Book Review! // Sophia's War by Avi

Hello everyone! For some reason, it feels like it’s been forever since I did a Book Review! And I’m so excited to share this one with you! I recently borrowed this book from the library and let me tell you, it was a bumpy ride!

Image via Amazon

Sophia's War: A Tale of the Revolution
By Avi

(From the Back Cover)

Lives hang in the balance in this gripping Revolutionary War adventure from a beloved Newbery Medalist.

In 1776, young Sophia Calderwood witnesses the execution of Nathan Hale in New York City, which is newly occupied by the British army. Sophia is horrified by the event and resolves to do all she can to help the American cause. Recruited as a spy, she becomes a maid in the home of General Clinton, the supreme commander of the British forces in America. Through her work she becomes aware that someone in the American army might be switching sides, and she uncovers a plot that will grievously damage the Americans if it succeeds. But the identity of the would-be traitor is so shocking that no one believes her, and so Sophia decides to stop the treacherous plot herself, at great personal peril: She’s young, she’s a girl, and she’s running out of time. And if she fails, she’s facing an execution of her own.

Master storyteller Avi shows exactly how personal politics can be in this “nail-biting thriller” (Publishers Weekly) that is rich in historical detail and rife with action.

***

My Review:

In case you haven’t figured it out, I am intrigued by war time espionage, especially if it’s from the War Between the States, the Revolution or World War Two. Would I want to be a spy? Absolutely not! 😉 now if I had been a man, definitely! (Thank God He created me to be a woman!) This story covers the tale of Sophia Calderwood a young lady growing up in Colonial New York. It was an enthralling read! Seeing her be instrumental in capturing one of my least favorite villains in history was satisfying and while she is the heroine, I didn’t feel that this story undermined men like most female protagonists do. I didn’t like the way she thought of one of the final proponents of the historic event, but even so, she handled herself as a lady and didn’t sass him, even though she was concerned.

Things to keep in mind:

Sophia is 12 at the beginning of the story and 15 at it’s end. Today, her actions are unthinkable for a child of that age, but at this time, she is considered nearly an adult and as an adult, respectively.

There is a mention of her liking Major John Andre. What I liked about this is how her mother wisely warns her about him and how she herself asserts that she was too young and extremely foolish to let her head run away with her. And while she has to live with the mistake of giving away a peace of her heart, this book is not a romance in the least! I was pleasantly surprised at how the story was handled.

My main problem with this story is deception. I understand that she is a spy, and some deem it necessary to lie. I personally felt much of it wasn’t and do not condone lying under any circumstances. It is still a sin.

The historical detail was amazing! And the historical note in the back proved the perfect ending to this story told in first person Point of View (POV). And just warning you, for the first part of the story, if you are easily touched by the plights of POWs…you will need tissues. It is heart-wrenching, but brings to life the often forgotten victims of the Revolution, the POW and the citizen living in an occupied city. Life has to go on, but how does a Patriot pick up the pieces when their home is in the hands of the enemy? Read this book to find out.

This was a library book and if it were mine, I believe there were 2 or 3 words I would have marked. I would recommend this story for ages 14+.

Have a Blessed Day!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22