Fish in a Tree

Fish in a Tree

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

Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Author

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

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:

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

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Unit, students will:

• Gain an understanding of the meaning of intelligence, learning, and learning disabilities, in keeping with the protagonist’s experience of dyslexia, which is central to the book.
• Analyze paired texts and other resources to make connections to the themes of Advantages of Difference, Persevering Through Struggles, and Power of Words.
• Create, share, and reflect on personal responses to the text using different forms of media; understand the value of multiple perspectives; and identify and apply different ways of learning and expression.
• Analyze and evaluate plot details, themes, and symbols and motifs to draw conclusions in structured essay responses regarding the meaning of the book’s title, the power of labels, and other topics.