Written by Tonya Duncan Ellis
In this story, we meet Sofie Washington, a 10-year-old who lives in Texas with her Mom, Dad, and little brother. She signs up for her school’s spelling bee and must compete against the class know-it-all. The book takes us along for the ride as Sofie diligently prepares for the bee. We see her doubting whether she has what it takes to win; we also see her triumph. And, along the way, we get to know Sofie and her family. She lives in what seems to be a middle-class Texas suburb. Her dad is a dentist, while her mom works part-time in the dental office. We follow the Washington family as they encounter wild pigs on their front lawn, take a family bicycle ride in the neighborhood, and attend a rodeo. Grandma even visited and stayed with Sofie and her brother while their parents left for an out-of-town trip.
I love seeing stories where Black children get to have your run-of-the-mill age-appropriate worries. Doubt is a normal part of living and Sofie handles it by continuing to study and improve. Her parents gently guide her and pitch in to help her study, but this is Sofie’s challenge; so she puts in the work. I love that the parents were not overbearing in telling Sofie how to study. She decided for herself the methods that work best for her.
This book by Ellis is one of a series of books about Sofie and her adventures. I really look forward to reading more books in this series to see what new challenge awaits Sofie!