Counting by 7s

Holly Goldberg Sloan’s Counting by 7s follows twelve-year-old Willow Chance, a highly observant girl who processes the world through patterns, facts, and careful routines. When an unexpected family tragedy upends her carefully structured life, Willow is left to navigate grief and isolation on her own. Rather than retreating completely, she begins forming quiet connections with the people around her: a pregnant woman living next door and a man struggling with addiction who becomes an unlikely mentor. Through Willow’s distinctive perspective, the novel explores how human beings find belonging after loss, emphasizing that family is often built rather than inherited. Sloan, a pediatrician with decades of clinical experience, brings an authentic and unromanticized portrayal of neurodivergent thought to the narrative. The story balances moments of quiet humor with emotional depth, offering readers a thoughtful meditation on resilience, community, and the small gestures that sustain us during difficult times.