Sofia Valdez and the Vanishing Vote by Andrea Beaty. Illustrated by David Roberts, Amulet books ISBN 9781419743504 £8.99
Politics. Boring. That’s what I always thought at school. But, as you grow up, its importance and relevance to your own life becomes clearer. How can we get this message across to youngsters? In a story, is one idea. This quirky text does a great job of blending the ideas behind why we have a political system into an exciting and relevant story. The class that Sofia belongs to needs a class pet, and what better way to decide than with a vote. The story has a great twist with a vote going missing, short easy to read chapters, and engaging illustrations. There’s lots of bonus information about elections at the back of the book as well. With Sofia’s grandfather speaking Spanish you even learn this along the way. He is also a retired baker, so you could link that to baking sweet treats in class! I like how the character’s emotions are portrayed, and there is a love of libraries being promoted. Miss Greer, her teacher, is clearly newly qualified, or hasn’t taught in a tough city school before, as she come across as quite weak and anxious. Be warned, the nuances and language used are very American. An unusual book compared to the type that I usually read, but I enjoyed it and value the idea behind it. Perfect for years 3 and 4, (7-8 years).
Jamie Marshall
