I would recommend this fantastic, fabulous, five-star book to readers of all ages! I enjoyed how the book had a ton of detail, it reminded you of the main conflict frequently, and it had an amazing main character, Heidi. I loved this book, and I think you will, too!tMy first reason for recommending this fabulous book is because it had a ton of detail, which made me feel like I was in the novel. One of the times that I felt like I was in the story with Heidi was on page 159, when she described a home, “I passed a large kitchen on my left with big metal pots hanging from a rack over a long counter, and on the right a bathroom with white-and-black checkered floor tiles. Then came a small room set up like an office, with a phone and a type-writer on the desk.” When I read this, I felt like I was walking down the hallway with Heidi. Another time that I felt like I was in the story was on page 53, when Heidi described a picture, “There was a dressed-up Santa Claus with a white cotton beard and a crooked tree covered with paper chains and glitter pinecones that looked homemade.” Even though Heidi was only describing a picture, I still felt like I was at the Christmas party she was describing. I could see the tree, the Santa Claus, and people having a great time! A final reason when I felt like I was in the book with Heidi was on page 185, when she described a friend's house, “Roy and Ruby lived in a white house with yellow shutters and window boxes all across the front. There was a screened-in porch on the side and a white rope hammock slung between two trees in the yard.” In my mind, I pictured the house very clearly, as if I had lived in it forever. Overall, I felt like I was in most of the scenes with Heidi!tI loved feeling like I was in the book with Heidi, and it was even better when I felt like there was one main conflict I was always reminded of in the novel. Heidi wanted to know the answer to the question ‘What is soof?’ That question, which was the conflict, was also the key to finding out about Heidi’s past. Her mom says soof all the time, but she is disabled so she cannot tell Heidi what it means. On page 40, I was reminded of the main goal, when Heidi wondered, “‘What is soof?’ The words grew louder in my head, and as I watched, the letters expanded and blurred together...the question became so vast that I could imagine it stretching to the moon and back again all by itself.” Those sentences clearly showed that the question is important to Heidi. The question is vast. Another time when I was reminded of the conflict was on page 98, when Heidi decided: “I was going to Liberty to chase down a four letter word-s-o-o-f.” In this passage, it was clear to me that Heidi wanted that goal, and nothing was going to stop her from achieving it. A final time in the novel when it stayed on topic was on page 158, when Heidi remembered, “As I started slowly up the steep driveway, a sudden gust of wind blew through and caught in the shaggy boughs of an old hemlock tree. Soof, they whispered softly as they swayed overhead...reminding me one more time why I had come.” That was important because Heidi was finally going to find out the truth that she had gone on the journey for. This novel made me feel like I was in the book with Heidi, yearning for the truth.tNot only did Heidi stay with her goal throughout the whole book, she also was brave, determined, and loved her family. Heidi was brave on page 98, when she decided to go on a journey to find out what soof is, “I was really going to do this. I was going to New York by myself.” That is very brave, since she was going from Reno, Nevada to Liberty, New York by herself, on a bus. She was going to be with strangers, and she was only twelve! A time when Heidi was determined was on pages 78 and 79, when she decided, “I was going to Liberty...We both had our minds made up in opposite directions about me going to Liberty, and I didn’t see any point in discussing it with her anymore.” Even though Heidi’s friend and guardian Bernadette did not want Heidi to go to New York, Heidi was determined and had to find out the truth. She was not going to take no for an answer, even if it meant disobeying someone she loved. Sometimes Heidi had disagreements with her family, but she still loved them more than anything. One time she showed that she loved her family was on page 95, when the novel reads, “‘I love you, Mama,’ I said, and kissed her.” Heidi obviously loves her mom, and the reason she is going on this trip is to find out the truth about her and her mom. She wants to know what soof is, since it might help Heidi and her mom find out their history. I think that Heidi is a great person, and her mom and Bernadette should be proud of her.tAs you can see, I loved the novel So B. It by Sarah Weeks. It made me feel like I experienced everything Heidi did, it stayed on topic, and it portrayed a fantastic and amazing character, Heidi. I would completely rate this book five out of five stars. I will always remember So B. It, and I will admire Heidi for a long time.
This isn't sophisticated high-brow literature, but it is touching and honest, and it got me right in the feels, at least as far as the main storyline goes. Everything else, though, I had some issues with.Just about every review of this book contains a book-report-like summary, so I'm going to skip that and just talk about my thoughts. I couldn't imagine growing up the way that Heidi did, with a mother who could barely communicate, and definitely not care for herself, and her only other caregiver being an agoraphobic woman. That's such a small life. I don't mean small as in petty, I just literally mean small. Her experience is limited to two small apartments for almost her entire life until shortly before going on her quest. It makes me sad, thinking of all the things that she should have experienced and couldn't - zoos, school, playmates, parks, etc. But I guess you can't miss what you never had. Which is one of the main themes of this book, actually. Heidi doesn't miss the fact that she never had a father, because she'd never realized that she should have had one. Or a grandmother. These things are not in her understanding until an outside experience brings them up... and then she wonders, and can't let them go. She needs to know who she is and where she came from. She does find answers, though they are not what she (or I) expected... but for everything that she gained, she lost something else. I did find this book easy to read and I was caught up in the story - it's a touching coming of age story, and a story about how love isn't really definable by the words we use. But otherwise, I can't help but have a lot of logistical issues with this book. - How did Heidi and her mama arrive at their apartment in the beginning, when Bernadette finds them? If (view spoiler)[Grandma (hide spoiler)]
What do You think about So B. It (2005)?
*Listened to audio version of this textThis novel is about a girl named Heidi who wants to find out more about her life. She lives with her mother who is mentally disabled, she only knows 23 words, and has a neighbor named Bernadette whose house is connected to theirs. Heidi has never known who her father is, as Bernadette found Heidi's mother alone with her when she was a baby. 12 years later, they are still living together, and Bernadette continues to teach Heidi's mother simple new things such as how to open a can. Bernadette has agoraphobia, so she home schools Heidi who has never gone to school or had much interaction with kids her age. One day Heidi finds an old camera which furthers her curiosity about the people in the photos and her background, along with her wonder about her mother's word "soof." She sets off on a journey, by herself, to find the answers to these questions. This book has many great teaching lessons for students. The theme of identity is woven throughout this book. Many students can relate to wanting to know more about some aspect of their life. This is also a great book to talk about special needs and differences within families. The story keeps you guessing what will happen next and has a great ending that is not expected.
—Nicole
So B It is a delightful story about 12 year old Heidi who is in search of her identity. She lives with her mother who has a mental disability and knows exactly 23 words. Together with their neighbor Bernadette, they live in Reno and get by through Heidi's luck with winning at video games and Bernie's disability check. One of the words that Heidi's mother knows is "soof" and there lies the driving factor to Heidi's travels to find her identity and what the word 'soof' means. Bernie has named Mama So B. It because she feels that everyone deserves to have a middle name. The story centers around Heidi's unraveling of the mystery surrounding her mother and her travels to New York to discover the truth. It is about coming of age, identity, family and mental disabilities. It is a great read for middle grade students. I enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down once I started reading it. I heart Heidi.
—Donna
"So B. It", by Sarah Weeks is a truly heartwarming book. I would put this book in the category of realistic fiction and I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a fast and easy read. The book takes you through the roller-coaster ride that is Heidi It's life. Heidi is suffering from a case known as 'Mistaken Identity'. You see, when Heidi was born, her mother took her to her neighboring apartment so that their neighbor Bernadette could take care of her. Why can’t Heidi`s mother take care of her you ask? Heidi`s mother had troubles communicating caused by a defect in her brain. Of course, Bernadette couldn't ignore the sad looking pair. So, Bernadette made it her duty to become a full-time caretaker for both Heidi and her mother. Heidi's mother, over the years has learned 23 words, with the help of Bernadette of course. One of those words in particular struck Heidi`s attention. She believes that single word can lead her to uncover the mysteries about her past. These mysteries continue to haunt her, and Heidi doesn't know how much longer she can live without knowing. Every time she asks, her mother gets a headache, and the matter of Heidi`s past remains a secret. When she asks Bernadette, she gets the same response every time. Will Heidi ever reveal the shocking truth? Are mama`s headaches more than just a headaches? 'Some things you just can't know' Bernadette would say.
—Mikaela Tynski
