Counting by 7s – Kristie Weibling

Counting by 7s encourages its readers to talk about the value of having support systems.  Early in the book, Willow loses her parents, the two people in her life she relies on.  She strikes me as very self-sufficient and reclusive, but suddenly being on her own sets her on a journey of putting herself out there, reaching out to others and creating new bonds.  The people she lets into her life throughout the book aren’t always great at providing comfort, but like Willow says, “just being there is ninety-nine percent of what matters when your world falls apart” (175).

 

Counting by 7s is closer to reality than fantasy, but can be far-fetched at times.  Sometimes in the book, characters make choices that pull me out of the story, like when Dell’s apartment is taken over and when money comes out of nowhere.  I occasionally felt that the story was meant to be an even quirkier, more-humorous story, for which I could more-easily suspend my disbelief.

On the other hand, Counting by 7s does not shy away from serious issues many people face in life.  Willow experiences an accusation of cheating, being labeled, grief, poverty, and finding a new family.  Her counselor, Duke, is an extreme hoarder and is unhappily employed in a profession he knows he is unqualified for.  These characters seemed comfortable being creatures of habit, and I enjoyed reading how they handled themselves when their lives went topsy-turvy.