Synopsis
Sophie is supposed to help out around the house, and that’s bad enough. But then her mother comes up with a job chart, and all of a sudden Sophie has a whole list of new chores to do. Some of them, like cleaning the downstairs toilet, are gross! “Menial,” says big brother Thad, who somehow manages to avoid doing any of his own new jobs. “No fair!” says Sophie.
Sophie’s father went on strike when his beliefs were on the line. Now Sophie sees no alternative but to stand up for what she believes in.
The ensuing battle of wills threatens to defeat even the indomitable Sophie. Will the Hartleys have to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for every meal from now on? Will they ever have happy family times together again?
Children's Literature
Sophie misses doing activities with her two best friends when she spends her Saturdays doing chores. She feels her mother lets her older brother ignore his responsibilities and the two younger children do not have to do much. Sophie's mother gets tired of arguing and makes a weekly list of duties for everyone. Sophie still feels discriminated against. She feels her parents do not do anything and organizes her siblings to strike. This, of course, back fires when their mother stops cooking and doing the laundry. Besides a very conventional ending where the kids see a need to clean the house, to take care of the garbage and dog poop, and to have their mother cook, it does seem that the older brother is favored and often allowed to skip his chores for band, soccer practice, and school work. Still Sophie can now do her chores and find time to play with her friends.