Sophie the Awesome

April 26, 2010
Bergen (who has contributed to the Candy Apple series) launches a series about a tenacious third grader, Sophie, who settles on a nickname that she thinks describes her perfectly. Yet she quickly realizes that others aren’t likely to call her Sophie the Awesome, “unless she had proof of her awesomeness to back it up.” As might be expected, Sophie’s attempts at impressing her teachers and classmates don’t go well. She is chastised for making a racket on the cymbals when she tries to stand out in music class, lands on her bottom—and in the nurse’s office—after attempting to jump down six steps at once, and is reprimanded by the principal for trying to stuff a record number of fries in her mouth at lunch. Sophie’s run-ins with her nemeses—the rambunctious class cutup and an uppity know-it-all—provide snatches of humor, and she finally earns a nickname (if not the one she had envisioned) in an unexpected, action-filled ending. Tallardy’s (The Girl’s Body Book) cartoony illustrations help play up the relatable emotions at work in this straightforward tale. Ages 7–10.

August 1, 2010

Gr 2-4-Third-grader Sophie Miller decides that she is too boring and needs another name, like Nate the Great or Ramona the Brave, so she becomes Sophie the Awesome. The only problem is that no one realizes that she is so amazing. She tries to be awesome in music class by playing her instrument too loudly. Then she tries by jumping on the stairs, which is against the rules, and she ends up in the nurse's office. Other attempts such as stuffing her mouth with French fries and jumping rope fail to show her "awesomeness" as well. Only when Sophie prevents a kindergartner from running into a busy street does she change her name to one she deserves: Sophie the Hero. This is an early chapter book. However, in some of the cartoon drawings, the children look like middle schoolers. Sophie is a self-centered protagonist whose friends are there to serve her needs, but she does not reciprocate. Although she redeems herself in the end, readers may not get that far.-Elaine Lesh Morgan, formerly at Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

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