This book took me by surprise. It started out as a sweet story of a young girl and her best friend, who happens to be an elderly neighbor. It turns into such a deep and heartfelt story that broke my heart, but also gave me hope. I loved this book from the first page to the last, and I'm certain that you will too!

Lois Lowry has done it again. Another beautiful novel from a great author. Discussing hard topics in a gentle way. Definitely a great read for anyone child to adult.

Tree. Table. Book. By Lois Lowry tells the story of a young girl named Sophie. Sophie just happens to live in a wonderful community with her parents, friends, and best friend, who is 66 years older than her and has her same name. But one day Sophie overheard her parents talking about her friend Sophie, and this concerns her. This leads to the Sophie’s doing different tests together, while learning more about each other and the community that supports them.

I have always loved Lois Lowry’s books, and was happy to review this one. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for a fair and unbiased review!

This was a fantastic children's book about a friendship between Sophia and Sophia. It briefly touched on WWII in a way children could understand.

This was a sweet book. I love Lois Lowry's books, and this one did not disappoint. I think showing youth with elderly adults, hearing their stories, and experiencing life with them is important. This book scratches the surface of this type of relationship. And the importance of stories.

Sophie, 11-years-old, has a 77-year-old best friend nieghbor, also named Sophie. Younger Sophie overhears her parents talking about older Sophie possibly having to movie away due to declining mental health. Younger Sophie tries to figure out a way to save her best friend from having to leave while uncovering heart felt stories from the past.

This was a quick and easy read. I connected to the characters and would definitely recommend. Another great book from Lois Lowry!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Childrens Books for the ARC.

Lois Lowry always exceeds my expectations and her latest is no exception.
This is a beautiful story about Sophie and Sophie, two neighbors separated in age by more that 70 years. The older Sophie, a Jewish immigrant from Poland, survived World War II and is suffering from dementia. The younger Sophie is learning about life from her.
It's a moving and gratifying story but a sad one that touches upon tough subject matter so should be steered for middle graders. The tale of friendship permeates its pages, making it a story deeply heartfelt.

Honestly, having a family member with dementia, this hit a bit hard to me. It's poigiant and well-done.

Eleven-year-old Sophie’s best friend is her 88-year-old neighbor, Sophie. Sophie learns of her friend’s past through three stories she tells about three words: tree, table, book. This was a lovely story about friendship, acceptance, and letting go.

A beautiful story by Lois Lowry. A bit sad but not too intense for middle grades. A light hand telling survival story of young Polish Jew during WWII told through remembrances of older woman navigating dementia. A story of friendship. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

I teach two of Lois Lowry's books in my middle school English class, so I jumped on the chance to read another one of her books. Eleven-year-old Sophie's best friend is her elderly neighbor also named Sophie. When Sophie's son mentions moving her due to the beginning stages of dementia, the younger Sophie sets out to keep her friend in her home. A heartwarming story of a cross-generational friendship. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A wonderful story of an endearing friendship between two unlikely people. A story of three separate words that weave together heartbreaking stories of a polish child’s experience during WWII. A story written for the audience, in the voice of a middle schooler written for middle schoolers that will completely relate to the characters. Lois Lowry continues to be a gem of an author.

great book for middle age readers. Lois Lowry really knows how to speak and get through to her younger audience. My daughter could not put this book down.

I’m not sure what I expected from this book, but knowing the author, and loving her, I had high expectations. She far exceeded those expectations. Two Sophies, one young and the other young-at-heart, are besties. I’ve found that cross generation friendships are often richest. Young Sophie overhears that senior Sophie’s son is concerned that his mom is suffering from some cognitive decline. She doesn’t want her best friend to move away. She decides to help her study by helping her remember things.
This book touched my heart like few books ever have. I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC from #netgalley and #TreeTableBook The opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Tree. Table. Book. by Lois Lowry.

Listen, Lois Lowry is a part of DNA, so I don't care how old I am, I'm reading her books!

This is SUCH a sweet story, and just like Number the Stars was the perfect intro into a very difficult part of our history, Tree. Table. Book. was the perfect intro into what it would be like to see a loved one suffer a tough disease. In this story a young girl has an unconventional yet heart warming friendship with the elderly lady in her neighborhood. She is distraught to learn that her older friend is about to move, taken out of her home by her son who claims that her dementia has made it too difficult to stay home. So through tests, and research our young friend works hard to prove that her dementia is NOT too bad and that she can stay close forever.

I'm giving this four stars instead of five only because the story got a little sleepy sometimes. Like I wasn't always sure about the direction it was truly trying to take. Otherwise, I would HIGHLY recommend it to my younger self, and everyone else.

I enjoyed this book... though I wish we'd know more about both Sophie's lives. Young Sophie got to be a little much.

The story of precious 11 year old Sophia and her 88 year old best friend. Lois Lowry has a way with words that is always engaging. She never "writes down" to her middle grade audience; instead having her main character be a smarter than her age and excessively perceptive rising 6th grader who also explains as she goes. Sophia's astute perceptions of her friendships and how she relates to those around her is a shining example of how every 11 year old should be,

That said, it seems a bit fantastical and presumptuous of Sophia to "test" her 88 year old best friend for dementia. I suppose dementia can touch one's life at any time, but for most 11 year old's it is far outside their realm of understanding. As a 52 year old whose mother was recently diagnosed with dementia, I can't help but ask, who is the true audience for this book? I understood Sophia's impetus and methods because I watched my own mother go through the same tests. How many middle age readers are going to be able understand what it means to be tested for dementia?

I found that the more important parts of the book were Sofie's stories of her youth in Poland. However, I'm not sure if those stories make the necessary impact in the midst of Sophia's methods. Maybe reading this book as an adult affects my opinion? Maybe if a parent or teacher reads this book with their child/classroom, they can guide the young reader towards a deeper understanding of the context?

There are many messages in this book about story-telling, personal history, friendship, neighborhood dynamics, and acceptance. I can't help but wonder if it's too many messages for one small book.

Tree. Table. Book. is a heartwarming tale that revolves around the remarkable friendship between two unique individuals, both named Sophie. Despite a considerable age gap of seventy-seven years, the eleven-year-old Sophie and her older counterpart become inseparable friends.

Young Sophie finds joy and fulfillment in the company of older Sophie, eagerly offering her assistance whenever needed. However, as time passes, Young Sophie begins to notice certain changes in her friend's behavior, revealing signs of memory lapses and confusion. Worried about her aging friend, she learns that older Sophie's son is planning a visit to take his mother to the doctor.

In an effort to assess older Sophie's cognitive abilities, Young Sophie uses a Merck manual and encourages her friend to memorize three words, a challenging task. With patience and love, Young Sophie helps older Sophie recall each word by associating them with personal stories from her past.

The characters in this story are captivating and distinct, each leaving a lasting impression on readers. The friendship between the two Sophies blossoms beautifully, portraying the profound connection that can bridge any age gap. This story touches upon the themes of aging and adapting to life's changes.

Through heartwarming moments and poignant experiences, readers will undoubtedly fall in love with this touching tale. Tree. Table. Book. offers a compelling narrative of intergenerational friendship, where companionship transcends age and demonstrates the resilience of the human spirit. The story reminds us that true friendship knows no boundaries and is a celebration of the profound connections that enrich our lives.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is a touching and bittersweet novel about the friendship between two Sophies, an 11-year-old girl and her octogenarian neighbor of the same name.

They meet when the younger Sophie is locked out of her house by accident one day and the elder Sophie comes to her rescue. The story is told through dual timelines, which show the development of their unlikely friendship and the present, in which the younger is grappling with the news that the elder likely has dementia.

Determined to help her friend, the younger Sophie finds a copy of the Merck Manual and consults it, seeking answers and assistance about the elder Sophie's dementia. In it, she learns about cognitive testing, and begins to try to teach Sophie to repeat and recall three words (tree, table, book) by associating them with events from her past. The younger thinks that if the elder can pass neurocognitive testing, she will be able to continue to live independently, rather than be sent to assisted living in Ohio, near her son. So the elder Sophie begins to tell the younger stories about her past, remembering her survival as a child living in Europe during the Holocaust.

My 4th grade daughter and I read the novel and really enjoyed it. It was definitely relatable to both of us, as we are currently grappling with an elder family member's dementia. Overall, this was a poignant read about the two ends of the life spectrum. It touches upon many lessons and issues that are important and relevant for children, but it should be read and discussed with an adult.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins Children's Books/Clarion Books, and Lois Lowry, for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Lois Lowry continues to be a master storyteller. 11 year old Sophie's best friend is her neighbor, who shares the name Sophie and also happens to be 88 years old. The characters are beautifully crafted and though the story is sad, covering themes of the Holocaust and dementia, it is also hopeful and uplifting. This book would be a wonderful addition to any upper elementary or middle school classroom library.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.