Fish in a Tree

The title of Fish in a Tree comes from a famous Albert Einstein quote that Mr. Daniels paraphrases: “‘Everyone is smart in different ways. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life thinking that it’s stupid’” (159). Why do you think Lynda Mullaly Hunt selected this quote as the inspiration for the book’s title? What does this quote mean when applied to Ally and her experiences?  

Before she meets Mr. Daniels, many environmental forces prevent Ally from feeling capable and confident in her abilities. What are some of these environmental forces, and how does Mr. Daniels’ teaching change them? 

Near the end of the book, Ally looks around her class and reflects on how her perspective has changed. She remembers feeling as though her “reading differences were like dragging a concrete block around every day (245).” She then observes how other students in the classroom have overcome their own difficulties and realizes “everyone has their own blocks to drag around” (245). How would you characterize the struggles Ally’s fellow students go through? How does the book illustrate their growth through these struggles?