Children's fiction. Girls and moms will adore 9 y.o. (going on 10) Sophie's ramona quimby-esque adventures and charm. Definitely suited more to girls than boys (topics include girl cliques, first bras, etc.) ( )

Sophie is about to turn 10. This is a special birthday and requires a special gift. All she wants is a baby gorilla. Sophie doesn't mean to tell her friends she's getting the gorilla. Her parents have been so busy with Nora moving out of Sophie's room and into the attic and with Thad's upcoming 16th birthday that Sophie has felt left out. That is when it slips out. Now she has to find a way to get a gorilla because her friends believe she made it all up. This is a great book about a young girl growing up and the changes that happen with friends and family. A great book to recommend especially to upper elementary and lower middle grades. ( )

A girl in a large family is looking forward to her first "double digit" birthday, but soon discovers that growing up brings some unwanted changes. ( )