As if it isn't bad enough living with his alcoholic father and never having met his mother, Collin suffers from a condition that makes his brain count the number of letters in anything spoken to him. If he could keep those numbers to himself, it might be ok, but he must announce the numbers before he can continue with his part of any conversation.
Talk about bullies. Collin has experienced more than his fair share. If he retaliates when taunted, he's the one who always seems to get in trouble. He's switched schools more than he can remember, and he's tired of being called a Freak. When the latest incident lands him in the principal's office, it is suggested that he try homeschooling. Well, that's not going to work with a father passed out drunk on the couch when he's not working at a job he'll soon lose.
The solution is sending Collin to live with the mother he's never met. That means moving from sunny California to an Indian Reservation in Minnesota. Collin will supposedly love it there and be able to get in touch with his Ojibwe heritage.
Collin quickly learns that his mom is pretty cool and his grandma, too. He gains a bit of courage when he learns he had an older brother who was highly respected and died serving his country. He meets Orenda, the beautiful girl next door who spends most of her time in an awesome treehouse. Maybe these Ojibwe people know what life is really about. Unfortunately, things still don't go well at school. It's the same old thing with everyone making fun of his numbers, especially a kid named Josh. Hopefully, with the help of Orenda, Collin can learn what it means to be brave so he can conquer his fears and control his number obsession.
Author James Bird combines love and magic as his main character faces adversity and adventure. Readers will immediately form a bond with Collin and cheer for him and cry for him as he struggles to find his way. Perfect for middle grades and up.
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