From the Bookshelf of Mock Newbery 2026…
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
showing 1 of 1 topics
view all »
Other topics mentioning this book
What Members Thought

Willow Chance made me laugh out loud and cry uncontrollably on at least seven occasions. I loved seven of the secondary characters and how their lives intersected and changed throughout. Of the seven books I've read this summer about middle school students, this one is at the top of my list, and one I'll be purchasing for my classroom library as soon as it comes out!
Book provided via netgalley ...more
Book provided via netgalley ...more

Incredible characters to root for, an uplifting read of finding family where you least expect.
Totally believable? No, but who cares....it is a lovely story to get lost in.
Totally believable? No, but who cares....it is a lovely story to get lost in.

Love. This. Book.

I really, really didn't like the first few chapters of this. The narrator, Willow Chance, was too obviously and intensely quirky. Also, it bothered me that on page 3 she says, "...and all I know for certain, with the sun on our faces and the sweet ice cream holing our attention, is that this is a day that I will never forget." Because how does Willow know, in that moment with the sun on her face and the ice cream in her hand, that she will always remember that day? It didn't make sense to me bec
...more

Grades 6-8. Willow, a strange middle school genius is obsessed with plants, medical conditions and the number 7. An adopted, only child, she worries more about contracting diseases than she does about "normal" middle school problems. After achieving a perfect score on a state test in less than 20 minutes, she is accused of cheating and sent to see a counselor, Dell, who has just as many problems (if not more) than most of his patients. She keeps her appointments secret from her parents.
While wai ...more
While wai ...more

Willow Chance is a gifted (for real...not just school smart) girl who has been adopted by a couple she adores. When they get into an accident (early on), her world changes radically.
Through a mix of happenstance and an open spirit, Willow finds herself among a new kind of family, one stitched together by surprising reliance on each other.
Told from various perspectives but with Willow solidly at its center, the narrative moves quickly, the dialog is natural, and Willow's shrewd observations keep ...more
Through a mix of happenstance and an open spirit, Willow finds herself among a new kind of family, one stitched together by surprising reliance on each other.
Told from various perspectives but with Willow solidly at its center, the narrative moves quickly, the dialog is natural, and Willow's shrewd observations keep ...more

Not one of my favorites for the year. If I hadn't been listening to it on audio, I might not have finished it.
Hmm...checking out everyone else's stars and reviews. Clearly, I am a minority of one in my opinion. ...more
Hmm...checking out everyone else's stars and reviews. Clearly, I am a minority of one in my opinion. ...more

A beautiful story that will stay with me a long time. Can't wait to recommend it to some of my students.
...more

Holly Goldberg Sloan is fast becoming one of my favorites and Willow Chance is one of the most fantastical characters I've come across in a long time.
...more



Jul 05, 2013
Monica Edinger
added it
