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backonthealex's review against another edition
4.0
This is the 7th Sophie Washington book, but it is the first one I've read (but won't be the last). Sophie, 11, is a middle school African American girl who lives in Houston, Texas with her parents and younger brother Cole, 8. Dad is a dentist, mom works as his office manager, and both kids attend a private school.
It's three weeks before Christmas and the kids are looking forward to Granny Washington's upcoming visit. But before that happens, a package filled with all of her favorites candies arrives for Sophie and is simply signed Your Secret Santa. But who could that be?
The next day at school, friends Mariama, Chloe, and Valentina think it must be from a boy at their school, but who? After school, another Secret Santa present arrives, this time it's a gingerbread house and Granny Washington arrives just in time to put it together.
Meantime, Cole, who loves to play basketball after school, comes in with a black eye. Two boys from down the street, Rhythm, 8 and his brother Blu, 7, Brown (yes, their dad is a jazz musician, but he's never around) have been picking on Cole and finally decked him. Sophie helps him cover his black and blue eye while promising to figure out what to do about the brothers and still trying to solve the Secret Santa mystery.
When Sophie discovers that Nathan, a school friend, has also been receiving Secret Santa gifts, she can at least rule him out of the suspects list. But when he mentions something he noticed in the last present he received, they wonder if that could be a lead to the real Secret Santa. Will they finally be able to solve the mystery?
Sophie Washington: Secret Santa is a great holiday chapter book for kids in the lower middle school grades. Sophie is a great role model, a girl who has a nice relationship with her brother, looking out for him and helping him when he needs it, but getting annoyed when his sweet tooth is aimed at her sweets. Sophie gets along with her parents and Granny Washington, but isn't spoiled. She also isn't perfect which makes her realistic.
As I said, Sophie Washington: Secret Santa is the seventh book in the Sophie Washington series and that I had not as yet read any others. So, you may be wondering, did it work as a stand alone story? Yes, it did, simply because anything you needed to know from prior stories was explained just enough to keep the reader from being confused and getting lost.
If kids enjoy this story, they might want to circle back to the beginning of the series and catch up on all of Sophie Washington's adventures, beginning with Sophie Washington: Queen of the Bee. I should mention that these chapter books would make a great stocking stuffer, along with the Sophie Washington Super Fun Activity Book, filled with crosswords, word searches, coloring pages, mazes, writing prompts and more.
This book is recommended for readers age 8+
This book was gratefully received from the author and Penny Sansevieri at Author Marketing Experts
It's three weeks before Christmas and the kids are looking forward to Granny Washington's upcoming visit. But before that happens, a package filled with all of her favorites candies arrives for Sophie and is simply signed Your Secret Santa. But who could that be?
The next day at school, friends Mariama, Chloe, and Valentina think it must be from a boy at their school, but who? After school, another Secret Santa present arrives, this time it's a gingerbread house and Granny Washington arrives just in time to put it together.
Meantime, Cole, who loves to play basketball after school, comes in with a black eye. Two boys from down the street, Rhythm, 8 and his brother Blu, 7, Brown (yes, their dad is a jazz musician, but he's never around) have been picking on Cole and finally decked him. Sophie helps him cover his black and blue eye while promising to figure out what to do about the brothers and still trying to solve the Secret Santa mystery.
When Sophie discovers that Nathan, a school friend, has also been receiving Secret Santa gifts, she can at least rule him out of the suspects list. But when he mentions something he noticed in the last present he received, they wonder if that could be a lead to the real Secret Santa. Will they finally be able to solve the mystery?
Sophie Washington: Secret Santa is a great holiday chapter book for kids in the lower middle school grades. Sophie is a great role model, a girl who has a nice relationship with her brother, looking out for him and helping him when he needs it, but getting annoyed when his sweet tooth is aimed at her sweets. Sophie gets along with her parents and Granny Washington, but isn't spoiled. She also isn't perfect which makes her realistic.
As I said, Sophie Washington: Secret Santa is the seventh book in the Sophie Washington series and that I had not as yet read any others. So, you may be wondering, did it work as a stand alone story? Yes, it did, simply because anything you needed to know from prior stories was explained just enough to keep the reader from being confused and getting lost.
If kids enjoy this story, they might want to circle back to the beginning of the series and catch up on all of Sophie Washington's adventures, beginning with Sophie Washington: Queen of the Bee. I should mention that these chapter books would make a great stocking stuffer, along with the Sophie Washington Super Fun Activity Book, filled with crosswords, word searches, coloring pages, mazes, writing prompts and more.
This book is recommended for readers age 8+
This book was gratefully received from the author and Penny Sansevieri at Author Marketing Experts
briarrose1021's review against another edition
4.0
Sophie's little brother has struck again when he tells their parents about a school spelling bee just to get on her nerves. Originally not planning to sign up, Sophie's parents tell her she has to, which annoys her until she finds out that her class rival, Nathan, is also signing up. Now she is determined to win, just so she can beat Nathan!
This book is a slice-of-life look at the weeks leading up to the School- and Regional-level spelling bees and includes not only scenes of Sophie studying, but also of her spending time with family and friends. It's a fun and quick read, and I especially like the decision Sophie makes at the end regarding Nathan.
This book is a slice-of-life look at the weeks leading up to the School- and Regional-level spelling bees and includes not only scenes of Sophie studying, but also of her spending time with family and friends. It's a fun and quick read, and I especially like the decision Sophie makes at the end regarding Nathan.
langanle's review against another edition
5.0
My daughter and I each read this sweet book and fell in love with Sophie Washington. This quick read was a perfect end of summer book to give a boost of kindness and reminder that not all illnesses are visible. I love the diversity in all the Sophie Washington books and this title gave us a good kickoff point for discussing diabetes and looking out for friends. Fabulous book and I totally recommend it for strong elementary readers.
I got this book through a giveaway but would highly recommend purchasing any of the Sophie Washington books.
I got this book through a giveaway but would highly recommend purchasing any of the Sophie Washington books.
ki4eva's review against another edition
4.0
I received this e-book free through Goodreads First Read.
A good addition to the series. Kids will be to relate to the main characters and how hard it is to give up something.
A good addition to the series. Kids will be to relate to the main characters and how hard it is to give up something.
ki4eva's review against another edition
4.0
I received this e-book free through Goodreads First Read.
A good addition to the Sophie Washington series. I really liked how it showed how people don't really know what is happening at someone else's home/life.
A good addition to the Sophie Washington series. I really liked how it showed how people don't really know what is happening at someone else's home/life.
ki4eva's review against another edition
3.0
I received this e-book free through Goodreads First Read.
Another fun addition to the series. I really liked the overall message of the book and the monkey.
Another fun addition to the series. I really liked the overall message of the book and the monkey.
ki4eva's review against another edition
3.0
I received this e-book free through Goodreads First Read.
A cute upper elementary book. I like the morals taught in the story, even though parts of the book sounded younger then a 6th graders view point.
A cute upper elementary book. I like the morals taught in the story, even though parts of the book sounded younger then a 6th graders view point.
books_tea_healthy_me's review against another edition
4.0
My nine-year-old daughter and I read this together. She read out loud to me and we had a wonderful time with the story. It sparked many positive conversations between us.
Thank you to Goodreads for the free copy in exchange for my honest review. My daughter and I are very grateful!
Thank you to Goodreads for the free copy in exchange for my honest review. My daughter and I are very grateful!
academianut's review against another edition
4.0
Fun and relatable upper elementary book
Things you didn't know about Sophie by Tonya Duncan Ellis: A refreshing everyday-life story, this chapter book follows the experience of 6th grader Sophie, who lives in the suburbs with her close family - mom, dad, and younger brother. Though Sophie and her brother argue and banter, the family is very close, holding weekly board game nights and supporting each other. But at school, Sophie faces some problems, which make their way home as well. Her crush on a classmate leads her to pretend to love all of his passions, rather than her real interests, and when her peers all have smartphones and she doesn't, she lies about having one to fit in. Even through her discomfort about all this, she feels she must show her friends that she has a phone - so she decides to "borrow" her younger neighbor's phone, but gets it confiscated in class, leading to lots of drama and parental disappointment when the neighbor needs it back and the truth finally comes out. Though Sophie is upset, she's also relieved at not having to keep track of all the lies anymore, but is anxious, believing her friends will no longer like her once they find out the truth. As it turns out, though, many of her friends have been fibbing to fit in too, and she and her friends all gain a little bit more understanding of each other. Though the story ends a bit abruptly on this note (I would have liked to have seen more), the book is fun, compelling, and relatable to kids, with a good message. I also really enjoyed the illustrations, which are line drawings but still beautifully convey the characters' Black ethnicity.
Things you didn't know about Sophie by Tonya Duncan Ellis: A refreshing everyday-life story, this chapter book follows the experience of 6th grader Sophie, who lives in the suburbs with her close family - mom, dad, and younger brother. Though Sophie and her brother argue and banter, the family is very close, holding weekly board game nights and supporting each other. But at school, Sophie faces some problems, which make their way home as well. Her crush on a classmate leads her to pretend to love all of his passions, rather than her real interests, and when her peers all have smartphones and she doesn't, she lies about having one to fit in. Even through her discomfort about all this, she feels she must show her friends that she has a phone - so she decides to "borrow" her younger neighbor's phone, but gets it confiscated in class, leading to lots of drama and parental disappointment when the neighbor needs it back and the truth finally comes out. Though Sophie is upset, she's also relieved at not having to keep track of all the lies anymore, but is anxious, believing her friends will no longer like her once they find out the truth. As it turns out, though, many of her friends have been fibbing to fit in too, and she and her friends all gain a little bit more understanding of each other. Though the story ends a bit abruptly on this note (I would have liked to have seen more), the book is fun, compelling, and relatable to kids, with a good message. I also really enjoyed the illustrations, which are line drawings but still beautifully convey the characters' Black ethnicity.
ximradletshuggx's review against another edition
5.0
Great children's book that teaches children piratical and valuable life lessons.