“Counting By 7s” Review: Evocative, Bittersweet, Beautiful
Dana Arcuri postulated that grief is like the ocean. The waves ebb and the waves flow. On the day that her parents died, Willow Chance is thrust into the ocean and forced to swim. In a whisper comes the understanding that the two people she loves most in the world are gone forever. In a whisper, her world shatters into a million irreparable pieces. Written by Holly Slaon, Counting by 7s is a navigation into the world of grief, loss and heartbreak. From this heartbreak is a remarkable story of transformation and growth– a celebration of life that is as heart moving as it is beautiful.
Why does Willow count by sevens? Suffice it to say this isn’t just idiosyncratic behaviour. (although Willow does have many, many idiosyncrasies.) The number seven serves as a recurring motif and a symbol of pivotal moments in Willow’s life. For seven years her adoptive mom tried to get pregnant. On the 7th day of the 7th month, her new parents drove to a hospital 257 miles from their house, where they named her after a cold-climate tree. On adoption day, they drove down Interstate Five South until exit 17B. Seven is thus a representation of the pathway leading to her adoption and the formation of a profound emotional bond with her adoptive parents. On news of her parents death however, her grief severs this tie to the number seven. Holly demonstrates this through achingly beautiful prose:
“I want to shut my eyes and make everything stop. I no longer care if my heart pounds in my chest or if my lungs close.”
There are several moments in the book where you want to reach through the pages and hug Willow. This is undoubtedly one of them. As an adopted child, her parents are her everything. Her genius comes with social ineptness, and thus her parents are her closest confidants and connection. Yet, T-boned in the middle of the intersection by a medical truck, Willow loses the people closest to her. She finds herself unable to count by sevens, symbolising the impact of her loss on her sense of order and stability.
However, this story isn’t just a story about grief, it’s about what comes after. Throughout the book, Willow’s life becomes populated with a cast of characters strange and diverse. First is Jairo Hernandez, a Mexicano Taxi driver for seven years. In one single taxi ride with her, she changes the entire trajectory of his life, prompting him to go to college and changing his entire life. Second is Quang-Ha, a troubled Vietnamese boy who is her best friend Mia’s brother. Their relationship starts off rocky at first, but Quang-Ha learns to accept Willow into his life. Soon, he begins to improve his grades, working on himself as a student and taking the initiative to complete assignments and homework. Lastly is Dell Duke. An irresponsible, childish, and unorganised man who is wholeheartedly unsuited for a school counsellor position. In the words of Willow, “Dell Duke is not a bad person. He is just bad at being a person.” Yet, as the book progresses, Duke (originally Dofinakas) grows as a character and a person. From his room cleaned to becoming his building representative, Duke begins to enjoy being someone to depend on. He starts running to lose weight, he takes on more responsibility, and begins to care deeply for Willow, Mai, Quang-Ho and Pattie.
For this is the influence Willow has on these characters– Counting by 7s is a story of inspiration. The network of characters, all intricately linked together by 12 year old Willow Chance, are expanded upon and shown to grow as characters as the story progresses and their bonds to Willow deepens. With the culmination of the story ending with Pattie and Jairo adopting Willow, Holly Goldberg demonstrates resilience in the face of profound emotional heartbreak. Willow’s story is one of renewal, and her journey of rebuilding the ties that unite her with a new family speak to the heart of the reader in a touching, heartfelt way. Willow counts 7 people who matter in her world. The people who are inside her. The people she relies on. The people who change her life daily.
She counts:
My mom (always)
And my dad (forever)
Mai
Dell
Quang-Ha
Pattie
Jairo
Willow decides that when her head begins to pound and her heart begins to bounce, she will shut her eyes and count to 7, instead of by 7s. For these people are vivid and distinct, for these people hold a permanent place in her heart.
Rating: 4/5
