Review: Couting to D by Kate Scott

Counting to D is Kate Scott’s debut novel. I admit to being a tad leery when asked to review a first indie novel, but the premise intrigued me. From the blurb:

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.

Sam is an endearing character, and I rooted for her throughout the book. Her thought processes, frustrations, and fears came across as realistic. The details about dyslexia were fascinating and informative without losing my interest. Although Counting to D isn’t autobiographical, the author is severely dyslexic and used her own personal experiences when penning the story.

Kate Scott created a terrific cast of characters all with their own unique quirks and personalities. Sam straddles the line between an elite nerd squad and the popular kids, proving that one shouldn’t judge others using labels. Some members of the Brain Trust ended up being crueler and far more intimidating than the popular crowd, proving that ignorance and competitiveness can exist anywhere.

I’ve always been under the misconception that dyslexia consists of transposing a few letters and numbers or seeing words or symbols backward. This book (and an informative guest post from the author) helped educate me on the severity of dyslexia. I always enjoy reading a compelling story that also expands my knowledge and understanding.

Counting to D was well-written, well-edited, and left out the “boring parts” using smooth scene transitions—a bittersweet, heartwarming story of earning trust, blossoming friendships, first love, and overcoming adversity. The writing drew me in, and the story played out in my mind like a movie. It’s always wonderful to get so sucked in that I forget I’m reading. I look forward to reading future offerings from Ms. Scott.

4.25 Stars