Soof by Sarah Weeks (review)

Fifth-grader Aurora—Rory—is a little odd with her sensitivities and mannerisms, but she loves her dog, Duck, and she loves her family. She does get tired, however, of her mother's obsession with Heidi (from So B. It, BCCB 9/04), who brought luck to the family in the form of Rory's birth ("I wondered what it would feel like to have a story all my own, instead of having to share it with some girl I'd never even met'), and she has mixed feelings about Heidi's impending visit. Bad fortune comes to the family when a fire damages their house and Duck disappears, but can Heidi's return bring succor to Rory as well as to her mother? Weeks writes Rory's narration with her familiar comfortable homeyness, and Rory's family are solid and endearing, while her grief for the missing Duck is credibly keen. The book doesn't really stand alone without So B. It, however, since there's a strong focus on the events of that book and the offstage characters aren't always explained; as a result, the book ironically confirms Rory's concerns that Heidi is the central person for her mother, since she's the central figure in this story even as its overt message denies it. As a result, the takeaway is confusing even for readers of the previous title, but Rory's solid and loving family is still a comforting place for both the audience and her to be. DS