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A review by paperbackd
Counting to D by Kate Scott
4.0
Fifteen-year-old Samantha Wilson is a paradox by any normal American teenager’s standards: she’s the brainiest kid in her school… and she’s also illiterate. That’s what it means to be dyslexic and a maths genius. But Sam’s had enough of not fitting in. When she and her mother move to a new city, Sam decides to hide her illiteracy from her classmates.
Counting to D is a refreshingly original novel for young teens which offers an invaluable life message: to look beyond the labels we brand ourselves with. Scott encourages her reader not just to re-imagine disability, but also to look past even the most mundane high school stereotypes: the mean popular girl, the dumb jock, the brainiac nerd. Scott’s main cast of characters weren’t all likeable but they were all complex regardless of their social standing, or personal skills and setbacks.
Counting to D isn’t subtle in delivering its message, and the exposition occasionally feels forced. As a European reader, some parts of the story also went over my head - I don’t know much about the American schooling system, and Sam is understandably focused on her grades and her classes - but the story itself is a quick, compelling read and the subject matter makes it perfect for reluctant readers.
The real strength of the novel is its protagonist, Samantha Wilson. As a dyslexic author, Scott clearly understands how important disability representation is, and how to write Sam and her disability with care and respect. Sam is a dyslexic maths genius, but she never becomes the inspirational poster child of so many other stories which feature disabled characters. The story focuses entirely on her - her struggles, her strengths, and her journey towards self-acceptance. The narrative touches upon dyslexia, autism, and attention deficit disorder, all of which are explained for readers unfamiliar with them, and never once does Scott fall back on harmful stereotypes or tropes. I would definitely recommend Counting to D for American young readers.
Many thanks to MindBuck Media for providing a copy of Counting to D in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher: EB Elliott Books
Rating: 4 stars | ★★★★✰
Review cross-posted to Paperback'd
Counting to D is a refreshingly original novel for young teens which offers an invaluable life message: to look beyond the labels we brand ourselves with. Scott encourages her reader not just to re-imagine disability, but also to look past even the most mundane high school stereotypes: the mean popular girl, the dumb jock, the brainiac nerd. Scott’s main cast of characters weren’t all likeable but they were all complex regardless of their social standing, or personal skills and setbacks.
Counting to D isn’t subtle in delivering its message, and the exposition occasionally feels forced. As a European reader, some parts of the story also went over my head - I don’t know much about the American schooling system, and Sam is understandably focused on her grades and her classes - but the story itself is a quick, compelling read and the subject matter makes it perfect for reluctant readers.
The real strength of the novel is its protagonist, Samantha Wilson. As a dyslexic author, Scott clearly understands how important disability representation is, and how to write Sam and her disability with care and respect. Sam is a dyslexic maths genius, but she never becomes the inspirational poster child of so many other stories which feature disabled characters. The story focuses entirely on her - her struggles, her strengths, and her journey towards self-acceptance. The narrative touches upon dyslexia, autism, and attention deficit disorder, all of which are explained for readers unfamiliar with them, and never once does Scott fall back on harmful stereotypes or tropes. I would definitely recommend Counting to D for American young readers.
Many thanks to MindBuck Media for providing a copy of Counting to D in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher: EB Elliott Books
Rating: 4 stars | ★★★★✰
Review cross-posted to Paperback'd