‘Sophie’s Different’ by Patrick Hodges is a fantastic follow-up to ‘Joshua’s Island’ and ‘Ethan’s Secret,’ Hodges’ first two novels in the James Madison series of books. Sophie Devereaux, the younger sister of main character Eve from ‘Joshua’s Island,’ is the protagonist of this story, with Ayden Saunders, an acquaintance turned friend, rounding out the dual narration that Hodges so consistently and creatively uses to share different viewpoints in his novels.

Sophie’s life should be easier. She has two best friends, a loving family, and she has even caught the eye of a pretty cute boy. But all isn’t necessarily as it seems, since the pretty cute boy is probably just using her, despite her assurances to the contrary when she is warned about him by Ayden.

Ayden is happy to steer clear of trouble, but he tends to find himself mixed up in more than he bargains for when he eavesdrops on people’s conversations. Giving himself the name “Invisiboy,” Ayden learns that Sophie is being used to make this cute, popular boy’s girlfriend jealous, and his girlfriend isn’t having any of it. She’s willing to go to whatever extremes necessary to make sure Sophie never lives down the torment she has awaiting her.

Through skillful writing and carefully placed cameos by his past two novels’ main and supporting characters, Hodges creates a world unto itself, yet ensures that history, while seemingly repeating itself, is never taken for granted. Bullying is a terrible, devastating issue to deal with, but Hodges always tackles it with the utmost sincerity and grace. His scenes are realistic and truthful to the way many young people feel in school and in life nowadays, and I highly recommend educators to add this series of books to their curriculums. The stories can be read quickly and with ease, and they showcase not only the battles, but the triumphs that go along with being a kid and dealing with everything that comes along with it.

‘Sophie’s Different’ by Patrick Hodges is available for pre-order on Amazon by clicking here.