Sophie Washington: My BFF

Sophie Washington #10

by Tonya Duncan Ellis

A READERS' FAVORITE GOLD MEDAL BOOK AWARD WINNER
Fans of Junie B. Jones, Ivy and Bean, and Jada Jones love reading the entertaining, illustrated Sophie Washington book series.

"I think any child reading this book would gain the confidence to be themselves and not feel pressured to follow the crowd." - Readers' Favorite

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.

This is the tenth book in the Readers' Favorite five star rated Sophie Washington series. Books can be read in any order. Other titles Kids Ages 8-12
Click above to get your copy today!

Genres: Middle Grade, Childrens, Contemporary

131 pages, ebook

Published March 27, 2020

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

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starring a ten year old girl named Sophie Washington, this well written book follows the story of finding true friendships after dealing with some jealousy issues at school between a few of the girls. Despite the main characters being 10 and 8 year olds (I'm definitely not 8 or 10), they were fun to read about and I liked them all. Toby was very sweet (while still being boyish, of course) and he was probably my favorite because he was so polite.
It's not easy standing up for yourself, but this book teaches how it's important that we shouldn't just go along with our friends if they want to do something like cheat just because we want them to stay friends with us. Sometimes it takes time for us to figure out who our real friends are. I appreciated how the adults were mature and dealt with these issues properly and talked to the kids about what is right versus what is wrong so they would know for next time.

Content:
Language--OMG, some name calling (Poop Head, Big Head, Meanie, Creep, Snitch)
Sexy Stuff/Romance--One character likes a boy so she gets jealous; boys tease and make kissing noises at a girl
Violence--N/A
Other: the boys make a fart joke

[Rosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice book to teach children how friendships work. Friendship doesn't mean saying yes to everything your friend suggests but also using your own mind. It teaches the important lesson of having your own voice in a relationship. A nice read for 8-12 year olds.



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[Sarah Ahmimed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it as I just can't help feeling that Sophie was really kind going onto the Killer Whale because she clearly didn't want to and if anyone ddin't notice she was only doing this for her best friend I wouldn't be suprised. She didn't mention it at all. I was shocked when Chloe turned against Sophie. The pressure was too much and she was determined to get good marks. So when the oppurnity came she laughed at the poem set as their homework that wich Sophie wrote. No one ever suspected that she was memorising it silently. She got grounded and her phone was taking away. If that was Valentine she would be completely MAD without her phone because she loves it. Toby was shocked when he finally figured out the truth and the two of them became best friends when she owned up. She also explained that her parents so badly wanted her to do well and because of her problem called dylexsia it takes her longger to read and write. There for she has some extra tutoring. Sophie's work was actually amazing so when Chloe made Sophie lie and say she copied Chloe's work the teacher emailed her parents at once. But Chloe and Sophie had made up when she also confessed to the teacher and Sophie still got into trouble and her punishment carried on because she had to stick up for herself.

This is an amazing book along with the rest of the series.

[Gina Pangione · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I started reading Sophie Washington: My BFF, I knew my 11-year-old niece would love it! Akin to the Junie B. Jones series for middle-graders, this book by Tonya Duncan Ellis, is about a girl and her friends, but it’s written in such a way that boys and girls alike would enjoy it. This particular tale in the Sophie Washington series teaches kids valuable life lessons about trust, bullying, social media, and expanding our circle without being preachy or trite. The issues are relatable for kids that age that may confront challenging friends and competitive school mates, and shows them how to safely seek support from honest and reliable parents, siblings and other tried and true pals. Placing limits on social media, expounding the virtue of using literature and other art forms to express and find solace with some of our grievances, and showing that there are consequences for inappropriate actions are some of these valuable nuggets that children can consume in an entertaining story. The dialogue is true, sensitive, and fun. The pace is quick and natural. The sprinkling of metaphors is age-appropriate and humorous. The characters, while diverse, are universal in their emotional journey through the younger, impressionable years. I highly recommend this book.

[Cris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to teach children about friendships! Not just what friendship is but about what it isn’t! I’m so glad to see a book where a main character struggles with fitting in but the other characters are struggling too. Where at the end of the day it’s not just sunshine and rainbows, that’s not life.

[Jessica Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophie Washington: My BFF is about Sophie and her best friend, Chloe. Chloe has been acting very strange and not treating Sophie very nice. Chloe shared a picture of Sophie which causes other kids to laugh at Sophie's expression in the photo. Chloe is shutting out Sophie and makes fun of her poetry assignment. Sophie's other friends notice how mean Chloe has been acting and they attribute it to the fact that Chloe has dyslexia and is not doing well in English class so she is jealous of Sophie and her good grades. When both girls are accused of plagiarism, Sophie takes the fall for Chloe, but then Sophie gets in trouble with her parents. In the end, both girls learn the true meaning of friendship, which in turn teaches the reader what friendship really means.

This book would be great for middle school students since the story is set in the sixth grade. The story deals with topics of friendship, school, plagiarism and honesty. We give the book 5 out of 5 stars!

Disclosure: We received the book from the author. This did not affect our review and we were not compensated for this review.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore the Sophie Washington series and was excited to have the chance to read the newest installment, My BFF. Tonya Duncan Ellis is so talented to write a series that younger readers can relate to and learn life lessons from, including this one. Sophie finds out who her true friends are and how to be true to herself. I loved story so very much.
I am giving My BFF a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for all ages.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Goodreads and the publisher and any opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. I wish they would have had books like this when i was in middle school. I can't wait to share it with my niece. This book has wonderful examples of peer pressure, plagiarism, pictures on the internet being permanent, and consequences for actions. So many life lessons in one book. The author off this book did a wonderful job keeping the dialogue relatable and interesting. I will definitely be checking into other Sophie Washington books by this author.

[Anneliese Grassi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good lesson

Very cute, lesson teaching middle grade book. Sophie and her friends are typical pre-teens trying to find themselves while growing up and making right choices. Friendships are put to the test in decisions that they make and I can almost feel the raw feelings as if it were happening to me. As a parent, I've had these kinds of conversations with my now teen girls, and remember the feelings when I was that age too. Very well written and perfect for the intended audience.

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!

I have read other books in the Sophie Washington series and absolutely love them. In this book, Sophie is having some trouble with her BFF Chloe and can't seem to figure out what is going on. Sophie will do anything to get her friend back! Even lie for her. This actually really caught me up and I was so outraged by Chloe's mean behavior. I liked how this wrapped up with a gentle lesson for kids not to just go along with their friends. Especially not to lie for their friends. An excellent, well written book and so excited to read another in this series.

[Ally Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.**

[E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

“Sophie Washington: My BFF” by Tonya Duncan Ellis continues the saga of young Sophie as she deals with peer pressure and expectations of adults. When her best friend Chloe starts acting like she doesn’t value their friendship any longer, Sophie must decide what she is willing to sacrifice to keep her friend in her her life.

The stories in this children’s series are always a wonderful combination of entertainment and education. I enjoy accompanying Sophie through her adventures that touch on very realistic challenges while telling a fun story. Although dyslexia is an element of the tale, angst, jealousy, and peer pressure are also significant aspects as Sophie determines what she is willing to do to fit in. I love that these characters make mistakes but learn from them and continue to grow, and I’m delighted by the way Sophie’s parents approach their children’s problems.

I think this is a great book for stimulating a discussion about such things as dyslexia, plagiarism, peer pressure, and consequences for one’s actions. I always look forward to reading about Sophie’s adventures, and this story was a great addition to a lovely series.

A copy was provided for review

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know I’m going to sound like a broken record but once again Tonya Duncan Ellis has written another fun and yet really pertinent story for middle grade readers. This time she takes Sophie on the lifelike journey of knowing what being friends really means, and being left out and sometimes wondering what the right or wrong thing is to do. What a hurtful thing when you are that age.

This book tells a story so poignant I could have sworn I had that same feeling in my stomach that I had in 4th grade when my friend didn’t invite me to a party. That’s how real this is and yet it’s fun to read too. The author has made these characters totally identifiable through her series of Sophie Washington books that you know the whole family, even Sophie’s friends. I’m going to make the same suggestion again here too. Don’t just hand this book to your kids. Take some time and read it yourself. It has a good message for everyone.

Well you can probably already tell I like this series of Sophie Washington books. There are many; all fun and all with a good message. Check them out.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming of age story about friendship, peer pressure and self worth

Reading this story brings back fond, and not so fond, memories of adolescence and childhood, reminding me of everything I went through and learned to get to where I am now. Our best friends teach us so much about life when we're growing up, far more than we realize at the time, and help shape our identity and values for better for worse. Sophie is challenged, like most young people will be, to not only resist the cruel grips of peer pressure but also to realize her own self worth through an iconic and far too relatable incident with her best friend. The struggle she goes through is something all people can surely relate to and the lesson learned here is invaluable.

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Ellis has done it again with a new look into Sophie and her friends’ adventures in life. This time, Sophie learns just how hurtful it can be when your best friend suddenly seems to turn against you for no reason.

I can remember back to those days and those feelings. Ms. Ellis perfectly catches the emotions, and children in this age group will certainly be able to relate. The writing is smooth and easy, clear and descriptive, and I felt more like I was watching a show instead of reading a book. The characters are three-dimensional. Sophie definitely has her faults, which is refreshing, but I love that she and her friends learn from their experiences.

Highly recommended for elementary school students, boys and girls.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are great! I really wish that I had discovered the Sophie books sooner! They're perfect for tweens! Sophie's experiences are something that we can all relate too as they're part of growing up. While some kids are more willing to speak up on their own behalf, others (like Sophie) may not be. The added perspective of viewing an experience from the outside looking in will be valuable for so many tweens/teens. One of the greatest gifts that we can bestow upon our children is to instill a strong sense of self worth so they'll feel confident enough to stand up for themselves when the need arises. Sophie eventually learned to do that and she may just help inspire your kids to do the same.

Disclaimer: I received a free ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tanya Duncan Ellis knocked it out of the park again with this spectacular middle grade novel! This book teaches some very valuable lessons on friendship, appropriate and inappropriate conflict resolution, self confidence, being kind, and so many other realistic problems that children will encounter. As always, the writing was excellent. This book series is fast becoming one of my favorites to offer to my daughter in a few more years, and I highly recommend this entire series of books for readers in the 2nd grade and up.

I won a copy of this book in a giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

[Steven Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Tonya Ellis for a copy of Sophie Washington My BFF that I won in a contest. I am so excited for my two nieces to read this book! I always read any book I give my nieces first to make sure it's age appropriate, etc.
I loved the story of Sophie and her best friend Chloe. I won't give away spoilers so I'll just say it's a wonderful story of how to handle peer pressure, bullying, etc.

[M.T. DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

Read an excerpt and follow the Goddess Fish book tour here.
I feel like I start a lot of my reviews for this series by saying Ellis has done it again, but…Ellis has done it again. I enjoyed this from start to finish. I appreciate how Sophie’s challenges seem to get more difficult as she gets older. This is a great series for kids to grow up with.
The friendship struggle felt so real. I felt so bad for Sophie but knew (hoped?) everything would work out in the end. I can still vividly remember when my best friend in preschool stopped talking to me because I didn’t share my Power Rangers stickers with her. (Spoiler alert: she got over it a few years later, and we’re still friends today).
I also appreciated Ellis covering plagiarism and making it understandable for younger readers. As a writer, editor, and promoter, I know the hard work that goes into a book (or any written work), and plagiarism is never okay. Teach ‘em early.
All in all, I adored this, and I’m eagerly awaiting future installments in Sophie’s life.

[Cair-Paravel De Loulay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Sophie Washington! She reminds me of Amazing Grace. Strong, determined and a spitfire to boot. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series.

I received a free copy from Hidden Gems Books in return for an honest review.

[McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute read!! I loved it!! This was my first Sophie Washington book and I really want to read the rest of them now! A wonderful story about friendship. Perfect for young readers!

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy through Hidden Gems

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won a kindle copy from a Goodreads giveaway. This is my first book of the Sophie Washington series, but will look for more to share with my kids. This was a realistic story of friendship in sixth grade. I enjoyed this quick read, but really didn’t like Chloe at first.

[Saro Shekina]

I really loved this book

I imahined it was like in the story and there's so much new vocabularies for me and really o read this in one day and even not 20 hours so it is really touchin' on my heart.

[Salma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I cannot believe that Chloe pretended Sophie was copying her when it was the opposie way round.

[Dorothy Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophie Washington

This is a s another good book in the Sophia Washington series that teaches a lesson. All of the books are well written and keep the interest of the reader.

[Cherynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

I really liked this story line. There are valuable lessons that are learned about what is and is not true friendship. Loved it!

[The Endless Unread · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. An important lesson to be learned here. An absolute must read.

[Henrietta Boadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awsome!!

Honestly, i really like her books. They are the best books ive ever read. They are so interesting i cant stop reading them!