Counting by 7s

Central to Counting by 7s is the theme of belonging and how the story’s characters find belonging when confronted with changing group dynamics. Willow, convinced that the only place she truly belongs is with her adopted parents, must seek acceptance elsewhere when they die. Taken in by the Nguyens, Willow gradually finds her place among them, bringing Jairo and Dell along into the “flock” as well.

Though they all begin as outsiders, over the course of the novel the characters begin to rely on, and genuinely care for, one another. They all help Willow construct her new garden, symbolizing the construction of her new family. When the time comes for Willow’s court hearing, Mai convinces her school that she and Quang-ha have to leave for a “family emergency;” and by this point, for the Nguyens, this is not a lie.

The meaning of “family,” just like any other labels the characters use to categorize each other, is much more complicated and nuanced than they once thought. After her parents’ deaths, Willow is certain that nothing else “binds [her] to this world” (143). However, through acts of care, loyalty, and sacrifice, Willow finds herself bound to the Nguyens, Dell, and Jairo—connections which they all learn can be just as strong as those of a “normal” family.