Module 5: So B. It

Weeks, Sarah. 2004. So B. It. Laura Geringer Books: New York. ISBN 0-06-623622-3.

Sarah Weeks creates a touching story of love, devotion and discovery. The first person that a child loves is his/her mother. Heidi It is no exception. However her mother, who calls herself So B. It, has a “bum brain” and is completely dependent on Heidi and a neighbor, Bernadette. So B. It has a limited vocabulary of 23 words. Sarah Weeks skillfully uses each of these simple words as a title for each chapter. The story is always seen through the uncomplicated eyes of So B. It and Heidi. Eventually, Heidi is haunted by the word soof, the only word her mother says that she can’t identify. Heidi’s stubbornness and determination drives her into a solo bus journey across the country with a roll of mysterious photographs in her hand, a notebook full of questions, and soof. As Heidi discovers the truth about her mother’s past, she realizes the true meaning of love, soof. Sarah Weeks created clever and fallible characters that remind readers of the meaning of unconditional love.