Book: Soof (2018)
Author: Sarah Weeks
Genre: MG, Contemporary
Companion Book to: So B. It
Basic plot: Aurora (or Rory) has always heard stories about a girl named Heidi. Her mom always claims that Heidi brought her good luck since it was after Heidi left that Rory was born. But in all these years, Rory’s never met this “perfect” Heidi. So, when she learns that Heidi’s going to finally visit, she’s not too happy…
WHAT’S COOL…
1) I enjoyed Rory as a narrator. She’s sweet but doesn’t hide her negative feelings from us. She worries about being weird, yet also embraces that “weirdness”.
2) I liked how the story deals with how Rory’s reaction to events that happened before her birth… how everybody expects something from her. But how can she react when she didn’t experience it.
3) The scene with the lighter is good. The interplay with her parents before and after what happens. (I won’t spoil it.)
4) I particularly love Rory’s dad! (Notice how I call her ‘Rory’ instead of ‘Aurora’? This is his nickname for her!) I love how he interacts with Rory and, well, everything about him. I love good dads!
5) I liked how the search for Duck (the dog) fits into the plot. Especially with what happens at school.
6) And Heidi. I wasn’t sure she was going to show up in the story! (**Spoiler alerts! She does show up at the end. And since I’m using spoilers here, I might as well tell you that I really like the relationship that develops between Heidi and Rory.)
WHAT’S NOT COOL…
1) (**Spoiler alert! The scene with the baby seemed a little over the top to me. There’s a line: “It seemed too perfect that Heidi’s baby would be born just as I reached the end of the list, but that’s what happened.” Yes, I found that a little ‘too perfect’. A little too much. But, I’m probably being super critical here.)
FINAL THOUGHTS
I don’t often read the back of the book cover before reading the book (since it often contains spoilers!). So, I missed that this was a “sequel” of sorts to Sarah Week’s book, So B. It. It wasn’t until halfway through, that I started to say, “Hey, wait a minute. Some of this sounds familiar!” And yet, I think you could enjoy this book without having read the first one.
YOUR TURN…
Have you read this book? What are your thoughts? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Note: I’m posting this for Greg Pattridge’s Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday…
Of Maria Antonia 
I had not heard of this book and your review has put it right on top of my TBR list. Thanks for featuring this unique story on MMGM.
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I would read So B. It first. (You don’t have to, but there are some minor spoilers if you decide to read it second.)
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This sounds like a neat book! I enjoyed a book that Weeks co-wrote, Save Me a Seat, so I’d probably enjoy this as well. Thanks for the great review!
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Yes, I really like her books. I’ve also read Save Me a Seat, but it’s been a while.
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Good to know that you could read this without reading book 1. It sounds like a great MG series, and I’m not sure there are many contemporary series. Thanks for sharing it this week.
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Yes, you can definitely read it as a stand-alone. However, it might spoil bits of Book 1 if you do decide to read that one as well (but after reading Soof).
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I haven’t read this or the prior book. I also love good dad characers and characters who embrace their own weirdness. I will be looking for this one. Thanks for the review.
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I am not familiar with this book, but it sounds like it is a fun series for readers. It’s fun when you binge read a good series and not miss a beat. Thanks for sharing today. Hum, did I miss it in your review, but what does the title meanr?
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