Description
Sixteen-year-old Sofie is a dreamer, an artist and a romantic. So when she goes on exchange to Paris, she is expecting magnificent adventures of the heart and mind. Yet France isn't what she imagined. It's cold and grey, and speaking another language is exhausting. Sofie's more homesick than lovesick.
But then her host sister, Delphine, and fellow artist Olivier show her a different side of Paris, and Sofie starts to question her ideas of art, beauty and meaning. Of everything. There's truth in what her best friend, Crow, has been saying all along - the world is in crisis and people need to take notice. And when a catastrophe strikes close to home, Sofie realises she needs to act.
But what can one girl do? Will Sofie be able to find the courage to fight for change?
This One is Ours is a call to action for anyone who feels helpless about the state of society, as well as an ode to all the tiny beautifuls that make our world worth saving.
Review
Art student and romantic Sofie is off to Paris on exchange, and she’s not sure if she is terrified or excited, or maybe both!
At first, everything feels strange and overwhelming, but her host family make her feel welcome and as she makes new friends realise the things that really matter to her.
This is a wonderful story of spreading your wings and finding your way in the world. Many people feel overwhelmed and helpless about climate change, but this story shows that if everyone plays a small part then it might not be quite so daunting.
Sofie finds beauty in the smallest things, and with art as her main inspiration throughout the book, this is a thoroughly enjoyable and uplifting read and will most appeal to girls in mid-secondary and above.
Reviewed by Michelle
