87 pages • 2 hours read
Lynda Mullaly HuntFish in a Tree
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2015A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Chapters 6-10Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 6 Summary: “Triple-Sided Coin”
Travis and Ally take a special trip to a local pawn shop. Using his mathematical intelligence and knowledge of antique currency, Travis tricks the shop owner into selling two valuable coins for less than they’re worth.
The coins Travis purchases are a 1933 Walking Liberty half dollar and a Mercury dime. He gives the dime to Ally as a present and explains that he chose the 1933 half dollar in honor of the year their grandfather was born. Ally remembers her grandfather and misses him.
Travis says that he was able to trick the pawn shop owner because the man initially thought he was “a fool,” explaining that, “when people have low expectations of you, you can sometimes use it to your advantage” (34). He warns, however, that it’s important never to have low expectations for yourself.
Chapter 7 Summary: “No Grandpas Here”
Ally hopes Mr. Daniels will be a gentle, grandfatherly figure. When she arrives at school on Monday, she discovers that he is actually younger than Mrs. Hall. He is energetic, kind, and engaging with all of his students. Ally worries that her former teacher has told him about her trouble-making history.
Chapter 8 Summary: “Real Trouble”
Mr. Daniels mentions the writing assignment Mrs. Hall gave on her last day to Ally. He shows Ally the paper she wrote covered with the word “Why?” He inquires about what it means, and she responds with a nervous shrug. Mr. Daniels then requests Ally write a paragraph describing herself.
When Ally refuses, Mr. Daniels asks if she doesn’t like writing and what she does like. Ally likes math and drawing. Mr. Daniels tells Ally he has heard about her distracting behaviors from Mrs. Hall and Mrs. Silver, but he plans to work with her whenever she experiences difficulty rather than send her to the principal’s office. Ally is anxious that Mr. Daniels has removed her “Get Out of Jail Free” (42) card.
Chapter 9 Summary: “Bag Full of Nothing”
Mr. Daniels tells his students to bring an item to class that represents themselves. The students then present the items they brought. Shay brings a picture of a horse. Jessica brings a picture of Shay. Oliver—an energetic boy—brings a lightbulb and declares he is “the giver of LIGHT” (44) and that his dad sells lamps. When he gets overly enthusiastic and rambles during his presentation, Mr. Daniels gently pulls on his own ear to remind Oliver that he needs to settle down and listen. Ally thinks it’s cool that Mr. Daniels doesn’t negatively single out Oliver in front of the class for his differences.
Albert—an intelligent young man who wears the same “Flint” T-shirt everyday—brings a glass of water and talks about how the same water has been reused since the beginning of time. The new girl, Keisha, brings a cupcake she baked, which reveals the word “YUM” spelled with dough when she cuts it open.
A Japanese student named Suki brings in small paper bags of spicy snacks, which are special because she enjoys them with her grandfather. She explains that of all the things she misses about Japan, she misses her grandfather the most. Ally feels sad for Suki because she, too, misses her grandfather.
Ally is called upon to present. Though she had planned not to bring anything, she feels a 1943 steel penny in her pocket and decides to share it with the class. She explains that the coin is significant because her father gave it to her before he left on his army deployment. She further explains that during World War II, pennies were made with steel instead of copper to conserve resources.
Mr. Daniels seems to appreciate all of their presentations. He sees all of his students as unique individuals.
Chapter 10 Summary: “Promises, Promises…”
Mr. Daniels gives each of his students a writing journal. He says that while he will occasionally assign writing topics, he will usually allow them to write about anything they want. He also explains that he will never grade or correct their work.
Instead of writing, Ally draws a big black cube in her notebook. She wants to see if Mr. Daniels will judge her negatively for responding to the assignment this way. The next day, Mr. Daniels asks her what the black cube means, and she says she drew “a dark room” because “in a dark room, no one could see me” (56).
Ally confesses to Mr. Daniels she wishes she were invisible, and he tells her he is glad she isn’t invisible because class “wouldn’t be the same without you” (57).
Chapters 6-10 Analysis
Travis uses his intelligence—including his superior math skills—to outsmart the pawnshop owner, developing Fish in a Tree’s theme of difference as ability. Part of the reason he is able to outsmart the shop owner is because the owner underestimates Travis’s abilities, suggesting that learning challenges can be used to one’s advantage. Travis cautions, however, that the key to “using” one’s learning difficulties is to never underestimate oneself.
Travis has adapted his skills and abilities to thrive within a particular realm. He does not expect to succeed by some peoples’ standards (i.e., the standards set by his high school), so he has learned to cleverly navigate around those standards.
Meanwhile, Ally seems to be figuring out who she is and what her abilities are, as her previous classroom environments never made room for this self-exploration. Ally’s new teacher, Mr. Daniels, emphasizes the unique qualities of all of his students with activities such as the show-and-tell and the writing prompt to “describe yourself.” Through his encouraging comments—such as his reflection that the classroom “wouldn’t be the same without [Ally]” (57), Mr. Daniels makes it is clear that he finds value in all of his students’ special qualities, that he is dedicated to helping his students appreciate their individual abilities.
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