character. She's fifteen and counts by prime numbers or exponents of seven in her head when she's stressed, hides her disability by relying on her audiographic memory, and has to make friends for the first time when her mom gets a job in Oregon and they move miles away from her two best friends. I've had trouble finishing books lately (hence, the lack of reviews), and this one was a breeze as Sam kept my attention throughout.
Apparently, my understanding of dyslexia was all wrong -- I honestly thought it just had something to do with letters jumping around within a word. Sam explains that it's "the inability to comprehend the symbolic representation of sound" and "that makes it hard for my ears and my eyes to communicate." The book also mentions some famous people who had dyslexia like Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Disney and Agatha Christie. Who knew! I haven't met anyone who's dyslexic here in Manila, and that makes me a bit concerned that maybe we just don't have the tools to identify it and equip the kids with the tools they need. Anyway.
From the blurb, I thought that there would be a lot of two-facedness and keeping secrets, but I was surprised that the teenagers in this book are pretty straightforward and honest. Sam's love interest, Nate, is a senior and is the valedictorian. He's a big nerd too, which I thought was cute and I didn't appreciate Sam checking out Eli, the cool basketball dude, every once in a while. I found it cute whenever Nate got jealous and tried to hide it.
Sam's a well-balanced girl. I get how she reacts to things, despite my initial distaste at the phrase "my stupid mother" on the second page because it was screaming bratty, ungrateful teenager to me. I eventually discovered that that was just a reaction to having to move and that she's really a good daughter. There's a lot of unsupervised hanging out in bedrooms, which really seems to be the norm in YA nowadays. Is that also a norm in real life? I really have no idea with kids nowadays.
The cast of characters is interesting, though I expected more from the "Brain Trust" than a group of guys (and one girl) who like to compare test scores. I had imagined them planning to dominate the world or something more spectacular than bitching about who was the nerdiest nerd.
Counting to D is a quick, enjoyable read. Since Sam's only fifteen, it's more tween than teen so it's fluffier than my taste dictates but that's okay. I've been on the lookout for non-angsty innocent reads anyway!
An advance readers copy was provided by Elliott Books in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2014
Review available at my blog Writer For Misfits
3.5
When I started the book, I expected it to be a really light and fluffy read. Yes, it was fluffy but it wasn't light. It was probably the maths' fault!
Counting to D is a story of Samantha Wilson or Sam, who is dyslexic. She cannot read and write properly but her ability to understand numbers and diagrams makes her somewhat of a genius! She moves to Oregon after living almost all her life in Atlanta with her friends. Now she must learn to adapt to her environment all over again, stay on top of the class and keep , while also hiding the fact that she's actually dyslexic.
I think Sam is the type of character who over analyzes things to an extent. She's an honestly wonderful girl it's just those times where I got really bored of her thinking her dyslexia is her defeat. I commend people with this disorder who still live daily, normal lives and get things done. Sam believes she can't get things done with her dyslexia and only numbers are the only things that understand her.
Other characters of the book were a total hit and miss. Nathan is a wonderful guy, really. But I found his character rather weak and sometimes, I'd rather not read about him. I wanted more of Graham and Lissa as antagonists. They were intimidating, yes, but they didn't really have enough plot in the story to even have me get intimidated by them as well. I wanted Sam to be challenged through them, but somehow, they got the best of her in the short amount of time.
Kaitlyn on the other hand was really entertaining. The shift in her personality was quite a shock to be honest, but we all know she's a sweet girl under all that popular facade. Miles and Haroon were really funny, not much of them were written in the book but it was totally worth it. They were nice additions to lighten the mood.
One weird thing I wanted to have happened was for Sam to have ended up with Eli. It was the connection I kind of received from them that got to me, but alas, the truth hurts.
The story line is light and well-constructed though at times some of the parts were getting shallow. What I enjoyed reading most was Sam's relationship with her Mom and Dad. There was drama far more different than her dyslexia problems and I enjoyed that. I wish it was outstretched and played out more.. Just a little...
All in all, I enjoyed reading this novel. I appreciated Sam's efforts to learn, how she just wants to be a normal teenager with friends and go to a college. The writing style was not out there but definitely satisfying. Though I hate numbers, I really like how it was incorporated to Sam's relieving of her anxiousness. And finding out that the author is also dyslexic, I bow down with all of my heart! Great job on a debut novel!
3.5
When I started the book, I expected it to be a really light and fluffy read. Yes, it was fluffy but it wasn't light. It was probably the maths' fault!
Counting to D is a story of Samantha Wilson or Sam, who is dyslexic. She cannot read and write properly but her ability to understand numbers and diagrams makes her somewhat of a genius! She moves to Oregon after living almost all her life in Atlanta with her friends. Now she must learn to adapt to her environment all over again, stay on top of the class and keep , while also hiding the fact that she's actually dyslexic.
I think Sam is the type of character who over analyzes things to an extent. She's an honestly wonderful girl it's just those times where I got really bored of her thinking her dyslexia is her defeat. I commend people with this disorder who still live daily, normal lives and get things done. Sam believes she can't get things done with her dyslexia and only numbers are the only things that understand her.
Other characters of the book were a total hit and miss. Nathan is a wonderful guy, really. But I found his character rather weak and sometimes, I'd rather not read about him. I wanted more of Graham and Lissa as antagonists. They were intimidating, yes, but they didn't really have enough plot in the story to even have me get intimidated by them as well. I wanted Sam to be challenged through them, but somehow, they got the best of her in the short amount of time.
Kaitlyn on the other hand was really entertaining. The shift in her personality was quite a shock to be honest, but we all know she's a sweet girl under all that popular facade. Miles and Haroon were really funny, not much of them were written in the book but it was totally worth it. They were nice additions to lighten the mood.
One weird thing I wanted to have happened was for Sam to have ended up with Eli. It was the connection I kind of received from them that got to me, but alas, the truth hurts.
The story line is light and well-constructed though at times some of the parts were getting shallow. What I enjoyed reading most was Sam's relationship with her Mom and Dad. There was drama far more different than her dyslexia problems and I enjoyed that. I wish it was outstretched and played out more.. Just a little...
All in all, I enjoyed reading this novel. I appreciated Sam's efforts to learn, how she just wants to be a normal teenager with friends and go to a college. The writing style was not out there but definitely satisfying. Though I hate numbers, I really like how it was incorporated to Sam's relieving of her anxiousness. And finding out that the author is also dyslexic, I bow down with all of my heart! Great job on a debut novel!
March 5, 2014
Counting to D is Kate Scott's debut novel. I admit to being a tad leery when asked to review a first indie novel, but the premise intrigued me. From the blurb:
The kids at Sam’s school never knew if they should make fun of her for being too smart or too dumb. That’s what it means to be dyslexic, smart, and illiterate. Sam is sick of it. So when her mom gets a job in a faraway city, Sam decides not to tell anyone about her little illiteracy problem. Without her paradox of a reputation, she falls in with a new group of highly competitive friends who call themselves the Brain Trust. When she meets Nate, her charming valedictorian lab partner, she declares her new reality perfect. But in order to keep it that way, she has to keep her learning disability a secret. The books are stacked against her and so are the lies. Sam’s got to get the grades, get the guy, and get it straight—without being able to read.
Sam is an endearing character, and I rooted for her throughout the book. Her thought processes, frustrations, and fears came across as realistic. The details about dyslexia were fascinating and informative without losing my interest. Although Counting to D isn't autobiographical, the author is severely dyslexic and used her own personal experiences when penning the story.
Kate Scott created a terrific cast of characters all with their own unique quirks and personalities. Sam straddles the line between an elite nerd squad and the popular kids, proving that one shouldn't judge others using labels. Some members of the Brain Trust ended up being crueler and far more intimidating than the popular crowd, proving that ignorance and competitiveness can exist anywhere.
I've always been under the misconception that dyslexia consists of transposing a few letters and numbers or seeing words or symbols backward. This book (and an informative guest post from the author) helped educate me on the severity of dyslexia. I always enjoy reading a compelling story that also expands my knowledge and understanding.
Counting to D was well-written, well-edited, and left out the “boring parts” using smooth scene transitions—a bittersweet, heartwarming story of earning trust, blossoming friendships, first love, and overcoming adversity. The writing drew me in, and the story played out in my mind like a movie. It's always wonderful to get so sucked in that I forget I'm reading. I look forward to reading future offerings from Ms. Scott.
Read other reviews on my website www.sarahaisling.com
The kids at Sam’s school never knew if they should make fun of her for being too smart or too dumb. That’s what it means to be dyslexic, smart, and illiterate. Sam is sick of it. So when her mom gets a job in a faraway city, Sam decides not to tell anyone about her little illiteracy problem. Without her paradox of a reputation, she falls in with a new group of highly competitive friends who call themselves the Brain Trust. When she meets Nate, her charming valedictorian lab partner, she declares her new reality perfect. But in order to keep it that way, she has to keep her learning disability a secret. The books are stacked against her and so are the lies. Sam’s got to get the grades, get the guy, and get it straight—without being able to read.
Sam is an endearing character, and I rooted for her throughout the book. Her thought processes, frustrations, and fears came across as realistic. The details about dyslexia were fascinating and informative without losing my interest. Although Counting to D isn't autobiographical, the author is severely dyslexic and used her own personal experiences when penning the story.
Kate Scott created a terrific cast of characters all with their own unique quirks and personalities. Sam straddles the line between an elite nerd squad and the popular kids, proving that one shouldn't judge others using labels. Some members of the Brain Trust ended up being crueler and far more intimidating than the popular crowd, proving that ignorance and competitiveness can exist anywhere.
I've always been under the misconception that dyslexia consists of transposing a few letters and numbers or seeing words or symbols backward. This book (and an informative guest post from the author) helped educate me on the severity of dyslexia. I always enjoy reading a compelling story that also expands my knowledge and understanding.
Counting to D was well-written, well-edited, and left out the “boring parts” using smooth scene transitions—a bittersweet, heartwarming story of earning trust, blossoming friendships, first love, and overcoming adversity. The writing drew me in, and the story played out in my mind like a movie. It's always wonderful to get so sucked in that I forget I'm reading. I look forward to reading future offerings from Ms. Scott.
Read other reviews on my website www.sarahaisling.com
October 12, 2014
This review (and others) can be found on My Full Bookshelf Reviews
A free copy of this book was received from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn't sure what exactly I would be getting into when I started Counting to D. I'd never read about a book where the main character was dyslexic, (or if I did, I don't remember, in which case it must have not been very good) and I was a bit nervous. But I took a chance, and I was pleasantly surprised on how much I liked it.
First off, you can tell just by reading that the author knows a lot about dyslexia. I wasn't surprised at all when I learned that Ms. Scott has dyslexia, because the book really gets into Sam's struggles, and I don't know if someone who hadn't had experience with this could have captured it half as well.
Sam didn't have the voice of a stereotypical teenage girl. That's probably what I liked best about her. Yes, she goes through things that a lot of teenagers will relate too, even those that don't have dyslexia, but in YA lit there seems to be this bubbly, perky teenage voice that gets used a lot for female main characters, and that's not really how it is with Sam.
Also, like I mentioned before, Sam deals with stuff in addition to her dyslexia, like friend troubles and her father leaving. This succeeds in making the book even more believable, because a lot of teenagers understand what she's going through.
I love that the secondary characters had a lot of depth too. For example, Kaitlyn, one of Sam's friends, at first seems like that typical mean girl that shows up in pretty much every high school realistic fiction book ever printed, (okay, exaggeration...but most of the time, there's a character like that) but underneath we find out that she's a real person who just has some problems, and she and Sam end up being really great friends. Another example is Sam's crush Nate, who isn't the typical uber-hot jock. He's got issues of his own, he's emo...he's not the norm as far as crushes go, but I really liked his character.
Would I recommend this? Yep! Definitely. If you like realistic fiction, this is great. It deals with real issues, but it's also simply the story of a girl navigating her way through high school. I really enjoyed it.
A free copy of this book was received from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn't sure what exactly I would be getting into when I started Counting to D. I'd never read about a book where the main character was dyslexic, (or if I did, I don't remember, in which case it must have not been very good) and I was a bit nervous. But I took a chance, and I was pleasantly surprised on how much I liked it.
First off, you can tell just by reading that the author knows a lot about dyslexia. I wasn't surprised at all when I learned that Ms. Scott has dyslexia, because the book really gets into Sam's struggles, and I don't know if someone who hadn't had experience with this could have captured it half as well.
Sam didn't have the voice of a stereotypical teenage girl. That's probably what I liked best about her. Yes, she goes through things that a lot of teenagers will relate too, even those that don't have dyslexia, but in YA lit there seems to be this bubbly, perky teenage voice that gets used a lot for female main characters, and that's not really how it is with Sam.
Also, like I mentioned before, Sam deals with stuff in addition to her dyslexia, like friend troubles and her father leaving. This succeeds in making the book even more believable, because a lot of teenagers understand what she's going through.
I love that the secondary characters had a lot of depth too. For example, Kaitlyn, one of Sam's friends, at first seems like that typical mean girl that shows up in pretty much every high school realistic fiction book ever printed, (okay, exaggeration...but most of the time, there's a character like that) but underneath we find out that she's a real person who just has some problems, and she and Sam end up being really great friends. Another example is Sam's crush Nate, who isn't the typical uber-hot jock. He's got issues of his own, he's emo...he's not the norm as far as crushes go, but I really liked his character.
Would I recommend this? Yep! Definitely. If you like realistic fiction, this is great. It deals with real issues, but it's also simply the story of a girl navigating her way through high school. I really enjoyed it.
December 20, 2018
We’re different people, and that’s okay. Different doesn’t have to mean worse. But it also doesn’t have to mean better. Different only means different.
My first encounter with the word dyslexia was when I started reading Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, because demigods are dyslexic. What I only understand about this is, it's a disability where a person can't read properly because letters are all jumbled. I was surprised that it's more than like that. Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that can cause problems with reading, writing and spelling.
Counting to D by Kate Scott is a story about a fifteen-year old dyslexic, smart, Mathematician girl named Samantha Wilson who moved from San Diego to Portland. She doesn't want to leave San Diego because her two best friends are living there. She's afraid to meet new people, thinking they might not like her because she's illiterate. But upon meeting one of the seniors in her new school, Nate; the valedictorian, her anxiety ceases. Nate is always there for her, he helped Sam on her Spanish and English. They became a couple. Sam gained a lot of friends. She's dyslexic but she's really smart and everyone adores her. Sam loves books but it's too sad that she can't even read. I like how she explained that hearing stories of books made her explore the adventures she really wanted. I feel sad that Nate will be leaving Oregon for college. The story ends at Nate's graduation but I hope everything between Sam and him went well. I really enjoyed reading the story. It's a typical YA story but everything is perfect.
The author herself is dyslexic, and after understanding the situation of a dyslexic person I know that she had a hard time writing and constructing this novel but everything about this novel is brilliant. This is a very good one. There are a lot of famous people who are/were dyslexic also; Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Walt Disney, Tom Cruise, Pablo Picasso, Mohammad Ali and Steven Spielberg, but this disability didn't become their hindrance to become successful and achieve their goal.
4.5 STARS for this beautiful novel.
My first encounter with the word dyslexia was when I started reading Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, because demigods are dyslexic. What I only understand about this is, it's a disability where a person can't read properly because letters are all jumbled. I was surprised that it's more than like that. Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that can cause problems with reading, writing and spelling.
Counting to D by Kate Scott is a story about a fifteen-year old dyslexic, smart, Mathematician girl named Samantha Wilson who moved from San Diego to Portland. She doesn't want to leave San Diego because her two best friends are living there. She's afraid to meet new people, thinking they might not like her because she's illiterate. But upon meeting one of the seniors in her new school, Nate; the valedictorian, her anxiety ceases. Nate is always there for her, he helped Sam on her Spanish and English. They became a couple. Sam gained a lot of friends. She's dyslexic but she's really smart and everyone adores her. Sam loves books but it's too sad that she can't even read. I like how she explained that hearing stories of books made her explore the adventures she really wanted. I feel sad that Nate will be leaving Oregon for college. The story ends at Nate's graduation but I hope everything between Sam and him went well. I really enjoyed reading the story. It's a typical YA story but everything is perfect.
The author herself is dyslexic, and after understanding the situation of a dyslexic person I know that she had a hard time writing and constructing this novel but everything about this novel is brilliant. This is a very good one. There are a lot of famous people who are/were dyslexic also; Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Walt Disney, Tom Cruise, Pablo Picasso, Mohammad Ali and Steven Spielberg, but this disability didn't become their hindrance to become successful and achieve their goal.
4.5 STARS for this beautiful novel.
February 25, 2014
This book is about a girl who is dyslexic. Her mom, who is an architect, was out of work for 18 months. She finally found a job. In Oregon. She had to move away from her best friends, but also the mean kids at school. She is dyslexic, but she has an audio graphic memory, a math genius, and is taking 5 AP classes. She meets the boy of her dreams, and although she's a nerd, she also is somewhat popular. Her dad left when she was in elementary school- when people figured out she was dyslexic. Now onto opinion. please no hate.
I didn't like the language. but i don't like books with cussing. It's something I have to overlook often. There isn't that much cussing, but there is some. Just a fair warning. There is references to sex, but there isn't any described in the book. Sam chose abstinence, instead of having sex with her boyfriend, which I think is a good decision in this book.
Altogether, I really enjoyed the book. I think the character Sam is amazing and loving and down to earth. There are mild things about this book I don't enjoy, but I am willing to overlook them, because of the beauty that is this book. I think this book helps give insight to the lives of dyslexic people, and is a blessing to know what they go through, without reading a boring documented paper that is complicated to read and understand.
Kate Scott, if you're reading this, I really appreciate the time and effort it took for you to write this book. I truly enjoyed it. And thank you for sending me a copy! I am thankful for that, and enjoyed reading it. I couldn't put it down! I stayed up late reading this, and felt connected with these characters.
I personally would give this book 4 and 3/4 stars. Although there is no way to do that, I am rounding up to 5. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any bookworm wanting to learn something new!
I didn't like the language. but i don't like books with cussing. It's something I have to overlook often. There isn't that much cussing, but there is some. Just a fair warning. There is references to sex, but there isn't any described in the book. Sam chose abstinence, instead of having sex with her boyfriend, which I think is a good decision in this book.
Altogether, I really enjoyed the book. I think the character Sam is amazing and loving and down to earth. There are mild things about this book I don't enjoy, but I am willing to overlook them, because of the beauty that is this book. I think this book helps give insight to the lives of dyslexic people, and is a blessing to know what they go through, without reading a boring documented paper that is complicated to read and understand.
Kate Scott, if you're reading this, I really appreciate the time and effort it took for you to write this book. I truly enjoyed it. And thank you for sending me a copy! I am thankful for that, and enjoyed reading it. I couldn't put it down! I stayed up late reading this, and felt connected with these characters.
I personally would give this book 4 and 3/4 stars. Although there is no way to do that, I am rounding up to 5. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any bookworm wanting to learn something new!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2014
This was a charming book. Sam is a delightful whiz kid who excels in mathematics and uses her attachment to numbers as a coping mechanism when life throws her a curve. The kids at school don’t know quite what to think of this girl who smokes them in every class yet cannot read. As she tries to fit in with her new group of friends she experiences a little bit of every reaction, from awe and amazement to outright jealousy. Soon she finds that there is more to excelling in school than being good at coursework as she is accepted into a small group of unlikely friends. Even after being relegated to the Special Ed class Sam finds joy in her surroundings and learns to make the best of her situation.
There is a sweet romance in the book that unfolds gradually and charmed the socks off of me. Nate is a wonderful love interest for Sam and I loved how even though he is obviously attracted to Sam physically, he loves her more for her intelligence. They are intellectual equals and that is the best basis for romance. Their relationship grows serious throughout the book, but still stays light.
Some of the lines in COUNTING TO D are laugh out loud funny. The exchanges between Sam and the Brain Trust are great with a lighthearted banter. For example:
Miles : “Are you a real girl or only a pretend girl like Lissa?”
Sam : "I have a uterus. Is that real enough?"
COUNTING TO D is a delightful book about growing up and finding your place in a world that doesn’t always seem fair. Sam proves that it’s okay to be different and that nurturing your own true talents and strengths produces great rewards.
There is a sweet romance in the book that unfolds gradually and charmed the socks off of me. Nate is a wonderful love interest for Sam and I loved how even though he is obviously attracted to Sam physically, he loves her more for her intelligence. They are intellectual equals and that is the best basis for romance. Their relationship grows serious throughout the book, but still stays light.
Some of the lines in COUNTING TO D are laugh out loud funny. The exchanges between Sam and the Brain Trust are great with a lighthearted banter. For example:
Miles : “Are you a real girl or only a pretend girl like Lissa?”
Sam : "I have a uterus. Is that real enough?"
COUNTING TO D is a delightful book about growing up and finding your place in a world that doesn’t always seem fair. Sam proves that it’s okay to be different and that nurturing your own true talents and strengths produces great rewards.
February 4, 2014
Learning to read was a breeze for me. No struggle, no problems. I've always excelled at reading and I love it. It's hard for me to imagine not being able to read. One of the reasons I really liked this book was because it gave me a better idea of what life would be like if I had a disability like dyslexia. I like when books remind me of the very real struggles others deal with. It brings out a desire in me to be more grateful for what I have and also brings a better understanding and empathy.
I've never really read a book that tackles dyslexia quite this way. Sam is so incredibly smart and her coping methods are crazy intelligent. What a lot of extra work it was for Sam to not only keep her secret, but to flourish in her studies. I admired Sam- her hard work, her intelligence, her perseverance. I was interested in her and I liked her.
This was a typical teenage world in high school. Dealing with peers, pressures, dating and classes. The whole high school scene was believable and the characters fit right in.
I enjoyed the book but was bothered by the language (as I always am). I know people speak this way, even teenagers, but I don't agree with it. It's a personal preference and also a caution for others who feel the same way.
As for content, there is swearing, as mentioned above and also profanity. There is talk of sex and sexual situations. Characters attend parties where alcohol is present and teenagers are getting drunk and having sex.
I've never really read a book that tackles dyslexia quite this way. Sam is so incredibly smart and her coping methods are crazy intelligent. What a lot of extra work it was for Sam to not only keep her secret, but to flourish in her studies. I admired Sam- her hard work, her intelligence, her perseverance. I was interested in her and I liked her.
This was a typical teenage world in high school. Dealing with peers, pressures, dating and classes. The whole high school scene was believable and the characters fit right in.
I enjoyed the book but was bothered by the language (as I always am). I know people speak this way, even teenagers, but I don't agree with it. It's a personal preference and also a caution for others who feel the same way.
As for content, there is swearing, as mentioned above and also profanity. There is talk of sex and sexual situations. Characters attend parties where alcohol is present and teenagers are getting drunk and having sex.
March 2, 2014
4.5/5 stars
I have never read a book like this one before. It is a YA contemporary. But it deals with a serious subject, dyslexia.
Loving to read, it absolutely broke my heart to read Samantha's story.
Samantha is a 15 year old math genius who is forced to move to Portland and relocate when her mom gets a new job. Samantha is gifted, but she has a very severe case of dyslexia and can only read at a grade one level.
Reading about Sam's experiences were amazing. It was crazy how easily math came to her (she listened to all her textbooks as audio-books). She also memorized them. But when it came to languages (like Spanish or English) she struggled immensely.
I enjoyed reading about the different kids in her school and how each reacted to her. I especially enjoyed Eli, and Kaitlyn.
This book is not a light read. It was a quick read (only 227 pages). The author tackled a difficult subject that she herself faced. But it is a worthwhile read. As someone who has always found reading easy, it was shocking to me to see what Sam faced. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading books that deal with serious issues. But that said, even though this book will make you feel, it is not a downer. The story is inspirational and will leave you feeling happy that you read a wonderful book.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Elliot books for allowing to read this book.
March 22, 2014
This is the first non-ES1541 book review I'm writing and I'm a little hesitant about writing it cos . . what is the author's main idea? Is the book flowing smoothly? Are there any concepts the author could've expounded more on, or spots the author's binged on?
Crap. Crap, how I ABHOR writing academic summaries.
But, . .
I really really like this book. I really like it.
Scott doesn't just dismiss hierarchies, she does it all in a way that makes the hierarchies irrelevant, and superfluous? I like that.
I guess having a character like Sam makes it that much easier to love the book.
I've never really thought much about the concreteness of maths and numbers before uni, and I'm glad (?) there's a reaffirmation of this since The Music of the Primes: Searching to Solve the Greatest Mystery in Mathematics, which was the last maths-y book I've read.
And maybe Sam was right, how maths has turned from something I've adored, to something I'm doing just for the sake of it.
And I really really love Scott for making the effort of writing this book. I seriously cannot imagine not being able to read all those books. Wow. No Amelia Bedelia. Wow.
I really, really like it.
Crap. Crap, how I ABHOR writing academic summaries.
But, . .
I really really like this book. I really like it.
Scott doesn't just dismiss hierarchies, she does it all in a way that makes the hierarchies irrelevant, and superfluous? I like that.
I guess having a character like Sam makes it that much easier to love the book.
I've never really thought much about the concreteness of maths and numbers before uni, and I'm glad (?) there's a reaffirmation of this since The Music of the Primes: Searching to Solve the Greatest Mystery in Mathematics, which was the last maths-y book I've read.
And maybe Sam was right, how maths has turned from something I've adored, to something I'm doing just for the sake of it.
And I really really love Scott for making the effort of writing this book. I seriously cannot imagine not being able to read all those books. Wow. No Amelia Bedelia. Wow.
I really, really like it.
May 17, 2025
A very sweet young-end-of-YA novel. It's definitely wrapped in an educational tone, right down to a note at the end about how the font used was specifically designed as one more easily read by dyslexic people, but that never overwhelms the story, because these characters are just so easy to like! I'm not the target audience so I was honestly expecting this to be a 3-star read, and for the first half it probably was, but by the time I started writing this review and thinking it over, I was up to at least a 3.5 and I think it deserves to be rounded up.
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The opening chapter, in which one of Sam's best friends (who lives in the apartment above) climbs through her window and commiserates with her impending move in ways that include brushing her hair and reading aloud to her, instantly made me devastated for her having to lose that.
Arden & Gabby, sadly, tend to fade into the background as Sam quickly becomes wrapped up in a new friend group, but I liked the new people nearly as much. Most of the Brain Trust are more casual acquaintances, besides Nate (more on him shortly). But she also gets two bonus friends out of her one regular/Not AP Level class (English) -- one *gasp* Popular Girl?? and one typical jock guy, who is just an all-around good dude (when sober) and even takes her to Powell's, because it's too iconic to miss even if you can barely read. Honestly it's kind of incredible how quickly her social life expands, despite constantly complaining that she's Not Normal and how will she ever interact with people who aren't her lifelong besties. But it works!
OK back to Nate, who took up a much larger portion of my review than I was expecting, because he just so steadily stole my heart.
Quickly morphing from her lunch buddy to her Spanish tutor to a solid love interest, he is the teenage dream. A sweet genius Sad Boy who loves reading, writes poetry, has never kissed anyone despite being a high school senior, and has incredible parents who wrap Sam up in their warm family dynamics immediately...yeah, this is the love interest I'd write into a YA novel too. Minus the description of him as "emo," with "black hair several months past its need for a haircut" and "thick black horn-rimmed glasses." Nah. The glasses can stay if they get real thin, but otherwise, all-American blond golden boy in my head.
[Oh. Hm. Actually when I imagine him as blond with glasses, suddenly I realize he reminds me of my husband. I've connected the dots, I've connected them!]
Anyway. Many of their dates start as study dates (with actual studying, even deep into the relationship), their relationship moves at a pretty reasonably slow pace, and Prom was just, ahhhhh TOO SWEET. (
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A good portion of the plot is also about her working through her learning disability and tackling new steps to improve her reading and writing skills, which I assume are well done since the author is writing a lot from personal experience here. There's also a last-minute subplot of coming to terms with the hurt her father caused by walking out on the family when she was a kid -- which is both introduced and resolved rather too quickly and neatly, considering they weren't in contact for EIGHT YEARS -- but still provides a nice source of conflict & conflict resolution that doesn't require blowing up her newfound social life. (Respect!)
The book does get a little weird in the way it talks about autism ("going autistic" is a complaint people make more than once, including by Sam herself when she's embarrassed about self-soothing by rocking and/or counting by prime numbers to calm down), but that's my only real issue. Overall, recommended.
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P.S. This last part is way longer than it needs to be but let me ramble anyway.
This was one of oldest residents on my Goodreads TBR, having sat there for 11 years, from way back when contemp. YA made up the bulk of my reading and I only added them to the TBR shelf if they weren't at my library. I now really wish I had read this closer to its release, because this paragraph changed my life:
Imagine a light bulb going off over my head as my jaw dropped and I went, "Wait, stereo jack...my double-ended aux cord...!" and realized what an obvious, simple thing I have missed out on for a full decade of having my own car*.
I don't have an MP3 player anymore, but when I did, I was always bummed that there was no way to use it while driving. For the last few years, when I've had an audiobook on my phone or am using Google Maps, you guessed it -- I just crank the volume to max and suffer through the sound of my tinny phone speakers. So yeah, this was a whole entire life-changing revelation to me. AND I COULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT YEARS AGO, IF ONLY MY LIBRARY HAD BOUGHT THIS BOOK.
(*In my weak defense, I grew up with cars so old they only played cassette tapes, and by the time I started driving with people my own age, they either exclusively drew from a huge binder of CDs, or had embraced Bluetooth connections. I personally have not yet done the latter, as my phones have always been as cheap as functionally possible and I have never had a data plan, which is yet another reason I could have REALLY used that tip...)
I feel like I might be the only person in the world who learned about this from a book, a YA novel no less. I'm definitely the only person who's ever said a book changed their life for such an objectively silly reason, especially in the kind of book that has actual profound things to share.
But seriously...it did.
--------
The opening chapter, in which one of Sam's best friends (who lives in the apartment above) climbs through her window and commiserates with her impending move in ways that include brushing her hair and reading aloud to her, instantly made me devastated for her having to lose that.
Arden & Gabby, sadly, tend to fade into the background as Sam quickly becomes wrapped up in a new friend group, but I liked the new people nearly as much. Most of the Brain Trust are more casual acquaintances, besides Nate (more on him shortly). But she also gets two bonus friends out of her one regular/Not AP Level class (English) -- one *gasp* Popular Girl?? and one typical jock guy, who is just an all-around good dude (when sober) and even takes her to Powell's, because it's too iconic to miss even if you can barely read. Honestly it's kind of incredible how quickly her social life expands, despite constantly complaining that she's Not Normal and how will she ever interact with people who aren't her lifelong besties. But it works!
OK back to Nate, who took up a much larger portion of my review than I was expecting, because he just so steadily stole my heart.
Quickly morphing from her lunch buddy to her Spanish tutor to a solid love interest, he is the teenage dream. A sweet genius Sad Boy who loves reading, writes poetry, has never kissed anyone despite being a high school senior, and has incredible parents who wrap Sam up in their warm family dynamics immediately...yeah, this is the love interest I'd write into a YA novel too. Minus the description of him as "emo," with "black hair several months past its need for a haircut" and "thick black horn-rimmed glasses." Nah. The glasses can stay if they get real thin, but otherwise, all-American blond golden boy in my head.
[Oh. Hm. Actually when I imagine him as blond with glasses, suddenly I realize he reminds me of my husband. I've connected the dots, I've connected them!]
Anyway. Many of their dates start as study dates (with actual studying, even deep into the relationship), their relationship moves at a pretty reasonably slow pace, and Prom was just, ahhhhh TOO SWEET. (
-------
A good portion of the plot is also about her working through her learning disability and tackling new steps to improve her reading and writing skills, which I assume are well done since the author is writing a lot from personal experience here. There's also a last-minute subplot of coming to terms with the hurt her father caused by walking out on the family when she was a kid -- which is both introduced and resolved rather too quickly and neatly, considering they weren't in contact for EIGHT YEARS -- but still provides a nice source of conflict & conflict resolution that doesn't require blowing up her newfound social life. (Respect!)
The book does get a little weird in the way it talks about autism ("going autistic" is a complaint people make more than once, including by Sam herself when she's embarrassed about self-soothing by rocking and/or counting by prime numbers to calm down), but that's my only real issue. Overall, recommended.
-------------
P.S. This last part is way longer than it needs to be but let me ramble anyway.
This was one of oldest residents on my Goodreads TBR, having sat there for 11 years, from way back when contemp. YA made up the bulk of my reading and I only added them to the TBR shelf if they weren't at my library. I now really wish I had read this closer to its release, because this paragraph changed my life:
I fished in my backpack between my feet and pulled out an MP3 player. I scrolled through the index and pulled up the next chapter in my history textbook, then plugged it into the stereo jack in the dashboard.
Imagine a light bulb going off over my head as my jaw dropped and I went, "Wait, stereo jack...my double-ended aux cord...!" and realized what an obvious, simple thing I have missed out on for a full decade of having my own car*.
I don't have an MP3 player anymore, but when I did, I was always bummed that there was no way to use it while driving. For the last few years, when I've had an audiobook on my phone or am using Google Maps, you guessed it -- I just crank the volume to max and suffer through the sound of my tinny phone speakers. So yeah, this was a whole entire life-changing revelation to me. AND I COULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT YEARS AGO, IF ONLY MY LIBRARY HAD BOUGHT THIS BOOK.
(*In my weak defense, I grew up with cars so old they only played cassette tapes, and by the time I started driving with people my own age, they either exclusively drew from a huge binder of CDs, or had embraced Bluetooth connections. I personally have not yet done the latter, as my phones have always been as cheap as functionally possible and I have never had a data plan, which is yet another reason I could have REALLY used that tip...)
I feel like I might be the only person in the world who learned about this from a book, a YA novel no less. I'm definitely the only person who's ever said a book changed their life for such an objectively silly reason, especially in the kind of book that has actual profound things to share.
But seriously...it did.
January 27, 2014
"We're different people, and that's okay. Different doesn't have to mean worse. But it also doesn't have to mean better. Different only means different."
That is, I think, the crux of this story. The characters all find different ways to feel superior to each other--whether it's through brains, brawn, or beauty--when they're all aching to be "normal" and accepted. But, as dyslexic Sam discovers, there's really no such thing as normal--and that's a blessing.
You won't find lyrical writing or lush imagery, but that's not Kate Scott's style. You will find snappy dialogue and three-dimensional characters that are interesting and familiar. Not because you've read about them in a dozen books, but because you could've gone to high school with any of them. I love how the author showed that everyone can be nice and mean. Nerds can be jerks and popular kids can be sweet and sincere, and vice versa. Sam's struggle is about dyslexia, but anyone who's felt "weird" and "abnormal" will recognize themselves in her story--and that's everyone because we all have something that we feel sets us apart, and not in the good way. This is a story with heart and soul, and I found myself thinking about the characters and missing them only a half hour after closing the back cover.
That is, I think, the crux of this story. The characters all find different ways to feel superior to each other--whether it's through brains, brawn, or beauty--when they're all aching to be "normal" and accepted. But, as dyslexic Sam discovers, there's really no such thing as normal--and that's a blessing.
You won't find lyrical writing or lush imagery, but that's not Kate Scott's style. You will find snappy dialogue and three-dimensional characters that are interesting and familiar. Not because you've read about them in a dozen books, but because you could've gone to high school with any of them. I love how the author showed that everyone can be nice and mean. Nerds can be jerks and popular kids can be sweet and sincere, and vice versa. Sam's struggle is about dyslexia, but anyone who's felt "weird" and "abnormal" will recognize themselves in her story--and that's everyone because we all have something that we feel sets us apart, and not in the good way. This is a story with heart and soul, and I found myself thinking about the characters and missing them only a half hour after closing the back cover.
February 27, 2014
I received a free copy of this book from Elliott Books through Edelweiss.
Three and a half stars.
I actually really enjoyed this story about a teenage girl who is brilliant with numbers but never learned to read. Sam has gotten by in school with the help of her two best friends and her audiographic memory--she remembers everything she hears. When her mom gets a new job she is uprooted from her life in San Diego and her two best friends who have helped her get through the parts of school where reading is required. Now living in Portland, Sam has to learn new ways to hide her disability. When she starts making friends, however, that gets tough.
Sam is an incredibly likable character. Her personality shines off the page. She's a nice girl who has a deep love for her two best friends in San Diego and learns to love the people around her in Portland, despite the very overdone stereotyping of the various high school archetypes she gets to know (the brain, the jock, the bitch, etc). There is no love triangle (yay!) and we actually see growth and change for Sam as she accepts her disability and begins to overcome it. Is this the most exciting book I've read so far this year? No way. But it was a very satisfying read. I would definitely recommend it.
Three and a half stars.
I actually really enjoyed this story about a teenage girl who is brilliant with numbers but never learned to read. Sam has gotten by in school with the help of her two best friends and her audiographic memory--she remembers everything she hears. When her mom gets a new job she is uprooted from her life in San Diego and her two best friends who have helped her get through the parts of school where reading is required. Now living in Portland, Sam has to learn new ways to hide her disability. When she starts making friends, however, that gets tough.
Sam is an incredibly likable character. Her personality shines off the page. She's a nice girl who has a deep love for her two best friends in San Diego and learns to love the people around her in Portland, despite the very overdone stereotyping of the various high school archetypes she gets to know (the brain, the jock, the bitch, etc). There is no love triangle (yay!) and we actually see growth and change for Sam as she accepts her disability and begins to overcome it. Is this the most exciting book I've read so far this year? No way. But it was a very satisfying read. I would definitely recommend it.
February 16, 2014
Samantha Wilson is dyslexic. She cannot read (at least not at the same level as her peers in high school). She is, however, quite adept at hiding her condition. Her audiographic memory, the availability of audio textbooks, a penchant for math, and two best friends (who share her secret and support her) have enabled her successful assimilation into high school “normalcy” (though she wishes for more).
Kate Scott’s Counting to D starts at the moment Samantha’s normal life is upturned. Her mother has gotten a job in Portland and they must move. Sam is upset but understands. Plus, as her friend, Gabby, tells her, San Diego “has a ton of drama that you get to escape. In Oregon, you can forget about the last fifteen years of crap you’ve gone through. You can stop hiding inside that crazy head of yours. You can stop pretending to be a normal girl and actually, you know, be one.”
I enjoyed reading the book but wish there was a little more teen drama. Sam's friends and family seemed a little too perfect. I wrote a more detailed review for my blog: http://cranialgunk.com/blog/2014/01/2...
Kate Scott’s Counting to D starts at the moment Samantha’s normal life is upturned. Her mother has gotten a job in Portland and they must move. Sam is upset but understands. Plus, as her friend, Gabby, tells her, San Diego “has a ton of drama that you get to escape. In Oregon, you can forget about the last fifteen years of crap you’ve gone through. You can stop hiding inside that crazy head of yours. You can stop pretending to be a normal girl and actually, you know, be one.”
I enjoyed reading the book but wish there was a little more teen drama. Sam's friends and family seemed a little too perfect. I wrote a more detailed review for my blog: http://cranialgunk.com/blog/2014/01/2...
April 7, 2014
I would give this book more than five stars if I could. This is a unique story. A concept I think hasn't been done before. (I have not read a profound amount of books, yet).
I'm glad she has a close friend that pushes her and another that reads to her. And I love her number tactic. I love all three girls and their little quirks. I love that she quickly found a group in her new school. I can't wait to see how this nerd group goes. I already thought Nate was cute. He got cuter when he accepted her dyslexia. And has a love for books and poetry. I can relate to him, me being the quiet one.
You may hide from the truth, but once you reveal it you realize who your real friends are and not many of them will leave you. I love her bravery.
Some scenes in this book made me cry. I like she read to Yesenia. And I love the great Gatsby references. I love the surprise of finding a friend in a girl you didn't expect to be with.
Every few pages/chapters I read I had to stop to comprehend it all. I love this book! This book spoke to me as it helped me relate and take advice. I'm sure it'll leave me with a hangover.
I'm glad she has a close friend that pushes her and another that reads to her. And I love her number tactic. I love all three girls and their little quirks. I love that she quickly found a group in her new school. I can't wait to see how this nerd group goes. I already thought Nate was cute. He got cuter when he accepted her dyslexia. And has a love for books and poetry. I can relate to him, me being the quiet one.
You may hide from the truth, but once you reveal it you realize who your real friends are and not many of them will leave you. I love her bravery.
Some scenes in this book made me cry. I like she read to Yesenia. And I love the great Gatsby references. I love the surprise of finding a friend in a girl you didn't expect to be with.
Every few pages/chapters I read I had to stop to comprehend it all. I love this book! This book spoke to me as it helped me relate and take advice. I'm sure it'll leave me with a hangover.
March 14, 2014
I'll admit, when I see that a book is about a person with a disability, disease or handicap, I usually think 'Uh, oh...this will be preachy', but COUNTING TO D surprised me. Although Sam must face a new school and new friends while dealing with dyslexia, it was very entertaining and felt just like a 'normal' teenage, high school romance novel.
The dialogue and scenes were very realistic, pulling me into the story right away. I really felt for Sam and had no problem rooting for her the whole way--as well as wanting to punch some of those jerky kids she ran into in the nose. The dialogue was done well and there was enough tension to keep me reading all the way to the end. As soon as I was done, I handed this to my 14 yr. old daughter, who devoured it too.
Complaints? The only one I might have is that toward the end, the dyslexia problem began to feel a little heavy, but this by no means hurt the story! The length was perfect, not too short and not too long. I also enjoyed the fact that the type was a little bigger than usual.
Summed up, I can definitely recommend this to teenage girls who enjoy high school drama with a bit of romance.
The dialogue and scenes were very realistic, pulling me into the story right away. I really felt for Sam and had no problem rooting for her the whole way--as well as wanting to punch some of those jerky kids she ran into in the nose. The dialogue was done well and there was enough tension to keep me reading all the way to the end. As soon as I was done, I handed this to my 14 yr. old daughter, who devoured it too.
Complaints? The only one I might have is that toward the end, the dyslexia problem began to feel a little heavy, but this by no means hurt the story! The length was perfect, not too short and not too long. I also enjoyed the fact that the type was a little bigger than usual.
Summed up, I can definitely recommend this to teenage girls who enjoy high school drama with a bit of romance.
March 11, 2017
I think that this book was written around the dyslexia and the story wasn't allowed to develop naturally.
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