Review of Sophie Washington: Treasure Beach by Tonya Duncan Ellis

 

Hey, y'all, there's a new Sophie Washington book out! And if you follow the blog at all, you know that these books are among my favorite contemporary reads for elementary/middle grade kids. Today you get a sneak peek inside with an excerpt and then get to read all of my thoughts. Let the author know your thoughts in the comments section. Check out the rest of the tour and best of luck in the giveaway!

A message in a bottle leads Sophie Washington and friends on a seaside treasure hunt in this exciting, illustrated chapter book adventure. It's summertime, and Sophie, her best friend, Chloe, and her younger brother, Cole are spending two fun-filled weeks in Corpus Christi, Texas with her young-at-heart grandmother. A surprise discovery on a day out at the beach takes them on a quest for riches. During their search, the kids snorkel, encounter endangered sea turtles, visit a World War II warship, and learn that honesty and true friendship are worth more than gold.

Read an excerpt:

Spooked, I backtrack on the slippery sand like I’m dancing the moonwalk.

Eek!

I almost step on a fish skeleton that includes a full set of teeth. Whatever ate the fish cleaned its bones. Creepy.

“Why’re you jumping around like that, Sophie?” asks Cole. “I thought you said we should be careful, so we don’t accidentally step on any baby turtles?”

“Look!” I gesture toward the cove, and Granny, Cole, and Chloe gather around.

What I thought was a rock wiggles again. It seems too heavy to be a piece of paper. Is it an old trash bag? A dead animal?

“Is that rock shaking?” Chloe leans in.

“I think so,” I answer.

This is weird. I’d have goosebumps if the sun wasn’t burning my arms. I rub my forehead with the back of my hand to stop sweat from dripping into my eyes.

Peering closer, I recognize what I see. “It’s a sea turtle!” I exclaim.

At first, the reptile’s head was inside its shell, so we didn’t recognize it. It’s nearly the size of a dinner plate. Somehow, Cole’s baseball cap is attached to one of its back flippers.

“Check that thing out!” His eyes widen.

This is my first time seeing a grown sea turtle up close.

“Good morning, Mr. Turtle!” I sing-song.

Its shell is dark, grayish-green, and its body is white. The reptile’s nose reminds me of a beak.

Spotting us, the turtle shuffles its legs to flee, but its shell sticks like glue to the rocks underneath.

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**My thoughts**

It's summer vacation and our friend Sopnie is away visiting her grandmother with her little brother Cole and her best friend Chloe. One day while at the beach, they come across a buried treasure of sorts that sends them on a scavenger hunt based on written clues. It's a fun way to squeeze in a little science and history! And it brought back memories of geocaching with my aunt.

As always, there are some life lessons happening. Sophie learns about taking things for granted and how parents/families have different ways of showing their love for each other. She learns about honesty and caring for others. And she also makes a mistake that puts her friendship with Chloe to the test. I'm not giving away any details, but the feelings involved in all of these situations are quite common. A lot of children will relate.

I also appreciate the way Granny handles the whole situation. Adults, take note!

Each book in this series is relatable and entertaining while also being subtly educational. They all work as standalones, but I recommend reading all of them. I love them so much!

Click on a title to read my review!

Queen of the Bee

The Gamer

Things You Didn't Know About Sophie

Hurricane

Secret Santa

Code One

Mismatch

My BFF

Class Retreat

Lemonade Day

Treasure Beach

Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of the award winning, bestselling, Sophie Washington children's book series, geared toward readers ages 8 to 12, and is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Her independently published books have been featured in the Houston Chronicle and the Baltimore Sun and have seen over 70,000 downloads and sales in the United States, India, Canada, and Great Britain. She has worked as a journalist and a freelance magazine writer, and is a graduate of Centre College of Kentucky and holds an M.B.A. degree from Washington University in St. Louis.

The twelve book Sophie Washington series stars a sweet and sassy African American preteen from Houston, TX and her diverse group of friends. Each funny and heartwarming story teaches lessons about friendship, responsibility, truthfulness, and perseverance.

Tonya loves to travel and has visited 49 American states, 20 countries, and three continents, but some of her best journeys have been between the pages of a novel. As a girl she could always be found with a book in her hand, and reading is still one of her favorite hobbies. When she's not reading or writing, the author likes to ride her bike, swim, and spend time with her husband and three children. She lives in Missouri City.

Find her online:

https://tonyaduncanellis.com/

https://twitter.com/tonyadellis

https://www.facebook.com/tonyaellisbooks

https://www.amazon.com/Tonya-Duncan-Ellis/e/B0762ZB3BN

Tonya Duncan Ellis will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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