Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Once, a long, long time ago, when I was in fourth grade at a Catholic school I had this teacher.  She was SO incredibly mean.  Not your normal, run of the mill mean either, a cruel mean meant to humiliate and hurt.  I remember her name, her haircut, the glint in her eyes that she got when she could single out someone and embarrass them.  There was this one kid named Jamie and Mrs. J would always have us read aloud for social studies.  It would start at the first desk and run back row upon row until the selection was finished.  But Jamie had a REALLY hard time learning to read.  He was quiet and sweet and funny, but he could not read fluently.  She LOVED when it was his time to read aloud - it gave her an opportunity to point out how lazy he must be, how if he would just work harder, he would be able to read without all of the stopping and starting and sounding outs and fumbles.

As a mom to special needs kids, and kids (who are now teens) who have learning differences, there are so many days I think back to that year, that class, and my heart hurts even more for Jamie.  I wonder if he ever got the help he needed, if anyone along the way ever pulled him aside and told him - hey you are smart - REALLY smart, you just have something called dyslexia.  It is not a learning disability - a reading disability, it is a learning difference.  You will need to be taught in a different way than most. One of my girls is severely, profoundly dyslexic.  She is learning to read, but she has to work SO SO much harder than other kids her age.  This book, Fish in a Tree, is incredible in its ability to accurately shine a light on what the process is like - identifying what is going on, finding a method that works for how their brain works, and moving forward at their pace with LOTS of encouragement to keep going. 

There are very few books that I read and feel like the author understands the turmoil, shame, and absolute burning desire of kids that have learning differences - or actually any difference at all - to be able to do what everyone else can do.  To be able to read or make friends or have one day that is not tsunamied (is that a word?  If not I am making it one for my post 👍) by meltdowns.  To be accepted by their classmates, church family, actual family, or co-workers....for who they are truly are.  NOT who the family thinks they should be, but simply who God created them to be.  Whether that difference comes in the form of appearance, mental illness, disabilities...whatever it is - that the only cry of any human heart is to be deeply known and completely loved.

This book is an INCREDIBLE book.  It should be required reading for every single teacher, doctor, and parent.  Anyone at all who works with kids - this should be read.  And re-read.  And re-read again.