Sophie’s Stormy Summer

It was getting harder to talk. Sophie closed her eyes and gather up the picture of her Jesus with the kind eyes. “Is it wrong that I have questions about what you’re doing?” she asked out loud. “I only have two: Why did you let leukemia happen to Kitty? And is it true that you won’t take care of her if she doesn’t get ‘saved’? And Jesus, I’m not exactly sure what that means, so would you please explain that? I guess that’s three questions. And I don’t care what Lacie says, even though she went on that missions trip, I’m going to ask you: Would you please make Kitty well?”

Book: Sophie's Stormy Summer (Faithgirlz!) by Nancy Rue, Zondervan Publishers, 2005

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Target Audience: Girls 11-15
Subjects: Cancer, Friendship, Salvation, Healing

Summary: Kitty can’t have cancer! She just can’t! It’s too awful to be true! Fiona says her mom, the doctor, always states things in the worst terms possible, but she’s not exaggerating this. Kitty herself admits that she’s been told by her doctor, counselor and nurse that she could die from this disease. Sophie and the other Corn Flakes don’t know what to do with this knowledge. Sophie makes a promise to Kitty that she’ll do whatever it takes to help. When Kitty writes back with a list of four things, Sophie gets very afraid. Two of them are way too hard, they require sacrifice and risking hurting someone else’s feelings. But how can Sophie turn down her friend who may be dying?

Notes: Sophie’s Stormy Summer is sixth 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 this life get scary for Sophie and the other Corn Flakes. A vacation at the beach should be a dream come true for all the Corn Flakes and it is – until Kitty gets very sick and is diagnosed with Leukemia. There are a few big issues in the book. First there is the issue of dealing with a friend getting cancer and possibly dying. Then there’s the conversation Sophie has with Lacie. Faith has always been a natural thing for Sophie, a matter of having a friendship with Jesus. She’s never known the common phrases Christians use to describe that. But she knows Kitty doesn’t have that friendship and when Lacie tells her Kitty needs to accept Jesus as her Savior, Sophie is confused. Will God really not help Kitty unless she is “saved”? What does that even mean? Lacie gets some help from her youth pastor and Sophie’s Bible Study Leader to explain to Sophie that she simply means Kitty needs to have that same friendship with Jesus that Sophie does and Sophie’s job is to pray for Kitty and trust in God no matter what happens to Kitty. Later in the book, Kitty herself figures out that she needs that relationship and asks Sophie to explain it to her, giving Kitty the chance to become a Christian as well. It gets a little confusing between Sophie and Lacie’s discussions, at times to tell what the author wants the reader to understand about salvation – but when Kitty does “accept Jesus” is boils down to belief, which is the Biblical definition of salvation (Acts 16:31).  I highly recommend this story. Also the Sophie books have been republished. #6 is republished under the same title.
Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5
Reviewer: J:-)mi

1 Peter 3:15 – But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect