Counting to D by Kate Scott
Paperback, 227 pages
First published January 28th 2014 by Elliott Books
Source: Review copy from publisher
Thank You Eliott
Add to Goodreads
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
A contemporary young adult novel about a bright dyslexic teen struggling to find her place in a literate world. Counting to D is sure to resonate with anyone who has struggled with learning disabilities, young love, or just being a teen!
The kids at Sam’s school never knew if they should make fun of her for being too smart or too dumb. That’s what it means to be dyslexic, smart, and illiterate. Sam is sick of it. So when her mom gets a job in a faraway city, Sam decides not to tell anyone about her little illiteracy problem. Without her paradox of a reputation, she falls in with a new group of highly competitive friends who call themselves the Brain Trust. When she meets Nate, her charming valedictorian lab partner, she declares her new reality perfect. But in order to keep it that way, she has to keep her learning disability a secret. The books are stacked against her and so are the lies. Sam’s got to get the grades, get the guy, and get it straight—without being able to read.
Counting to D is the uplifting tale of dyslexic teen Samantha Wilson. The story follows Sam as she moves interstate, meaning a new school and leaving behind the most important things to her in the whole world, her friends, Arden and Gabby. She makes new friends easily enough, but then battles her self-doubts as to how much of her true self she is willing to show them.
The author Kate Scott was diagnosed with Dyslexia as a young child and it shows in the depth of Sam’s character. She feels real. Her struggles feel real and her coping mechanisms are explained in detail. Sam is easily likeable and you can’t help but root for her.
While the story is rather light and fluffy it touches on a lot of extremely important topics beautifully; friendship, peer pressure, social norms, social acceptance, learning disabilities, self-worth, first times and first loves (just to name a few). It is a heart-warming, fun and fast read. I got to the end of the story and wished there was more. I would have happily kept on reading about Sam’s life.
Counting to D was Kate’s debut Novel, she has since gone on to write a second The Evolution of Emily, which set in the same high school and yes Sam is in it as a supporting character. I’m really looking forward to reading it as well.
Kate Scott: Goodreads | Twitter
Buy Links: Amazon AU | Amazon US | Bookdepository | Booktopia
RIOT’S REDEMPTION 
Great review. I haven’t heard about this one before but it certainly sounds interesting. I love reading about characters who aren’t the norm, especially if they ring true. THanks for sharing.
Thanks 🙂 I was pretty chuffed when I came came across it by chance. Being that it was first published in 2014 and I’d never heard of of it, I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was.
I love the sound of this one Sarah. I can’t actually recall coming across any characters in YA who’re dyslexic, certainly not a main character. I can imagine how realistic Sam would be seeing what the author herself has overcome. Brilliant review Sarah, so.glad you enjoyed it ❤
No me either! That’s what drew me in. As a small child and even into the first year of high school, I was tutored on my Literacy (or lack thereof). Not that I had it anywhere as tough as the character, but I felt her pain.