So. B. It by Sarah Weeks
I will
start this review by saying this book is incredible, and a real tear-jerker,
but as this blog does not post spoilers, I won’t tell you why. 12 year old main
character Heidi lives with her mother, who has is mentally disabled. Because of
her mother’s disability, Heidi knows very little about her mother’s past. What
she does know however, is that their neighbor Bernadette looks after Heidi and
her mother. Heidi’s mother has a limited vocabulary, calling herself So. B. It,
hence the title of the book. In order to find more about her mother, Heidi embarks
on a journey to discover her mother’s past, against the will of Bernadette. While
on her journey Heidi learns what she set out for, but more importantly learns
about herself.
I have
included this novel because while the child does not possess a disability, I
still believe her mother’s disability plays a large role in her upbringing and
the character she becomes at the end of the story. I think often times it may
be easy to forget that parents may have disabilities too, and this novel is the
perfect example of taking yet another angle when looking at disabilities in
children’s literature. I believe this book does a wonderful job of portraying
the mother as someone who is full of compassion and love, who has a personality
and a history beyond her disability. As Heidi uncovers her mother’s history she
learns much about herself. She learns to appreciate what she doesn’t know, and
accept what she cannot change. The growth Heidi experiences throughout the
novel would not have been the same had her worldview not been shaped by her
mother having a disability. I believe this book is appropriate for readers of
all ages, and easy to relate to for every reader as well. Viewing disability through the
eyes of a loved one of the person who is disabled gives an enlightening
perspective to the novel. This book will make any reader appreciative of what they have, and thankful for their family and loved ones.
