It All Comes Down to This

I know I’ve been watching too many back episodes of Survivor when I read this book and hear TV host Jeff Probst in my head shouting, “Now THIS is how you write a book for MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS!” Summary Los Angeles, 1965: It’s the summer before Sophie’s ninth grade year at a new school and the summe......more

Summer is a time for relaxing, but for twelve--almost thirteen--year-old Sophie, it is also a time for saying goodbye to some things that are familiar and trying some new ones. The family's housekeeper has just been replaced by an older woman, Mrs. Baylor, who seems to judge the family for whom she......more

Sophie is lonely. She doesn't like the new housekeeper, it's the summer before her sister leaves for college, her parents are hardly ever home, and she only has one friend. This would all be bad enough, but many of the kids in the neighborhood are determined to never become her friend because of the......more

It All Comes Down to This is a really great read. Despite the fact that there's not much plot action happening, I've always enjoyed coming-of-age stories and this one is really well done. The Good: I absolutely adored the relationship between Sophie and Lily. I'm a sucker for a good sister relationsh......more