SOPHIE SHARES THE STARS

A glimpse into the life of a child whose parent grapples with a chronic illness.

For the past five years, 8-year-old Sophie has lived with “My Michael,” a loving single guardian. Recently, My Michael has been feeling ill, but people outside their family don’t understand, pointing out that “he doesn’t look sick.” Sophie tries to help out—bringing My Michael ginger ale and saltines and sharing some of the stars that adorn the child’s bedroom—and My Michael’s mother, Julia, arrives to clean and make dinner. Drawing on her own experiences with long Covid, Smith offers a warm, loving vision of a nontraditional family with an authentic, empathetic voice. The narrative is light on plot, mostly consisting of one- or two-page anecdotes about Sophie and My Michael’s life, with quite a few seemingly extraneous details and dropped threads, such as My Michael’s pregnant best friend Kim and My Michael’s talent for singing. The lack of a clear narrative thread may leave some readers feeling unsatisfied, but others will appreciate the slice-of-life feel. The tale is at its best when exploring seemingly inconsequential yet poignant moments in the characters’ lives, like when Sophie, with great forethought, turns the “88” on their apartment door into two snowmen. Adult readers may wish for some acknowledgment of the toll that caretaking can have on a child—even if Julia does step in. The illustrations are pleasant and gentle. Michael, Sophie, Kim, and Julia are pale-skinned, while incidental characters are diverse.

Compassionate and cozy, if a bit unfocused.