Sophia’s War by Avi has been on my list for a while, and I finally found time to read it along with my first leveled reading group of girls from LAST school year. Another group of fifth grade girls learned a lot and enjoyed this selection again this past school year. Avi’s descriptive writing style incorporates characters’ thoughts and feelings while also painting a vivid picture of the living conditions during the early years of the American Revolution. The strong willed and sensitive fictional Sophia is insterted into the well known saga of the famous traitor Benedict Arnold and British major John Andres.
The plot parallels the story line of another historical fiction book for adults that was also made into a television mini-series,
TURN: Washingron’s Spies. While I found the tv series delightful, it’s not appropriate for fifth graders. I’m a huge fan of Avi’s work and love how he has made the material accessible for all ages. Unfortunately, the length of
Sophia’s War makes it challenging for the majority of my students.
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