Sonia Begonia [Hardcover]

Joanne Rocklin (Author), Julie Downing (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1986 | Age Level: 9 and up

Eleven-year-old Sonia determines to be a businesswoman and follow in the footsteps of her parents and elder brother but discovers that success in business isn't everything.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This is a light first novel with serious undertones that should please readers of Lois Lowry's Anastasia books. Eleven-year-old Sonia sees herself as "a girl with a good idea and a plan." Too young to join the family business (Begley Ladies' Lingerie Inc.), Sonia starts a house-watching service for her neighbors, unwittingly giving a tip to a friendly burglar. Too much of the story turns on Sonia's parents' failure to see how much she longs for their approval, but Sonia's reassurance on learning there is no family business geneonly work, luck, talent and many mistakesis convincingly drawn.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6 Eleven-year-old Sonia Begley is a fine babysitter, but she wants to do something not so ordinaryto be an efficient and trustworthy business person like her parents and big brother. She launches a house-watching service for vacationers. Jason, new to Los Angeles and with no other friends, attaches himself to her venture by enlisting his aunt as the first customer. The Begleys' lonely neighbor, Mrs. Fineberg, is drawn in too, when she is needed to prevent the watched houseplants from dying. Even little Snooky (her babysitting charge) helps, since Mrs. Begley insists Sonia continue babysitting despite her efforts in big business. Naturally, the watched house is burglarizeddue to Sonia's loose tongue. Although Sonia's Service catches the housebreaker, she feels like a miserable failure. Only when her family and friends convince her of their mutual love is Sonia able to begin plans for her next business adventure. All in all, a nice light tale revolving around wholesome, sensitive characters. Katharine Bruner, Brown Middle School Library, Harrison, Tenn.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 107 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum; 1St Edition edition (May 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0027773108
• ISBN-13: 978-0027773101
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,945,434 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

JOANNE ROCKLIN is the critically acclaimed author of several books, including ONE DAY AND ONE AMAZING MORNING ON ORANGE STREET, an Indie Bound book; STRUDEL STORIES, which was a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year and an American Library Association Notable Book, and FOR YOUR EYES ONLY!, which was a School Library Journal Best Book and a Bank Street Best Book. Her early readers THREE SMART PALS and THIS BOOK IS HAUNTED will soon be e-books, the latter also to be released as an App.

Her latest middle grade novel is ONE DAY AND ONE AMAZING MORNING ON ORANGE STREET, also published as an audiobook. "Fully realized characters and setting definitely make this one morning on Orange Street amazing." KIRKUS, starred.

She has a doctorate in psychology and is a former elementary school teacher, presently writing children's books full-time. For several years she taught a popular class in writing children's books at UCLA Extension. She gives presentations in schools, libraries and bookstores and has been a speaker for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, the California Reading Association, and other organizations.

Originally from Montreal, Canada, Joanne lived in Los Angeles for many decades. She now lives in Oakland, California.

Her website is www.joannerocklin.com and she welcomes comments.