Sophie Washington: Hurricane

Sophie Washington #5

by Tonya Duncan Ellis

"The story is very exciting, and will keep the reader captivated. The book accurately describes the fear of going through a hurricane. I was hooked by the first page and I never wanted to put the book down." - Readers' Favorite

# Sophie Strong

A hurricane’s coming, and eleven-year-old Sophie Washington’s typical middle school life in the Houston, Texas suburbs is about to make a major change. One day she’s teasing her little brother, Cole, dodging classmate Nathan Jones’ wayward science lab frog and complaining about “braggamuffin” cheerleader Valentina Martinez, and the next, she and her family are fleeing for their lives to avoid dangerous flood waters.

Finding a place to stay isn’t easy during the disaster, and the Washington’s get some
surprise visitors when they finally do locate shelter. To add to the trouble, three members of the Washington family go missing during the storm, and new friends lose their home. In the middle of it all, Sophie learns to be grateful for what she has and that she is stronger than she ever imagined.

Genres: Childrens

100 pages, ebook

Published January 13, 2018

About the author

Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of THEY BUILT ME FOR FREEDOM (HarperCollins, Balzer + Bray, 2024) and the SOPHIE WASHINGTON children’s chapter series. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the Authors Guild, and the Brown Bookshelf’s Highlights Foundation-sponsored Amplify Black Stories storyteller cohort. Tonya has spoken and taught at writing conferences at the Highlights Foundation and for SCBWI in New York City and for SCBWI Houston and Austin, TX chapters. A former journalist and freelance magazine writer, she lives in Houston, Texas.

www.tonyaduncanellis.com
Facebook: @tonyaellisbooks
Instagram: @tonyaellisbooks

Reviews

[Barbara Senteney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this cute Sophie Washington series and her sweet antics and friendships, and maybe a little crush in her life. I went in to this expecting the same sweet thing, ok my girl done went and flipped a switch and got serious on me. I didn't read the synopsis , since children's books are a short read, and man was I surprised. I knew it had a hurricane in it but wow, missing people, family agony waiting. I recommend this series wholeheartedly. It inspires the unity of races, soothes fears, and faces everyday life with a smile.
I was gifted this book in exchange for a fair and honest review, I am happy to do that since she is becoming one of my favorite authors for young readers.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sophie Washington: Hurricane is an early chapter book aimed at children eight to eleven years old. This is the fifth book in the series and the only one that I've read so far. Other books in the Sophie Washington series include Sophie Washington: The Gamer, The Snitch, and Queen of the Bee. While each book seems to be able to be read on its own, I'd probably recommend starting with an earlier book. At the beginning of the story, Ellis introduces Sophie's friends who attend the private school with her, and Valentina, the girl who perhaps Sophie is a bit jealous of because her friends seem to "follow her around like zombies." Initially, Sophie isn't a very likable character, internally she fumes that Valentina is being "fake" and "a phony," and can't understand why her friends don't see it. She's surly and moans about her younger brother, her friends who're suddenly interested in cheerleading and the healthy food choices her parents force on her as snacks. However, Sophie's attitude softens considerably when Valentina and her family show up at her father's office after losing everything in the flood. Sophie then realizes that she misjudged Valentina, that she knows nothing about her home environment or money situation. When Sophie also learns from Valentina's grandmother that her parents were deported by immigration and it's been two years since she's seen them, she not only see's Valentina in a new light but develops a plan to help Sophie recover some of the things she's lost in the flood.

Hurricane briefly touches on the complications that follow a natural disaster, the fear, and struggles for children of immigrant families who face deportation and how it's important to not judge a person because you never know what is going on in their life. The story is just the right length for an early chapter book, with language that matches the target audience. Sophie and Valentina's families were portrayed as caring and very involved in their lives. I also thought the sibling's relationships were realistic, they had their moments of bickering in the car demanding each other to "scoot over," but in the end, they still care for one another. Included in the story are full-page black and white illustrations similar in design to the cover. While the illustrations do portray the characters and events of the story, even matching some of the tension of the impending storm, I would've enjoyed them more if they were in color like the cover. Overall, this was an enjoyable story with positive messaging and a realistic portrayal of what can happen following a hurricane.

* In exchange for an honest review, an ebook copy was received from the author. *

[E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

“Sophie Washington: Hurricane” by Tonya Duncan Ellis continues the adventures of Sophie and the rest of her family as they cope with everyday life near Houston, Texas. Not only does Sophie have to deal with her jealousy of a girl named Valentina who is coaxing away Sophie’s friends, but a natural disaster causes all kinds of challenges. Every day is an adventure.

I love this series of children’s books because it features a personable young heroine who is realistic. Sophie is an All-American little girl, coping with peer pressure, trying to find her way through school, dealing with a precocious little brother, but no matter what, she has her family unit to depend on. I love watching her deal with everyday things, experiencing the normal feelings when she thinks someone else is getting something she feels should be hers…whether it is her brother or her friends getting focused on something that excludes her. The best thing about these books is joining her on her journey of discovery, whether that is finding out that something scary is improved by being able to depend on her parents’ strength or learning that a classmate has her own challenges to overcome. It’s so much fun watching Sophie grow and I look forward to many more of her adventures.

A copy of this title was provided to me for review

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hurricane is yet another fabulous addition to the Sophie Washington series. I absolutely love Sophie and her family. This time they experience a devastating hurricane, which leads Sophie to new changes and surprising new friends. I like how the book teaches young readers how to help others, give others a chance, know what is really important and how to be good role models.
I give Hurricane a well deserved five stars. I hope Tonya Duncan Ellis continues this series for years to come.
I received this book the author. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

[Addie LeMaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved all the characters and the way they reacted to the situations.

[Katie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleven year old Sophie Washington lives a pretty typical life in the suburbs of Houston, Texas. She has an annoying younger brother named Cole, and parents who are way too health conscious and are strict with her but let Cole get away with just about anything. But when a hurricane comes to town, Sophie's family is forced to leave their home and seek shelter. After seeing the destruction from the hurricane and making a new friend, Sophie realizes she should be grateful for what she has and not everyone's life is as picture perfect as it seems on the outside.

This is the second book in the Sophie Washington series that I have read and definitely my favorite. I thought it handled the subject of a natural disaster from the eyes of a child very well. There's also a good lesson about taking the time to get to know someone because you might discover you actually enjoy their company. Overall, a good chapter book read for kids in grade school with some diverse characters.

I won this book in a giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

[Ally Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another top-notch read from The Sophie Washington Book Series!

This is the third book I’ve read in The Sophie Washington Book Series, and this is the fourth book in the series that I’ve featured on my blog! So yes, I was more than thrilled to read and review this book – and it did not disappoint!

This book follows Sophie, now eleven, and her family in the beautiful suburbs of Houston, Texas. This book focuses mostly on Sophie’s family, friends, classmates, and trying to avoid a scary and dangerous hurricane!

We moved a lot when I was kid, but never to a state that had hurricanes. So, I wasn’t very familiar with the ins and outs of hurricanes from a kid’s perspective. However, I am very familiar with earthquakes and tornados. There was this one particular time in Aurora, Colorado, where a tornado had touched down just a couple blocks away from our apartment. I remember hearing the loud sirens screeching outside. I was nine-years-old and home alone. My mom was half hour away at work and she had called to tell me that she loved me and to get in the bathtub with the phone, radio, Gameboy, and flashlight. The complex didn’t have a storm shelter and we had learned the bathtub was the next best place to shelter. I was soooooo scared!!! And many of the roads were closed off so my mom wasn’t able to come home, so I had to wait it out by myself. I remember feeling the bathroom shaking and things falling off the counter. It was probably one of the scariest moments of my life. The tornado finally had gone back up after what seemed like forever to a nine-year-old, but I’m sure were mere minutes if that. Our apartment didn’t have any outside damage, but several of the houses on our street did. We only lived in Aurora nine months, and we wouldn’t have lasted any longer to be honest. After more tornados, neighborhood crime, gangs, and so much more, we were done with the area. But that was in the late 90’s! I’ve been back since, and the area has greatly improved – except, they still get tornados lol.

Facing a natural disaster is scary to ANYONE regardless of their age. Facing a natural disaster as a kid is probably one of the scariest things they could imagine, and if not handled right, could have serious consequences. That’s why I totally LOVED this book!!! The author brings facing something scary into a positive, but serious, honest, non-threatening light that teaches kids it’s okay to be scared, but also how they can help in those situations. Also, this book shows what hurricane victims and their families go through during those hard times.

I really like that this book takes real-life issues head on and allows the young reader to easily connect with the characters and the situations they get into at home and at school.

This book also delves into the old English Idiom, “don’t judge a book by its cover,” making first impressions, and social groups and cliques in school. Sophie finds herself making fast judgments about some of her classmates that end up proving she may have jumped too quickly to those assumptions. Sophie learns a valuable lesson that I think everyone has struggled with at least one time in their life – profiling. It’s hard not to do in today’s culture, but I think it’s a very important lesson that no matter how easy it is to judge someone as the class geek, the snobby cheerleader, the class clown, or such, there’s always more to that person’s story, and you’re only seeing one side of them. And while you’re judging them, they might be judging you, perhaps as miss goody two shoes, and I’m sure that doesn’t feel good. So to borrow from the Golden Rule, “treat others how you want to be treated.”

This book series is just filled with so many wonderful life lessons and morals and this particular book did not miss the mark!

The author continues to show her Houston and Texas roots by throwing in so many references throughout the book since the book does take place in the Houston Suburbs. I have been to Houston many times, and I have lived in several parts of Texas before. So, I really enjoy when I read a book from there that the real Texas is found in the pages – and it sure was!

I think the best part of this book being for middle graders, is that it’s a fun, cool, intriguing, suspenseful 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 five of the Sophie Washington Book Series. Although I have read 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 am really enjoying this book series, and would totally recommend the whole series!!

This book is “G” rated as there is no swearing, no violence, no adult situations, and no sexual content.

I would absolutely recommend this book for middle graders as I think they would love this book and the Sophie Washington Book Series!

This book is marketed towards middle grades and I totally agree! However, I might even go as far as to suggest this book for readers in third grade to seventh grade as they too would also easily enjoy this book and book series as well!

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

[jackmagnus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite



Sophie Washington: Hurricane is a contemporary fiction novel for children and preteens written by Tonya Duncan Ellis. Sophie and her little brother, Cole, were terrified by the massive lightning bolt and booming thunder that suddenly shook their house. It seemed as though the lightning had actually hit something in their backyard. Bertram, their dog, joined the kids in their response as he howled in dismay at the weather. Sophie’s mom was even less impressed when the power went out shortly after that lightning strike. There had been a lot of rain in their part of Houston lately, and it just seemed to be continually coming down in great sheets.



When their dad got home from his dental practice, he immediately turned on the television to see what was happening with the weather. The report that a Category 2 hurricane was on its way to Corpus Christi alarmed everyone, especially since Granny Washington lived there. When the weather forecasters upgraded the storm to Category 4 later on that evening and issued emergency evacuations, Sophie’s dad decided that he would drive to Corpus Christi and bring his mom home with him. He had not been able to reach her by phone and was getting more and more worried. Sophie’s mom wasn’t happy about him leaving with the weather being so awful, but he was determined to go get his mom. Everyone waited tensely for his return.



Tonya Duncan Ellis’s contemporary fiction novel for children and preteens, Sophie Washington: Hurricane, is the fifth book in Ellis’s series, and while it can be read on its own, I’d recommend starting with the first book to get the full impact of this marvelous continuing story. Hurricane gives kids a feeling of the impact a storm or other natural disaster has on people’s lives, especially those who, like Valentina, her little brother and grandmother, end up losing everything in the flood. I especially enjoyed seeing Sophie’s change in attitude toward Valentina, who seems such an intimidating super star in school but is just another kid with her own issues and problems. Their burgeoning friendship as a result of the storm shows that good things can actually come from bad.



In Valentina’s story, Ellis also draws attention to the plight of immigrant families, who like Valentina and her family, are broken up by the enforcement of immigration laws. Sophie’s realization that Valentina doesn’t have her mom and dad makes her appreciate her own family even more and gives her a greater sense of empathy for her new friend. Each of these issues - the increasingly intensive storms and natural disasters and the breaking up of families with immigration problems - are things kids need to know about, and Ellis does a marvelous job of doing just that in this well-written book. Sophie Washington: Hurricane is most highly recommended.

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I read Things You Didn't Know About Sophie, The Gamer, The Snitch, and Hurricane all immediately after one another within the course of a day, so I will review all four together.*
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Things You Didn't Know About Sophie, and The Gamer; they were really well written, in a believable tone for a young girl, and in a friendly way for any young kids. They taught great, valuable lessons, in a way where it's really clear what point the author was trying to get across, but also in a way where kids are more likely to listen and understand it, because it's not just being shoved in their faces in big, bold letters, or even instructions.
The Snitch and Hurricane were also good; they had the same qualities of being well-written, and of teaching good lessons. I just felt that the characters were a bit whiny / annoying in these two, compared to the other two. Perhaps this was just me, and not the books themselves, or perhaps it was just because I read them all so close together, but either way, I didn't enjoy The Snitch or Hurricane quite as much.
The author did do an excellent job of introducing characters and past events in each book, though. You really don't need to read them in any particular order to get all of the information. I do wish I had looked up the order, though; I read two that happened to be in order, then one that came before those two, and then one that came after all three. It was a little weird doing that.
Note: I received these books for free through Goodreads Giveaways.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute novel aimed toward a younger audience. I felt that the book fits its audience well with its writing style and tone which stayed consistent throughout the book. The author is engaging and knows to capture her audience. The characters feel realists and go through relatable things that kids that age might experience. It lets the reader see themselves inside the book.

Though the illustrations included in the book are very simplistic and not in color, felt it gave the book some nice context to the events that were happening. The book carefully weaves important messages of family, immigration, friendship, and being grateful for what you have.

The story follows Sophie and her family dealing with having to flee for safety in a short amount of time due to an oncoming hurricane. It teaches kids about natural disasters and the realities some people face when dealing with them. I wish the author would delved deeper into the themes of the story rather just glossing over them, but I do think that opens up conversations that parents should have with their kids.

This was a good book! It was fast paced, but I enjoyed every moment. I think this is a fun kids series. I liked that she based the book off of her own experiences with Hurricane Harvey.

[Janet S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tonya Duncan Ellis has a real touch with portraying and connecting with pre-teen girls. She's very good at letting readers examine real problems--friendships, cultural frictions, family dynamics and community crises--through the eyes of a bright, thoughtful growing girl. A lot of realistic dangers shape the plot, including a major hurricane and the problems faced by immigrant families. Girls who have read previous Sophie stories will welcome the return of her diverse group of friends and her sensible, loving parents. They will also find HURRICANE a real page-turner--a whole lot happens in a short, well-written book.

[Emma Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way Tonya Duncan Ellis starts her story with action in the forefront! These first lines are quick and they grab young readers’ attention from the very beginning. She has incorporated suspense, action, conflict, and a little humor in this amazing story.

The family had to evacuate the city because of a terrible hurricane. What a horrific experience! But everlasting friendships were born out of this frightening natural disaster.

Valentina’s Spanish Dictionary is an added plus at the end of this book.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!

I enjoyed this book a lot! It was actually really engaging. I liked Sophie and how she interacted with her family. And even the girl at school she didn't like too much and how she worked that out. The flood was a great addition and very well written I thought. I also loved the art too.

[Theresa Wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is a great set of stories for young children to read. It covers topics that kids their ages are experiencing everyday. The book contains some great life stories the children can relate to. This one relates to what one might experience during a hurricane. I look forward to sharing them with grandkids.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life Lessons

This is a wonderful book for elementary aged children; especially girls. Being accepting of others, looking beneath the surface and helping those who are facing difficult times are all things covered in this book and would be great discussion topics.

I received a copy through the Goodreads Giveaway Program.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this e-book free through Goodreads First Read.

A good addition to the Sophie Washington series. I really liked how it showed how people don't really know what is happening at someone else's home/life.

[Bri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute story with a powerful message.

This was an entertaining book. I read it because I wanted a light read. I will definitely recommend this book to any child. I'm glad I gave it a try.

[Honey Jimenez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free kindle copy of this book through goodreads giveaways.
This book is adorable. It is written simply and obviously for children. I did enjoy it. It is a story of one girls family and their slight hardship through a hurricane and her social issues with kids at school. It presents more than one lesson for the main character to learn, and everyone is better for it in the end.
I would recommend this for anyone who has young girls of elementary and and even middle school age.

[Geraldine Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book as a Goodreads Giveaway

What a great series for younger readers! I enjoyed the story and the characters. Real life challenges in today's world.

[M.T. DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Read an excerpt and follow the Goddess Fish book tour here.
Ellis does it again with another fantastically cute Sophie Washington story! This time, Sophie and her family are facing a hurricane. Along the way, Sophie learns a lot, realizes how grateful she is for her life, and even makes some new friends.
Like the Sophie Washington books that come before, Hurricane doesn’t fail to entertain or educate. The Hurricane itself is scary, but Ellis weaves humor through the story to take away from the frightening parts. She doesn’t downplay how severe a hurricane can be, though, and strikes the perfect blend for a young audience.
Sophie is still a terrific protagonist for early middle school/late elementary school readers. She’s realistic, and Ellis has such a great voice for her. It’s interesting to see Sophie’s relationships with her friends and family change as the series progresses. If you’re just starting here, the book stands alone, and the characters are easy to get comfortable with.
All in all, this is a quick and fun read that teaches important lessons, as well as interesting facts about many things. Looking forward to more in this series!

[Andre(Read-A-Lot) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yep! She did it again. Tonya Duncan Ellis is onto something. She has created this Sophie Washington character who is just the right mixture of spunk, style and maturity to be instructive and engaging for middle grade readers. I urge all parents and teachers of middle grade children to embrace the delightful Sophie Washington series. In this one, empathy is again at the center of the story.

Sophie at first, doesn’t really care for Valentina, thinks she’s a phony. But when Hurricane Harvey comes to town and Valentina along with grandmother and little brother end up in Sophie’s father’s office to ride out the storm, Sophie gets a chance to learn more about Valentina and ultimately feels bad about having been a quick judge of her in the past. The door is now open for a true friendship. This Sophie Washington is a mature girl for her age and ultimately educative, which is perfect for middle graders trying to find their place in this big mean world. Impressive!