Its Lois Lowry. What is not to love?

Tree. Table. Book. is about eleven year old Sophie whose best friend is her eighty eight year old neighbor named Sophie. And the changes that life brings.

Beautifully written. Fun and exciting. Sad and real. Fantastic.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

Thank you first of all for the ARC. It has been many years since I picked up a book by Lowry.
Living life differently. Having a taste and curiosity of medical journals. The background of WW2, which many authors touch upon at times. The 3 words, the title itself sends you through many levels of understanding and building a deeper love. There are some parts that will touch your heart and make you feel. This book is perfect for high school students and adults.

I just reviewed Tree. Table. Book. by Lois Lowry. #TreeTableBook #NetGalley

Thanks to NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Such a sweet story. And yes, I cried.
Young Sophie and elder Sophie are best of friends, despite their age difference. Sadly, elder Sophie is beginning to show signs of dementia and needs to live near her son. Young Sophie has a very hard time accepting this and tries to prove her dear neighbor is just fine.
In the process of testing her, we hear stories of the older Sophie, getting to know her and her childhood.

Wonderful book for helping young folk understand that what we think is for the best, is really all about us and not the person we want to help.

My children read Lois Lowry in grade school (The Giver), and I was impressed with the story but the ending was too brutal. All these years later, a new Lowry story comes along, and I hesitate: will we have to suffer another sad, sad ending? I decided to give it a chance.


The ending is far less brutal than it might have been.


Lowry tackles an issue that too many of us face: losing a loved one, not to death, but to dementia. How to care for an elderly parent who’s no longer able to safely live alone. The elderly treasure their independence and will not give it up without a fight. No longer competent? Never will they admit that, even to themselves.


In “Tree. Rock. Book.” we have precocious 11-year-old Sophie and her 88-year-old neighbor, also named Sophie, a World War II Holocaust survivor. The title comes from a cognitive test for dementia: given three simple little words, can we repeat them back five minutes later? Young Sophie overhears the neighbor’s adult son talk about this test–and the need to get his mom into Assisted Living. Sophie 11 resolves to test Sophie 88 herself, to help her pass the test, to keep her dear neighbor home, right across the street, a while longer.


The three words prompt Sophie 88 to tell her young friend three stories from her childhood. It’s a clever narrative structure, logical, compelling, and full of intrigue. What will the third prompt, book, unleash from the long-term memory of this neighbor?


Young Sophie is an engaging narrator. However, she seems far too insightful and wise for her age. Then again, her autistic neighbor Oliver is a walking encyclopedia, a savante. We can accept the extraordinary children, or quit reading and miss out on a good story. Sophie’s friend Ralphie is a great foil and “partner in crime,” when the three friends start plotting to rescue old Sophie from her fate.


The loss of our loved ones to dementia is all too common, these days. It’s something our children should read about in their fiction, in a way that isn’t too depressing. Lowry delivers. Sophie’s story is poignant but not more than a child reader can bear. Factor in the message of patience and acceptance of the Aspie kid, and this story checks off more boxes for a teacher looking for classroom fiction. And if that isn’t enough, we get the horrors of the Holocaust, which will always merit our awareness and attention.


In all, the story is cleverly written and relevant. If at times it strains credulity, I figure the message is so worthwhile, I can accept an 11-year-old narrating with the wisdom and insight of someone much older.


Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for an ARC of this novel.

This started off well and I like the voice, but I did not fully connect to the story as much as I had hoped. That is just me, however, and the experience may differ for younger readers. I will certainly be purchasing this as the literary value is high and there is usually some interest in young person/older person friendship titles.

It's been too long since I picked up a Lois Lowry title! Tree. Table. Book. was a perfect dose of nostalgia and hope. I love a friendship that spans generations, and so does Lowry!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC of this title!

Another sweet story from master storyteller Lois Lowry! I got teary-eyed as I read through this sweet story of friendship and finding yourself. Parents, this is a great one to share with your kids

What would you be willing to do to make sure that your friends and loved ones are ok? Eleven year old narrator Sophie grapples with this as she sets out to prevent her best friend (eighty eight year old neighbor Sophie) from being moving away. When a series of memory tests unlock Sophie's childhood memories of World War II, Sophie comes to realize that history is more than just words and that there is more to her friend than she ever knew.

This book is well worth the read. While intended for a younger audience, it will also appeal to fans of 'A Man Called Ove' and the author's previous book 'Number the Stars.'

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book.

This will go over great for elementary/young readers. It’s well written, flows well, and moves at a good pace. I stopped after chapter 3 (6%), but I see kids really enjoying it.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the ARC.

Absolutely a must read! This newest title by Lois Lowry didn’t disappoint. Can’t wait to add this one to our bookshelf.

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!