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(More customer reviews)As far as I can determine, the most significant thing author Sarah Weeks wrote prior to "So B. It", was an amusing series for middle readers called the "Guy" books. Like many children's authors before her (Louis Sachar, for example), Weeks began her career as an author with light fluffy material. Then, out of nowhere, she creates this remarkable, complex, deeply moving book. "So B. It" may well be the first step towards making Sarah Weeks one of the great writers for kids of this era. She has taken a difficult (some might say impossible) subject, given it warmth and intelligence, and created one of the best books of 2004. If you want to give a kid something to read that's interesting and insightful, but also contains more complexity than your average "Droon" chronicle, I can't recommend this book any more highly.
Heidi It has always, so far as she has known, lived with her mother and her neighbor Bernice (Bernie) in their apartments in Reno. Heidi's family is remarkable for a great many reasons. Her mother, So B. It, has, what Heidi matter-of-factly calls a "bum brain". She's mentally handicapped and has only the capacity of saying only 23 words altogether. Bernie is a neighbor who has always cared for Heidi in ways that So B. It could not. Unfortunately, Bernie has agoraphobia and can't exit their apartments for any reason. Heidi, for her part, is what you might call normal were it not for one remarkable fact. She's lucky. Anytime her household needs a little more money to fix the vacuum cleaner or to pay an unexpected bill, Heidi tromps down to the local slot machine, wins a load of cash, and gives it to Bernie to use. And life with these three might have gone on in this fashion had it not been for a couple mysteries that Heidi wanted to solve. First of all, her mother can only say 23 words. One of them is "soof". Heidi wants to know what that word means, but her mom hasn't the capacity to understand or say. Second of all, baby Heidi and So B. It arrived in the apartment next to Bernie's years ago without anything but the clothes on their backs. And finally, Heidi finds an ancient camera in her apartment with film that has never been developed. Film, that dates back to before Heidi was born. Film, that might answer some of the questions she so desperately needs.
The book's a mystery at heart. Heidi's personal quest to track down her past and find where she comes from is both believable and the kind of thing kids can identify with. In spite of Bernie's objections, she goes out into the cold world to find what she wants most. Weeks, as a writer, deftly weaves different lessons and wisdoms into her text without ever making it preachy or didactic. Heidi says right from the start that there are some things in this world that you cannot know. That's a truth that places the rest of the book in a distinct and curious light. For her part, Heidi learns quite of a bit of the truth, even if large chunks are missing here and there.
What was most impressive about the story though was the character of So B. It. How do you go about creating a mentally handicapped character without reducing her to stereotypes or oversimplification? Somehow Weeks has managed it, and the result is an astounding novel. Quite frankly, this book hinges on whether or not you find the character of So B. It realistic and sympathetic. Weeks treads carefully around her subject but makes it perfectly clear that in spite of her problems, this is a woman who cares deeply for the people who love her. Even if she can't express it all the time.
There are also some touchy subjects that Weeks skirts around believably. As I read the book, I wondered how the author would deal with the details of Heidi's conception. I won't give anything away but to say that the book's a class act and the subject, which is addressed in a child-friendly manner, works. And by the way, if you're worried about whether or not this title will be interesting to kids, don't be. The writing here is great, riddled with mysteries and lots of lists that Heidi likes to keep things straight in.
That this book never received so much as a Newbery honor rankles me. Not that the actual winners weren't deserving, but this is a truly beautiful book that every child should know. My greatest fear is that someone somewhere will get it mixed up with the far more mediocre, "Ida B", which came out in the same year. For those who locate this title correctly, however, they will find something that is appealing to kids and yet is well written enough to earn the respect of adults as well. A gem.
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