Counting by 7s

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2013

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-11

Chapters 12-21

Chapters 22-30

Chapters 31-45

Chapters 46-53

Chapters 54-61

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Vocabulary

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Themes

Redefining Family

Central to Counting by 7s is the theme of belonging and how the story’s characters find belonging when confronted with changing group dynamics. Willow, convinced that the only place she truly belongs is with her adopted parents, must seek acceptance elsewhere when they die. Taken in by the Nguyens, Willow gradually finds her place among them, bringing Jairo and Dell along into the “flock” as well.

Though they all begin as outsiders, over the course of the novel the characters begin to rely on, and genuinely care for, one another. They all help Willow construct her new garden, symbolizing the construction of her new family. When the time comes for Willow’s court hearing, Mai convinces her school that she and Quang-ha have to leave for a “family emergency;” and by this point, for the Nguyens, this is not a lie.

The meaning of “family,” just like any other labels the characters use to categorize each other, is much more complicated and nuanced than they once thought. After her parents’ deaths, Willow is certain that nothing else “binds [her] to this world” (143). However, through acts of care, loyalty, and sacrifice, Willow finds herself bound to the Nguyens, Dell, and Jairo—connections which they all learn can be just as strong as those of a “normal” family.

Justified Deception

Willow, Dell, Mai, and Pattie all deceive or lie to someone at some point in the novel. Before their deaths, Willow avoids telling her parents about the cheating accusation and required meetings with Dell. Even though being dishonest with them makes her feel sick, she does it because she knows how much they worry about her, and she wants them to think her new experience in middle school is going well. The day of the car accident, Willow’s mother finds out she has a tumor in her chest but decides to keep this a secret from Willow to protect her. Willow, of course, never has a chance to find out this secret, and her parents never find out that she was attending counseling sessions.

When Mai realizes Willow has nowhere else to go, she lies to the police about how close they are so that Willow can come home with her. Describing the situation to Pattie at the salon, she stresses that “this wasn’t about lying” (119), but about a tragedy. It is when Pattie sees in Willow a “version of her own young self, and so many other children in Vietnam who grew up without parents” (120), that she goes along with Mai’s story.

This initial lie becomes an even more elaborate lie when the Nguyens tell the police they live at Dell’s address because his apartment is a more suitable living space than their small garage. Mai and Pattie’ sympathy and desire to protect Willow outweigh their apprehension and fear of consequences. Despite his fear of authority, Dell is in active participant in the plan. Even though he initially resents how much the Nguyens and Willow change his life, he starts to realize that these changes are an instance where the stress of lying is worth it; it teaches him how to care for another person. The characters all participate in deception for the sake of protecting someone, demonstrating the lengths they will go for someone they love.

The Capability to Change and Grow

Willow’s life is dramatically altered by her parents’ death, and she is at first so overcome with grief that she sees no point in living. As she heals and adjusts to her new life, she is able to find joy in the interests she wanted to leave behind in the past. She symbolically transitions from a scorched tree, unable to see the possibility of new life, to an unfurling sunflower, ready to root herself in a new garden. Just like her plants, a significant transplant tests her, but with the support of her new family, she is able to establish new roots and return to herself.

Several main characters experience profound growth and transformation as a result of Willow entering their lives. Dell and Jairo, both unmotivated and stuck in their comfortable routines, come to reevaluate their life choices after they meet Willow. Dell changes from someone who cares about nothing to “[caring] about everything,” and Jairo concludes that he needs to “start thinking about something that had consequences that were real and important” (146). Quang-ha, for the most part, is a sullen and brooding teenager, but even he softens and opens up as he develops a relationship with Willow, telling Pattie they should not let Willow go.

As they all navigate grief, stress, and significant upheaval, the characters must remain adaptable and resilient. They learn to discard old habits that do not serve them, improving each other’s lives along the way. The process of growth and change is uncomfortable, but they become all the better and stronger for it.