Hi, lovelies! It gives me great pleasure today to host Tonya
Duncan Ellis and her new book, “Sophie Washington: My BFF”! For other stops on her Goddess Fish
Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in
this post.
Be sure to make it to the
end of this post to enter to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!! Also, come back daily to interact with Tonya
and to increase your chances of winning!
Thanks for stopping
by! Wishing you lots of luck in this
fabulous giveaway!
Sophie Washington: My BFF
by Tonya Duncan Ellis
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GENRE: Middle Grade
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BLURB:
Sophie
and Chloe have been best friends since they met in kindergarten. They get along
like chips and salsa and do everything together from playing tennis to cheering
on the school cheer squad. Lately, Chloe’s been leaving Sophie out, and she
doesn’t know why. Sophie does everything she can to make her best friend happy,
but it’s not working. Then Chloe asks Sophie to fib to a teacher to help her
out and she learns the true meaning of friendship.
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BOOK SERIES:
This is the tenth book in the Readers' Favorite five star rated
Sophie Washington book series that includes:
Sophie Washington: Queen of
the Bee (Book 1)
Sophie Washington: The Snitch (Book 2)
Sophie Washington: Things
You Didn't Know About Sophie (Book 3)
Sophie Washington: The
Gamer (Book 4)
Sophie Washington:
Hurricane (Book 5)
Sophie Washington: Mission
Costa Rica (Book 6)
Sophie Washington: Secret
Santa (Book 7)
Sophie Washington: Code One (Book 8)
Sophie Washington: Mismatch (Book 9)
Sophie Washington: My BFF (Book 10)
**Kids Ages 8-12**
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EXCERPT THREE:
The
only reason I’m not at the carnival games is because I want to spend time with
my BFF, Chloe. We’ve been friends since we shared a swing in kindergarten, and
we do everything together, like cheer for our school and play on the tennis
team. She’s taller and noisier than I am, but somehow, we belong together, like
chips and salsa.
Chloe
isn’t in any of my classes this year. During free periods she gets special
tutoring for her dyslexia. Don’t ask me what dyslexia means exactly, but she’s
not so great at spelling and takes twice as long as the rest of us to do her
school work.
Chloe’s
been talking about riding the Killer Whale since we were too short to be
allowed on roller coasters. I’d do anything for my best friend, and I didn’t
want to look like a chicken, so I faced my fear.
Looking
back, I still can’t believe I got in line when Chloe begged. The Killer Whale
is a perfect name for that ride. Carts race up and down the grayish blue rails
like they’re on a speed track, and then drop down huge hills.
“That’s
what I’m talking about!” Toby, the cutest boy in the sixth grade, stood in
front of us in line with his mouth open. “Forget about the baby rides; I want
to ride this one the whole time we’re here.”
“This
is so cool!” Nathan, Toby’s buddy for the field trip, gave him a high five.
“and since there are two tracks, we shouldn’t have to wait long to get on.”
The
crowded line came to a standstill and we continued to talk.
“Hey,
Sophie, did you start that poetry assignment for English class?” Toby edged
around Chloe. “Can you help me with it at school tomorrow? I need to get an A
or B to raise my grade.”
“You
read the poem yet?” said Nathan, pausing the video game he was playing on his
phone and also looking my way. “I can’t figure it out.”
“Why
didn’t you ask me what I think about the poem?” asked Chloe with a frown.
“Well,
ah, I didn’t think you were doing the same work,” said Toby.
Her
lips curled, and I braced myself.
Chloe
is super sweet most of the time, but act like she’s not as smart as someone
else, and she changes from cuddly kitten to ferocious tiger.
“As
a matter of fact, I am doing the same work,” she said, wrapping her arms around
her chest. “Just because I go to a tutor sometimes doesn’t mean I don’t know
what’s going on. I still have the same English assignments as you guys.”
“I
don’t think he meant that, Chloe,” I said.
“Yeah,
yeah, everybody knows you’re the spelling champion, while I’m the sixth-grade
dummy,” said Chloe.
“Now
wait a minute…” I said.
Ahhhhh!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MY BOOK REVIEW:
I seriously LOVE this book series!!
This
is the seventh book I’ve read and reviewed in The Sophie Washington Book Series,
and this is the eighth book in the series that I’ve featured on my blog! I have absolutely enjoyed every one of them! So, I was thrilled to read and review Tonya’s
latest book in this series, “My BFF.”
Even
after seven Sophie Washington books, I still find each book fresh, unique, and thoroughly
entertaining!! Plus, these books feature
important life lessons that are essential for kids to learn – AND are a great
reminder for us adult readers!!
Tonya’s impressive writing skills only continue to improve,
grow, and expand with each book!!
It was great catching back up with Sophie and her friends for
another exciting adventure!!
I totally
love the characters!! Sophie, her
friends: Chloe, Mariama, Valentia, Rani, Toby, Nathan; her little brother,
Cole, and his friend, Jake; and of course, the adorable family dog Bertram, and
Goldy the Goldfish. They were all
enjoyable, realistic, and relatable.
I was
so happy to see so many returning characters!!
I tend to get invested in my characters – especially in a book series,
so I was glad to see everyone come back and pick right up where we left off from
the last book.
I
always tend to bond more with Sophie and this book was no different. I have really enjoyed watching her grow over
the years – over the books – and how she’s turned into such a charming, polite,
intelligent young lady. This book shows
she clearly still has some more growing up to do, but she is headed in the
right direction, and has the right support system in place to help her get there.
I love that this book takes real-life issues head on and allows
the reader to easily connect with the characters and the situations they get
into at home and at school.
This
book really focused on honesty, truthfulness, cheating, plagiarism, bullying
(including cyber-bullying), peer pressure, friendships, self-esteem,
self-assurance, building confidence, overcoming challenges, sibling rivalry, keeping
secrets, lying, rejection, and so much more!!
I
thought it was wonderful that this book touched on plagiarism, lying to
teachers, and those consequences. This
is such an important lesson in today’s society and one that people of all ages
struggle with. Stealing someone else’s
work is not only wrong, it’s illegal.
Many schools these days have zero tolerance and any such impropriety can
lead to suspension. Not to mention you
ruin your reputation and people may often continue to wonder if the words you
write are really yours, even after many years.
I think this introduction to plagiarism will not only educate readers
about the serious consequences, but also deter them from making such grave
errors.
I
also liked that this book brought up rejection, exclusivity, and the true meaning
of friendship. Being left out and pushed
away by a friend can truly feel like the end of the world. Especially at a young age when your world
mostly revolves around your friends. So,
when Sophie feels deserted by her best friend Chloe, it’s no wonder she’d be
willing to do pretty much anything to get back in her good graces. Thankfully this book shows that true friends shouldn’t
ask you to compromise your morals or beliefs or even put you in such compromising
situations.
This book is full of valuable lessons that readers of ALL
ages can enjoy, appreciate, and learn from!
I
love how supportive and encouraging Sophie’s parents are. They are approachable, considerate, and
fair. They are a wonderful resource for
Sophie and her brother to reach out to.
I think these books really show young readers how to communicate with and
confide in their parents. Watching
Sophie interact with her parents inspires readers to want to have an open and
trustworthy relationship with their parents as well.
This book has a creative story line, structured outline, evenly
paced plot points, detailed scenes, relatable characters, important and useful
life lessons, instilled valuable morals, and keeps you engaged through the last
page – regardless of your age!
I really enjoyed
reading this book and wish these books were around when I was a kid. I look forward to being able to share this
book series with my kids that I hope to have one day in the future!!
I
think the best part of this book being for middle graders, is that it’s a fun,
cool, intriguing book for them! It’s not
a dumbed down kid’s book and it’s not a book that a parent can be worried that
their kid is reading. It’s a book that a
kid will want to read, won’t be embarrassed to read in front of their friends
or their parents. It’s the right kind of
a book a kid should be reading and the right kind of book their parent will be
glad they are reading!
This
book is book ten of the Sophie Washington Book Series. Although I have read many of the other books
in this series, this book can absolutely be read on its own as a standalone
without any fear of getting lost or confused.
However, I totally LOVE this book series, and would definitely recommend
the whole series!!!
This book is “G” rated as there is no swearing, no violence, no
adult situations, and no sexual content.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and would
absolutely recommend it! I think all middle
grade readers and in all honesty readers of all ages will like this book too –
and this book series! So, add it to your
TBR List and get to reading - you won't be disappointed!
Did you find this review helpful?
If so, please, please, please mark it as
helpful on Amazon here:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/R298GWD57P8BNA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MY ADDITIONAL
BOOK SERIES POSTS & REVIEWS:
Check out my other Sophie Washington Book Series Posts &
Reviews:
Sophie Washington: Queen
Bee – Book One – Review:
Sophie Washington: The
Snitch – Book Two – Guest Post:
https://fabulousandbrunette.blogspot.com/2018/01/sophie-washington-snitch-by-tonya.html
https://fabulousandbrunette.blogspot.com/2018/01/sophie-washington-snitch-by-tonya.html
Sophie
Washington: The Gamer – Book Four – Review:
Sophie Washington: Hurricane
– Book Five – Review:
Sophie Washington: Secret
Santa – Book Seven – Review:
Sophie
Washington: Code One – Book Eight – Review:
Sophie Washington: Mismatch
– Book Nine – Review:
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AUTHOR BIO:
Tonya Duncan Ellis is
the author of the Amazon bestselling, Readers' Favorite "Five Star"
rated, Sophie Washington children's books series, geared toward readers ages 8
to 12, and is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and
Illustrators (SCBWI). She has received awards for literary excellence, worked
as a journalist and freelance magazine writer, and is a graduate of Centre
College of Kentucky and Washington University in St. Louis.
The
Sophie Washington book series recounts the adventures of a precocious African
American preteen from Houston, TX and her diverse group of friends. Each funny
and heartwarming story teaches lessons about friendship, responsibility,
truthfulness and perseverance. Books in the series include Queen of the Bee,
The Snitch, Things You Didn't Know About Sophie, The Gamer,
Hurricane, Mission: Costa Rica, Secret Santa, Code One
and Mismatch.
Tonya
loves to travel and has visited 49 American states and three continents, but
some of her best journeys have been between the pages of a novel. As a girl she
could always be found with a book in her hand, and reading is still one of her
favorite hobbies. When she's not reading or writing, the author likes to ride
her bike, swim, and spend time with her husband and three children. She lives
in Missouri City, TX.
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CONNECT WITH TONYA:
Website:
Email & Newsletter:
Facebook:
Twitter:
Instagram:
BookBub Author Page:
BookBub Book Page:
Goodreads Author Page:
Goodreads Book Page:
Amazon Author Page:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOOK BUY LINKS:
Amazon Kindle eBook:
Amazon Paperback:
Amazon Hardcover:
Barnes and Noble Paperback:
Barnes and Noble Hardcover:
The Book Depository Paperback:
The Book Depository Hardcover:
BAM! Books-A-Million Paperback:
BAM! Books-A-Million Hardcover:
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GIVEAWAY INFO:
Tonya will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to
a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.
**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a
purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this
blog. This does not cost you anything,
it just helps pay for all those awesome giveaways on here.**
Tonya ~ Good morning! Welcome back! It is always a pleasure to have you here! Congrats on your new book and good luck on the book tour! I really enjoyed reading and reviewing your book, thanks for providing the copy! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Ally! I always feel so at home on your blog, and it's great to be back!! Thank you for all your support of my work.
DeleteThanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteWhat do your fans mean to you?
ReplyDeleteGreat question Mya! I love my fans!! Seeing my work encourage the little ones to read keeps me going as an author. I feel honored to be a part of their childhood and grateful that I'm able to do what I love and at the same time positively impact their lives.
DeleteSounds like an interesting read. I hope your book is a success.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for all your support Bernie. Best wishes in the giveaway!
DeleteGreat review!
ReplyDeleteI agree! Thanks so much for following along my review tour Victoria.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a wonderful series. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love all the covers of this series. My daughter has been reading a book a week.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing sounds good!
ReplyDelete