Sophie Hartley is a normal middle-elementary-age child who is very concerned with sensible topics such as avoiding chores, keeping the sole attention of her best friend, and receiving fair treatment from her parents. Sophie is nettled when her mother, tired of nagging the Hartley kids about their chores, creates a task-board. To add insult to injury, the chores start to interfere with Sophie's social life, and she begins to perceive parental favoritism towards her older brother and younger siblings. "Sophie Hartley, On Strike" is a charming read, not solely for its humor and universal subject matter, but also for its sensitive depictions of family roles. Sophie acts as any typical (occasionally oblivious) child would, and her parents display an understandable mixture of irritation and affection, and even reveal their own feet of clay. For grades 3 and up.