Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt Summary

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt is a middle-grade novel about Ally Nickerson, a sixth-grader struggling with undiagnosed dyslexia. After moving through seven schools in seven years due to her military father's deployment, Ally hides her reading difficulties by misbehaving in class. When her substitute teacher Mr. Daniels recognizes her learning difference and provides the right support, Ally begins to embrace her strengths, form meaningful friendships with classmates Albert and Keisha, and discover her true potential.

Fish in a Tree is recommended for children ages 9-12, particularly students facing learning challenges, neurodivergent readers, and those experiencing bullying. Parents, educators, and counselors will find it valuable for teaching empathy and understanding about learning differences like dyslexia. The book resonates deeply with dyslexic students who feel "seen" for the first time, while helping their peers understand different learning styles. Anyone interested in stories about resilience, self-acceptance, and the power of supportive teachers should read Fish in a Tree.

Fish in a Tree is widely praised as an inspiring and heartfelt story that celebrates learning differences and the importance of inclusive education. Readers appreciate Lynda Mullaly Hunt's authentic portrayal of dyslexia through Ally's first-person perspective, which allows readers to understand her internal struggles. The book has helped countless students feel validated and has fostered empathy in classrooms. While some critics note the resolution feels somewhat idealized, the positive message and relatable characters make Fish in a Tree a worthwhile read for building understanding and confidence.

Lynda Mullaly Hunt is the author of Fish in a Tree, published in 2015. Hunt writes middle-grade fiction that focuses on characters with learning differences and challenges. Her compassionate storytelling and authentic representation of dyslexia have made Fish in a Tree a popular choice in schools nationwide. The novel demonstrates Hunt's commitment to helping children understand that intelligence comes in many forms and that everyone learns differently.

The title Fish in a Tree references the central quote: "Everybody is smart in different ways. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing it is stupid." This powerful metaphor illustrates how traditional education systems often fail students with learning differences by measuring everyone with the same standards. Ally, like a fish being asked to climb, feels inadequate when judged solely on reading ability, but the title reminds readers that her intelligence simply manifests differently.

The main characters in Fish in a Tree include:

• Ally Nickerson, the protagonist with dyslexia
• Mr. Daniels, her understanding substitute teacher studying special education
• Albert, a brilliant but bullied classmate who becomes Ally's loyal friend
• Keisha, another supportive friend
• Shay, the class bully who torments Ally

Ally's deployed father, hardworking mother, and older brother Travis (who also has undiagnosed dyslexia) provide important family context. These characters represent different responses to challenges and the importance of community support.

Ally Nickerson faces multiple interconnected challenges throughout Fish in a Tree. Her undiagnosed dyslexia makes reading and writing extremely difficult, causing her to see letters backward and words moving on the page. To hide her learning difference, she misbehaves and gets sent to the principal's office repeatedly. She endures bullying from classmate Shay and her followers, who mock Ally for being "weird". Additionally, Ally struggles with family stress—her father's military deployment, her grandfather's recent death, and her mother's long work hours as a waitress.

Mr. Daniels, a substitute teacher studying special education, quickly recognizes Ally's dyslexia beneath her misbehavior. He patiently allows her to complete assignments using different modalities that leverage her other intelligences and strengths. Through gentle one-on-one tutoring, Mr. Daniels teaches Ally reading strategies while rebuilding her shattered self-esteem. His supportive approach helps Ally understand that she isn't stupid—just wired differently. This teacher-student relationship exemplifies how attentive, knowledgeable educators can transform a struggling student's life by providing appropriate accommodations and believing in their potential.

The central message of Fish in a Tree is that intelligence manifests in diverse ways and learning differences don't indicate lack of ability. Lynda Mullaly Hunt emphasizes that we must "investigate and accommodate all modes of learning to enable success" rather than judging everyone by a single standard. The book teaches resilience, self-acceptance, and the importance of embracing differences. It shows how supportive teachers, genuine friendships, and proper diagnosis can unlock potential in students who've been misunderstood. Fish in a Tree advocates for educational systems that recognize and nurture each child's unique strengths.

Fish in a Tree portrays dyslexia through Ally's first-person narrative, allowing readers to experience her internal confusion and frustration. The book shows how dyslexia affects her reading and writing—letters appear backward, words seem to move on the page, and she spells the same word differently multiple times. Lynda Mullaly Hunt emphasizes that dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence but is a visual perception problem. The novel authentically depicts how students mask their learning challenges through avoidance, humor, or misbehavior, and how late diagnosis can occur even when highly intelligent.

Fish in a Tree explores several interconnected themes including:

• Learning differences and neurodiversity, showing how dyslexia affects Ally and her brother Travis
• Resilience and determination emerge as Ally refuses to give up despite constant setbacks
• The novel addresses bullying and friendship, contrasting Shay's cruelty with the supportive bonds between Ally, Albert, and Keisha
• Teacher advocacy appears through Mr. Daniels's transformative role

Additional themes include self-acceptance, family challenges from military deployment, and empathy—understanding that everyone faces invisible struggles.

Critics of Fish in a Tree note the plot's lack of realism, particularly questioning how Ally and her seventeen-year-old brother Travis both reached sixth and twelfth grade respectively without anyone—including their mother—recognizing their dyslexia. Some reviewers find the resolution overly idealized, comparing it to "difficult challenges fixed within a 30-minute TV sitcom". The stereotypical characters (mean rich girls, supportive outcasts) and convenient coincidences diminish authenticity for some readers. However, parents of dyslexic children counter that late diagnosis is unfortunately common without attentive caregivers and adequate school resources.