Sophie Washington: My BFF by Tonya Duncan Ellis - Book Tour - Book Review - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

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)

https://amzn.to/3dsA8H8

Sophie Washington: The Snitch (Book 2)

https://amzn.to/3bmqXGE

Sophie Washington: Things You Didn't Know About Sophie (Book 3)

https://amzn.to/2STqBRG

Sophie Washington: The Gamer (Book 4)

https://amzn.to/3bmkrzU

Sophie Washington: Hurricane (Book 5)

https://amzn.to/35NGvSR

Sophie Washington: Mission Costa Rica (Book 6)

https://amzn.to/3bmp5ht

Sophie Washington: Secret Santa (Book 7)

https://amzn.to/2xQmWN8

Sophie Washington: Code One (Book 8)

https://amzn.to/2xRd9GJ

Sophie Washington: Mismatch (Book 9)

https://amzn.to/3dCDasD

Sophie Washington: My BFF (Book 10)

https://amzn.to/2SSPDQV

**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!

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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!

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations.**

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

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MY ADDITIONAL BOOK SERIES POSTS & REVIEWS:

Check out my other Sophie Washington Book Series Posts & Reviews:

Sophie Washington: Queen Bee – Book One – Review:

https://fabulousandbrunette.blogspot.com/2018/03/sophie-washington-queen-of-bee-by-tonya.html

Sophie Washington: The Snitch – Book Two – Guest Post:
https://fabulousandbrunette.blogspot.com/2018/01/sophie-washington-snitch-by-tonya.html

Sophie Washington: The Gamer – Book Four – Review:

https://fabulousandbrunette.blogspot.com/2018/03/sophie-washington-gamer-by-tonya-duncan.html

Sophie Washington: Hurricane – Book Five – Review:

https://fabulousandbrunette.blogspot.com/2018/08/sophie-washington-hurricane-by-tonya.html

Sophie Washington: Secret Santa – Book Seven – Review:

https://fabulousandbrunette.blogspot.com/2018/11/sophie-washington-secret-santa-by-tonya.html

Sophie Washington: Code One – Book Eight – Review:

https://fabulousandbrunette.blogspot.com/2019/05/sophie-washington-code-one-by-tonya.html

Sophie Washington: Mismatch – Book Nine – Review:

https://fabulousandbrunette.blogspot.com/2019/10/sophie-washington-mismatch-by-tonya.html

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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:

https://tonyaduncanellis.com

Email & Newsletter:

https://tonyaduncanellis.com/contact-us

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/tonyaellisbooks

Twitter:

https://www.twitter.com/TonyaDEllis

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/tonyaellisbooks

BookBub Author Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tonya-duncan-ellis

BookBub Book Page:

https://www.bookbub.com/books/sophie-washington-my-bff-by-tonya-duncan-ellis

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4730542.Tonya_Duncan_Ellis

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50718365-sophie-washington

Amazon Author Page:

http://amzn.to/2rNmYSc

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/2SSPDQV

Amazon Paperback:

https://amzn.to/35OnAXU

Amazon Hardcover:

https://amzn.to/35M2B8a

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sophie-washington-tonya-duncan-ellis/1136493730?ean=9781733776387

Barnes and Noble Hardcover:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sophie-washington-tonya-duncan-ellis/1136493730?ean=9781733776394

The Book Depository Paperback:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Sophie-Washington-Tonya-Duncan-Ellis/9781733776387

The Book Depository Hardcover:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Sophie-Washington-Tonya-Duncan-Ellis/9781733776394

BAM! Books-A-Million Paperback:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Sophie-Washington/Tonya-Duncan-Ellis/9781733776387

BAM! Books-A-Million Hardcover:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Sophie-Washington/Tonya-Duncan-Ellis/9781733776394

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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.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**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.**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.