School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-7-Everyone has inside thoughts. If you were a cartoon, they would appear over your head in a fluffy cloud or a bubble. No one is supposed to be able to see them, right? But Sophie suddenly can see them. After her mom loses her job and her boyfriend and the stress of a class project sets in, bubbles begin to appear everywhere. Knowing what everyone else is thinking should be really amazing, only it isn't so great when you know that people are sad or lonely or that your best friend might have a crush on the boy you like or that perfect Viv's class project has to do with you. Sophie Mulvaney is a wonderful character who, like many kids, feels the weight of other people's problems and responsibilities. There is a believable dynamic between Sophie and her friends, her mother, and other adult characters. Realistic elements of mild depression, preteen insecurities, and helpful adult interactions propel an authentic yet whimsical journey into the life of a 12-year-old girl. Sophie's story offers a bright spot of hope and understanding in a difficult time in a child's life. VERDICT A funny and sensitive novel, bound to find eager middle grade readers.-Elizabeth Speer, Weatherford College, TX © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Sixth grader Sophie thinks she's overtired when she sees the first thought bubble appear over her mom's ex-boyfriend's head, but soon she's seeing them everywhere. It should be awesome to know people's secrets, but what about when you discover your best friend has the same boy crush? Cooper (Sticks & Stones) once again uses magical realism to tackle moral dilemmas in an engaging way. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Cooper (Sticks and Stones, 2016) revisits quirky maladies and middle school friendships. Brown-skinned, mixed-race (Latina/white) 12-year-old Sophie Mulvaney and her mother used to be "Adventurous Girls." But ever since Sophie's mother broke up with her boyfriend, Pratik, and lost her job, she's been depressed, and Sophie blames herself. Worse, Sophie suddenly notices comic-strip-style bubbles above people's heads that broadcast their thoughtsor so she thinks. Her friends, anxious Kaya, described as having dark-brown skin, and "hyper" Argentine-American Rafael, miss her adventurous nature. Fortunately, a social studies group project conveniently addresses Sophie's situation: risk-taking. As the friends tackle their respective fears to train for a triathlon, Sophie's mother faces her depression. Meanwhile, Sophie addresses the thought bubbles she sees with the aid of a therapist, which the author handles straightforwardly. Sophie's bubbles are never diagnosed; like Sophie's frequent allusions to historical events, they're simply a vehicle for a moral. Even Sophie's interest in history itself becomes a metaphor for her development as she learns people aren't always what they seem; her only unscathed trait is her obsession with pancakes. Her friends are barely developed, and a snooty white classmate is a lonely clich. Though the author inserts a few roadblocks, the ending is almost too pat to be believable. Though readers may root for "Team Everybody" (and perhaps crave some pancakes), the heavy-handed lessons make this feel-good story a bit of a slog. (Fiction. 9-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Biracial Sophie Mulvaney knows there's nothing normal about being able to read people's thoughts via bubbles hanging over their heads. Not only that, but it's getting her into all sorts of trouble. Now she knows her best friends, Kaya and Rafael, have secretly started to date. She knows that Viv Carlson is trying to steal her friends away from her. And worst of all, she knows exactly how sad her recently dumped, recently fired, and no longer adventurous mom is. But what exactly does Sophie know versus what she thinks she knows, and how can she learn to separate fact from feelings? With the help of a therapist, Sophie works to understand the thoughts she sees, to rebuild her relationship with her mom, and to reconnect with her friends through a social studies project on risk-taking. While Cooper certainly stays in the shallow end when it comes to portraying conditions such as anxiety and depression, the magical spin she gives to her lead character adds a lightness to the story that may be appreciated by younger readers.--Kuss, Rebecca Copyright 2017 Booklist
