So B. It - by Sarah Weeks (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Now a major motion picture starring Alfre Woodard, Jessica Collins, John Heard, Jacinda Barrett, Cloris Leachman, and Talitha Bateman--in theaters October 2017!

From acclaimed author Sarah Weeks comes a touching coming-of-age story about a young girl who goes on a cross-country journey to discover the truth about her parents, which the New York Times called "a remarkable novel." Perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me and Ali Benjamin's The Thing About Jellyfish.

She doesn't know when her birthday is or who her father is. In fact, everything about Heidi and her mentally disabled mother's past is a mystery. When a strange word in her mother's vocabulary begins to haunt her, Heidi sets out on a cross-country journey in search of the secrets of her past.

Far away from home, pieces of her puzzling history come together. But it isn't until she learns to accept not knowing that Heidi truly arrives.

Can a single word from a mother who can barely speak unlock the secrets of a lifetime?

• A Middle Grade Mystery: Armed with a mysterious photograph and a single, nonsensical word from her mother--"soof"--twelve-year-old Heidi sets out to solve the puzzle of her own past.
• A Heartfelt Mother-Daughter Story: Explore a powerful bond with a mother who has a vocabulary of only 23 words, showing that love doesn't always need language to be understood.
• Finding Your Identity: A powerful tale about a girl who doesn't know her own birthday or her father's name, and her courageous search for where she comes from.
• A Cross-Country Quest for Truth: Travel from Reno to upstate New York on a solo bus trip as Heidi follows the only clues she has to a place called Hilltop Home and the family she never knew she had.

From the Back Cover

HEIDI IS ON A QUEST

She doesn't know when her birthday is or who her father is. In fact, everything about Heidi and her mentally disabled mother's past is a mystery.

When a strange word in her mother's vocabulary begins to haunt her, Heidi sets out on a cross-country journey in search of the secrets of her past. Far away from home, pieces of her puzzling history come together. But it isn't until she learns to accept not knowing that Heidi truly arrives.

Review Quotes

"Weeks has a distinctive voice that's all her own. Her fully dimensional characters are remarkable yet believable [and] the foreshadowing builds to a beautifully satisfying ending. This is lovely writing--real, touching, and pared cleanly down to the essentials." - ALA Booklist (starred review)

"The heart of the search for home and history is one that readers will find compelling." - Kirkus Reviews

"Readers will pull for and empathize with the likable characters." - School Library Journal

"A quick and satisfying tale of love, determination, and the kindness of strangers." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"The novel has enough suspence to draw in mystery fans, while Weeks portrays Heidi's emotional and physical odyssey with admirable economy and restraint." - Horn Book Magazine (Starred Review)

"Refreshing, offbeat characters. As the riddle of Heidi's life slowly unfolds, readers will be genuinely touched and surprised." - VOYA (starred review)

"A remarkable novel. [Heidi's] cross-country journey is brave and daring and yields surprising results." - New York Times Book Review