Fish in a Tree

by

Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Fish in a Tree makes teaching easy.
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Chapter 2 Quotes

I stand tall, but everything inside shrinks. The thing is, I feel real bad. I mean, I felt terrible when the neighbor's dog died, never mind if a baby had died. I just didn't know it was a sad card like that. All I could see were beautiful yellow flowers. And all I could imagine was how happy I was going to make her.

Related Characters: Ally (speaker), Mrs. Silver, Mrs. Hall
Page Number: 10
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5 Quotes

I'm so tired of this conversation. We've had it a hundred times, even though my third-grade teacher told her that I might just be slow, that my mom shouldn't expect too much of me. My mom's eyes got all wide and shiny when she heard that, and I felt sad and embarrassed for her having to be my mom.

Related Characters: Ally (speaker), Mom, The Third Grade Teacher
Page Number: 28
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6 Quotes

“Well,” the guy says, “if you know anything about coins, you know that a coin with a flaw in it is far more valuable than a regular coin.”

Something isn't right with it and it's worth more?

Related Characters: The Salesman (speaker), Ally, Travis, Dad, Grandpa
Related Symbols: Coins
Page Number: 32
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 9 Quotes

As I walk back to my seat, I think of how when Dad left, he said that when we look at the steel pennies, we need to remember that we are unique, too. And also, that things will go back to normal for us—that he'll be home before we know it.

Related Characters: Ally (speaker), Travis, Dad
Related Symbols: Coins
Page Number: 52
Explanation and Analysis:

Mr. Daniels gives Oliver a thumbs-up, and I think how cool it is that they have the ear-pulling signal. That way he doesn't always have to tell Oliver that he's doing something wrong in front of everyone. I know what that feels like and I'm happy that Mr. Daniels cares so much. Most teachers seem to like their students to be all the same—perfect and quiet. Mr. Daniels actually seems to like that we're different.

Related Characters: Ally (speaker), Mr. Daniels, Oliver
Page Number: 52
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 10 Quotes

But now, on top of all those other big wishes that I carry around, I have one more. I want to impress Mr. Daniels. With every tiny little piece of myself, I just want him to like me.

Related Characters: Ally (speaker), Mr. Daniels
Page Number: 57
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 11 Quotes

Besides that, Shay, Jessica, and some other girls all have these woven friendship bracelets. And I have never had the kind of friends who have matching bracelets, but I have always wanted them. It's like the bracelet tells the world that the person wearing it has someone who cares about them.

Related Characters: Ally (speaker), Shay, Jessica
Related Symbols: Friendship Bracelets
Page Number: 60
Explanation and Analysis:

I'm not perfect, but at least I'm not mean.

And then my heart sinks, because I realize that I just was.

I guess I did it because I was lonely. Now I know that there are worse things than being lonely.

Related Characters: Ally (speaker), Albert, Shay, Jessica
Page Number: 63
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 15 Quotes

The next morning, I am trying to decide if I should turn in my paper, knowing Mr. Daniels will probably think I spit it out in two minutes. The truth is that it cost me my whole night and a headache that was so bad, it reminded me of the Queen in Alice in Wonderland always yelling, “Off with her head!” Just because I thought that would be a relief.

Related Characters: Ally (speaker), Mr. Daniels
Page Number: 84
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 17 Quotes

People act like the words “slow reader” tell them everything that's inside. Like I'm a can of soup and they can just read the list of ingredients and know everything about me. There's a lot of stuff about the soup inside that they can't put on the label, like how it smells and tastes and makes you feel warm when you eat it. There's got to be more to me than a kid who can't read well.

Related Characters: Ally (speaker)
Page Number: 95
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 23 Quotes

Even when I do something right, I feel like I've done something wrong. If I were a coin, I'd be a wooden nickel.

Related Characters: Ally (speaker), Mr. Daniels, Shay
Related Symbols: Coins
Page Number: 125
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 24 Quotes

“Do you know what it means to think out of the box?” he asks.

I shake my head.

“It means that you are a creative thinker. You think differently than other people.”

Great. Just once, I want to be told I'm like everyone else.

“It's a good thing to be an out-of-the-box thinker. People like that are world-changers.”

Related Characters: Ally (speaker), Mr. Daniels (speaker)
Page Number: 129
Explanation and Analysis:

“I laugh. “Uh, no, thanks. I'd rather wear handcuffs.”

I can't believe Shay charges her friends for something that's supposed to stand for loyalty and friendship. And I can't believe they paid.

Related Characters: Ally (speaker), Shay, Jessica
Related Symbols: Friendship Bracelets
Page Number: 132
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 26 Quotes

It comes from a place so deep inside, it's like it's coming out of the ground. “I just... I just want to fit in for once. I mean, I really do. Just to be the same as everyone else.”

Related Characters: Ally (speaker), Keisha
Page Number: 139
Explanation and Analysis:

“You are smart, Ally. And you are going to learn to read.”

A chill runs through my whole body. I don't have any choice but to believe him, because I can't go another day thinking things will be like this forever.

Related Characters: Mr. Daniels (speaker), Ally
Page Number: 158
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 33 Quotes

I walk over to the garbage and drop it in. Watch it twist and spin as it falls. I look up and lock eyes with him and wish I had the words to tell him how grateful I am for his helping me. In this world of words, sometimes they just can't say everything.

Related Characters: Ally (speaker), Mr. Daniels
Page Number: 176
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 34 Quotes

“People ask what you want to be when you grow up. I know what kind of grown-up I want to be. But I don't know who I am now.” Albert stretches his legs out. “There are always people ready to tell you who you are, like a nerd or a jerk or a wimp.”

Related Characters: Albert (speaker), Ally, Keisha
Page Number: 183-84
Explanation and Analysis:

And I think of words. The power they have. How they can be waved around like a wand—sometimes for good, like how Mr. Daniels uses them. How he makes kids like me and Oliver feel better about ourselves. And how words can also be used for bad. To hurt.

Related Characters: Ally (speaker), Mr. Daniels, Keisha, Albert, Oliver
Page Number: 184
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 37 Quotes

I guess maybe “I'm having trouble” is not the same as “I can't.”

Related Characters: Ally (speaker), Mr. Daniels
Page Number: 197
Explanation and Analysis:

Shay sounds like someone completely different. The Shay I know, always so quick to pick a fight, now has a voice that sounds like a kindergartener.

“Sorry, Mama.” She brushes a tear from her cheek.

Related Characters: Ally (speaker), Shay (speaker), Shay's Mom
Page Number: 209-10
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 42 Quotes

Normally, I'd be giving him all kinds of reasons I can't do this. But the thing is, Mr. Daniels could hand me a book as heavy as a boulder and I'd try to read it.

Just because he asked me to.

Related Characters: Ally (speaker), Mr. Daniels
Page Number: 218
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 45 Quotes

As I draw, I think about my sketchbook and how I love it but don't draw in it as much anymore. It used to be the only thing that made me happy. Now I have other things, too.

Related Characters: Ally (speaker)
Related Symbols: Sketchbook of Impossible Things
Page Number: 228
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 48 Quotes

And looking around the room, I remember thinking that my reading differences were like dragging a concrete block around every day, and how I felt sorry for myself. Now I realize that everyone has their own blocks to drag around. And they all feel heavy.

Related Characters: Ally (speaker), Mr. Daniels, Shay, Oliver
Page Number: 245
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 50 Quotes

I feel like I'm going to cry. Thinking how Albert has come to school every day with those bruises for all this time. We always asked him what it would take for him to fight back. Turns out it was protecting us.

Related Characters: Ally (speaker), Keisha, Albert, The Bullies
Page Number: 256
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 51 Quotes

I want you to know how sorry I am about the bumpy road we had for a while. I'm proud of all the strides you're making. All the hard work you're doing. We should have picked up on your learning differences before, but you were so bright... and, well, I hope you'll give me another chance to help.

Related Characters: Mrs. Silver (speaker), Ally
Page Number: 262
Explanation and Analysis:
No matches.