By Lois Lowry
New York: Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2024. 194 pages.The two Sophies are best friends and neighbors, even though one is eleven and the other is eighty-eight they have a special bond. Younger Sophie sets the scene of the idyllic suburban street they live on with its charming cast of characters. Initially, all seems well, however it soon becomes apparent that older Sophie is becoming more and more forgetful. When the threat of older Sophie potentially moving into an assisted living facility nearer to her son looms, younger Sophie is determined to prove that older Sophie is still capable of living independently. So, she starts unofficially administering one of the diagnostic tests to determine if a person has dementia which includes being able to repeat a list of items. Through this process the Sophies will go on a journey together into older Sophie's past as a young Jewish girl living in Poland during the Nazi regime.
Tree. Table. Book. is a poignant reminder of the enduring bonds of friendship and the resiliency of a generation who endured unspeakable trauma during World War II. This story serves as a connection to younger generations to never forget a history that must not be repeated. Lois Lowry handles this topic in a sensitive way that is appropriate for tween readers, and it serves as a good introduction to this period of time as well as what the onset of dementia can look like.
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