I received this title courtesy of NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books in return for an honest review. It’s been a bit since I’ve read something from Lois Lowry, and I’m so glad I read this. I will say that some of the references to current preteen culture is a bit outdated, but other than that, it’s a fantastic read!

I love Lois Lowry’s work and this book was no exception. I absolutely will be adding it to my collection in my classroom. From the beginning I was attached to Sophie Henry because ironically if I’d ever had kids that’s the two names I had picked out as well. Sofia Gershowitz reminded me of my grandmother and the caring relationship that was described between the two was just lovely.

Tree. Table. Book, by Lois Lowry explores the unique relationship between a precocious young girl and a few of her neighbors. Young Sophie has some pretty strong views on the world, and is not happy to find out that her elderly neighbor also named Sophie is going to be evaluated for "troubles with cognition". She decides to take matters into her own hands and through performing assessments learns lessons that help her gain a much deeper understanding of a history far different from her existence.

The book is filled with lovable, lively characters that are easy to imagine. There are a lot of subtle aspects of this story that I think younger readers might miss on their own, but with some guidance I can see how this story can help build a bridge to the past just like it did for young Sophie. As a reader in my late 30's, I found that it reminded me of my own grandmother, who only started to share stories of living in Europe during WWII in her last few years, and now those stories are what remains of her and history. These stories are important to be shared before they are lost forever.

Thank you to NetGalley, Clarion Books, and Lois Lowry for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this story about an 11 year old girl and her 88 year old best friend and neighbor, both named Sophie. Older Sophie is starting to show signs of dementia, and the story follows younger Sophie trying to deal with what this decline means to their friendship.
I really love that our quirky little protagonist is a clever, well-developed character that I cared about right away. Lowry did a wonderful job of giving this story characters with their own personality and depth, and making them all so likable. It was an absolute joy to read. But don't let the words "quirky" and "joy" fool you. There were also tender and touching moments that authentically broke my heart.
I'll have no problem recommending this book to our customers, young and old. If you have a child who is also dealing with the very difficult life change of watching an elderly loved one in cognitive decline, this book could offer some comfort, empathy, and understanding, along with giving an opening for discussing these topics.
Thank you NetGalley for sharing the ARC with me!

I love books that are about a young person having a friendship with an older person. The two Sophie’s had such a cute friendship. Older Sophie helped keep younger Sophie grounded. There are many life lessons we can learn from the older generation. I know younger Sophie definitely learned more about Tree. Table. Book. from older Sophie.

Super sweet and interesting! And the ending are you kidding? So so adorable and I wanted to cry. Loved the characters. This was just so wholesome. I would venture to call this a middle grade version of A Man Called Otto.

This book reminded me just how much I love Lois Lowry’s writing.

Everyone knows the two Sophies are best friends. One is in elementary school and one is suffering from dementia. When younger Sophie sets out to help her elderly best friend, she opens a floodgate of elder Sophies memories. She winds up listening to her dear friend’s stories, stories of war, hunger, cruelty and love. I highly recommend this story to everyone, young and old. It is a wonderful story.

This is the story of Sophie and Sophie - one is 11, and one is 88. When young Sophie learns that Sophie Gershowitz's son is thinking about moving her to an assisted living facility, Sophie runs her through a series of cognitive tests. In the process, she learns about friendship, history, and stories.

Young Sophie says "I think that learning from each other is one of the most important parts of friendship." Sophie admits that she is great at memorizing facts, but realizes that she needs stories to feel things. Sophie is on a mission to keep Sophie Gershowitz in the neighborhood - but in the process she learns some heartbreaking truths about her friend. Sophie G. shares some experiences from her childhood and her experiences in WWII that even her own children don't know about.

What a great story of true friendship, the hardships of dementia, and the importance of storytelling. The main character is 11, but there are a few things in the book that may be more appropriate for kids who are a bit more mature. But it beautifully handles some tough topics!

Thank you to Harper Collins Children's Books, Netgalley, and Lois Lowry for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions!

Sophie's best friend Sophie lives right next door, and she just happens to be in her 80s. When Sophie overhears a conversation about how the elder Sophie's son is coming to visit and how he is concerned about her memory, younger Sophie springs into action. She reads about the tests given to people with memory loss, and she decides she is going to make sure her Sophie will pass. But when it comes time to address the test, Sophie's memories lead to a fuller understanding that people contain multitudes.

What a book!! It takes a little while to build its momentum but I loved this book. At first, I thought it would be a sweet story about a girl and her friend who is older. That in itself is a good story. However, without giving out any spoilers, it was much more. The stories that that elder Sophie told about her experiences grabbed my heart. It became a much more complex , yet interesting book. It adresses hard topics such as dementia and World War 2 in an interesting way. As my own mother's memory is slipping away, I connected with the younger Sophie's desire to help her friend. I love Lowry's books and this one is now a new favorite.
Thanks to NetGalley for this advanced copy to preview this book!

This is a sweet story about friendship and the power of storytelling.
Sophie is an 11 year old girl who has a wonderful friendship with her 88 year old neighbor (of the same name). When she overhears that her neighbor's son is taking her to be tested for dementia, Sophie wants to help her improve her memory.
Elder Sophie ends up telling 3 stories of her childhood. As a person of the Jewish faith, raised in Poland, these stories are related to WWII.
I think this would be a great book to read with a child who is learning about WWII. There is not enough context in this book to understand what happened during the war, but it would be a wonderful supplement.
Younger Sophie realizes that although she's learned about WWII in school, these stories help it come alive for her. As a teacher, I agree that humanizing historical events makes it much more real for students.
Although this book was written on a fairly low level, there were some difficult vocabulary words. I think this would be a great classroom read aloud, or a book for a parent to read with their child.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy for review.

A slow building story that was so worth it in the end.I will be purchasing this for my library's collection.

Two things drew me to this book. First, I like the writing of Lois Lowry and I was curious about her newest one. Second, I was curious about the title. I learned that the title refers to a list of words that were supposed to diagnose one of the main characters, an elderly woman named Sophie, for dementia. From those three words the reader learns about her history as a young Jewish girl in Poland during the beginning of the Nazi invasion. Thankfully, she escaped the treatment that her family and others had endured, but the price was giving up everything.
The story carefully tells of the love that develops between the elderly Sophie and a young girl also named Sophie. Lois Lowery beautifully describes their relationship.
I really liked this book even though the subject matter is so difficult to read about. I guess what I appreciated was that the ending, while sad, was also slightly optimistic.

Tree, Table, Book is another excellent contribution by Lois Lowry. This book provides the opportunity to explore many current issues. The two Sophies are the best of friends, they live next door to each other. Sophie, the elder friend, was a refugee and an immigrant. She is also having increasingly severe memory problems. Sophie, the younger friend, is in elementary school, and a very precise person. She has two friends Ralphie, with whom she plans "complicated undertakings," and Oliver who is "unusual." When they notice the elder Sophie's memory lapses, they attempt to help her. They are graced with a story from the elder Sophie's deep memory. And they learn that things change. This is book not to be missed!

“Begin on the day that is different.” This, according to 11-year-old Sophia Henry Winslow, is the secret to starting a great story, and it also happens to be the way this unique tale of intergenerational friendship begins.

Sophia, who goes by Sophie, shares a name with her best friend, an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor named Sophie Gershowitz. The two of them enjoy long chats, cups of tea, and the color mauve. Young Sophie has recently discovered, however, that her octogenarian companion is showing signs of dementia, and that her adult son plans to put her in an assisted living home. 11-year-old Sophie hatches a plan to keep her best friend in her life.

This tale, which is nostalgic, outlandish, and personal all at once, reinforces the saying that friendship comes in many forms. The bond between the two Sophies is as wholesome and earnest as Young Sophie’s pre-teen belief that she alone knows what’s best for her friend. Her adolescent machinations kept me turning the pages while reading, as did her quirky friendships with the boys in her neighborhood who are unknowingly along for the ride.

Like other Lois Lowry novels, “Tree. Table. Book.” acknowledges the new feelings and big ideas middle grades readers are encountering for the first time. Sophie grapples with when to look out for her own feelings and when to defer to experienced adults. She brainstorms and looks for solutions but also can admit when she’s in over her head. I found myself wondering whether she realistically could understand the adult ideas in her life, such as dementia and war, and whether the preteens who are the intended audience would grasp them as well. It is best-suited, in my opinion, for a shared reading experience between grown up and early adolescent.

Lois Lowry’s latest work is poignant, inviting, and a worthy addition to her considerable shelf of thought-provoking literature. I remember reading The Giver in sixth grade and it is truly a blessing to read her newest work as an adult, a parent, and a teacher. Thank you for the gift of words, Mrs. Lowry!

[Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books, Clarion Books, and NetGalley for providing this advance copy in exchange for my honest review!]

3.5 rounded up

I finished in a day. This is a simple read for young adults. That being said, even an advanced reader may get lost in the first 1/3 of the book. Sophie, the main character, is all over the place. It didn't bother me, per se, but I can see how some people might not like it. The book did have some heartfelt moments with substance... if you can get past Sophie, who is only supposed to be 11, and her internal dialogue is portrayed as if SHE is the 80 year old. No 11 year old / 6th grader talks like this. The book wasn't bad; it was even cute at times. But it lacked something that I can't put my finger on.

And, for the record, I did remember the words: House, Umbrella, Apple

Oh my goodness. My heart! This book was so sweet and powerful. A girl's best friend is the old lady next door who is losing her short term memory. Through the book we learn about Mrs. Gershowitz and her history as a young Polish jew during WWII. So simple and sweet with an ending that will melt your heart. One I will be ordering a physical copy of for sure. I was given an e-arc from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A sweet book about intergenerational friendship, chosen family, the strength of memory even as some of it fades, the power of community, and neighborhood inclusion of all ages. It was a simple read but such a complex meaning to the story. I'd recommend to any young person coping with changes in aging family members, or struggling with interpersonal relationships.

Lois Lowry does such a fantastic job of writing to her readers. She explains topics in a way that young readers can easily understand.
Sophie is a young girl with no friends and kind of dorky child when she meets an older women named Sophie. The two become best of friends. When young Sophie realizes that older Sophie is losing her mind, young Sophie must come to terms with the fact that older Sophie may need more than she can give her.
Told in such a heartwarming way, Tree. Table. Book. Is a MUST read.
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins Children’s Books for my ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC for this book. This was a wonderful book with quirky and delightful characters. It introduces the reader to what happens to some people when they age in a gentle l and compassionate way.