Fish is a Tree is officially my favorite 2015 release so far this year! This book-- the second by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, author of another of my favorite books, One for the Murphys--is a great story about a sixth grade girl, Ally, who struggles in school and is a very unhappy student. It doesn't take the reader long to figure out that Ally is actually a very insightful and talented girl, but that she obviously has some kind problem that makes learning difficult for her. Fortunately for Ally, her new teacher, Mr. Daniels is aware of the same thing. 
 Hunt does a great job of portraying the feelings, frustrations, and confusion of a child with an unidentified/ undiagnosed learning disability. The myriad students who make up Ally's class are examples of students found in most middle school situations: the popular students, the "mean girls", the well-rounded kids, and the smart-but-not-too-popular students. As Ally begins to gain confidence, she also starts to find people who she can count as true friends, and she even sees ways she can help others. While readers will find themselves sad and angry on Ally's behalf at times, they will also rejoice when she is successful and smile and laugh at the warm-heartedness of her relationships with her brother and her friends. Fish is a Tree is a good story with a great message that engages readers and keeps them reading until the end.