Sophie Flakes Out

“How else are we ever goint o have a private conversation?” Fiona said. She stopped at the door, a wad of Boppa’s money rolled up in her hand. “Nobody on the Parent Patrol is going to let us grow up. We just have to do it.” Sophie held back as Fiona went inside, and she imagined the king eyes. We aren’t doing something wrong, are we? she said silently. Don’t the rules have to change so we can grow up?

Goodsy narrowed her eyes are the both of them. There were kids who needed help, see, and then there were lyin’ little flapper girls who didn’t care about nothin’ or nobody. They used people up and then tossed ‘em aside like – like yesterday’s garbage see –-

Book: Sophie Flakes Out (Faithgirlz!) by Nancy Rue, Zondervan Publishers, 2006

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Target Audience: Girls 11-15
Subjects: Independence, Growing Up, Parent Relationships, Friendship, Abuse, Trust, Loyalty

Summary: Sophie is just sure she’s the only kid in seventh grade with a ridiculously restrictive parent. That is, until all her friends, the Corn Flakes, Wheaties and Lucky Charms share their stories too. Pretty soon, Dr. Peter is getting an earful at Bible Study as the girls all complain about “parents and brothers and sisters and the total lack of privacy in the seventh grade world.” There is one of them who doesn’t appear to have any problems with it – Willoughby. She’s got all the independence she wants. Or so it seems, until Sophie attends a sleepover at her house and catches a glimpse of what Willoughby‘s home life is really like. Can Sophie put aside her own problems long enough to find out what’s going on?

Notes: Sophie Flakes Out is ninth in the FaithGirlz series, a twelve book series about a young girl in late elementary/early middle school who uses her big imagination to make movies and figure out how Jesus wants her to love those around her. In book nine, Sophie is ready to grow up. There’s just one thing standing in her way: parents. She views herself as grown up and responsible while her parents, especially her dad, are keeping the restrictions tight. When she finds out Willoughby is being abused though, her focus changes and she realizes how much she just wants to be a little kid, safe and loved by her dad. As usual, the book is written very realistically with Sophie struggling with her attitude towards her parents, and her friends struggling with theirs, as well as some friendship difficulties. I highly recommend this story. Also the Sophie books have been republished. #9 is republished under the same title.
Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5
Reviewer: J:-)mi

Proverbs 4:1-7 – Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. When I was a boy in my father's house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, he taught me and said, "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.