Sophie Someone

Gr 6 Up—Sophie, who has grown up in Brussels, Belgium, has vague memories of leaving England as a small child with her mother. As she grows older, it becomes more apparent that her parents haven't been exactly truthful about their past. When she is 14, Sophie makes an alarming discovery, and her world is thrown out of orbit; she must piece together her identity from what she knows and doesn't know about herself and her family. Can she gather enough information to find out who she really is? Long presents a delightfully unique voice in this dazzling, entertaining novel that deals with identity, family, and friendship. Some teens will be challenged by a cryptic narrative style filled with wordplay. Long also creatively manipulates text, playing with font size, spacing, and form in unusual and engaging ways. The plot moves quickly, though, and once they get used to Sophie's "code speak," even reluctant readers will find it satisfying. Teens will relate to Sophie's challenges as she struggles to learn who she really is.