Sophie's birthday is coming up, so naturally, she's thinking about what she wants. But which would be the perfect gift: the one her father said okay to while he was watching football on TV, that she told all the kids in school about . . . that her mother doesn't know is coming? Or the one Sophie has wanted for so long that she has given up hope?
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• Stephanie Greene presents a realistic and convincing family dynamic and a believable school setting. The characters come alive through sharp dialogue and funny moments.
• Sophie is a likable protagonist. About to turn ten, she is both excited about her “double digit” birthday and hesitant about the maturity it might bring with it—she can’t imagine like liking boys, for example, and is noticing that some of her friends’ interests are changing.
• Readers who have large families especially will relate to Sophie’s feelings as a middle child. When her older sister, Nora, moves out of their shared room, rather than feeling immediate joy at having her own space, Sophie feels sadness because the room felt so familiar with Nora in it, even if Nora was always nagging her.
• The closing scene of Sophie’s birthday—and the gifts that her family and friends give her—is touching and satisfying.
For Sophie's "double-digit" birthday, she wants a special pet: a baby gorilla. Things get out of hand when she announces that her parents have consented. At the same time, older sister Nora moves out of the bedroom the two have always shared. All the plot strands merge in a satisfying denouement that's tidy but not in the least predictable.