Sophie Hartley on Strike    by Stephanie Greene Order:  USA  Can Clarion, 2006 (2006) Hardcover      Reviewed by Lyn Seippel Nine-year-old Sophie knows she is supposed to help out around the house on Saturdays. The middle child in a family of five children, Sophie is sure she's doing more than her share. Sophie's mom is fed up with having to yell and cajole her children into doing their chores. Since they're so uncooperative, she makes out an extensive chore chart. Sophie and her sibs are amazed at the list – those jobs are usually done by their mother. Mrs. Hartley cheerfully informs them that she'll still do the laundry and cooking. Now Sophie has more chores to avoid. Sophie and her sister Nora go on strike because their big brother Thad is somehow avoiding doing any work at all. Soon the entire family is on strike. Now none of the chores are being done and it's every man for himself at meal time. This simple plot is enhanced by humorous dialogue and realistic family relationships where the children quarrel, make up, and care about one another. Sophie is a strong character surrounded by memorable siblings and supportive parents, who are willing to let their children make mistakes while they learn the importance of hard work. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews