Sofia Valdez, Future Prez

No cover — Andrea Beaty: Sofia Valdez, Future Prez (Hardcover, 2019, Harry N. Abrams)

Hardcover, 40 pages

Published Dec. 24, 2019 by Harry N. Abrams.

ISBN:: 978-1-4197-3704-6

(1 review)

Every morning, Abuelo walks Sofia to school . . . until one day, when Abuelo hurts his ankle at a local landfill and he can no longer do so. Sofia (aka Sofi) misses her Abuelo and wonders what she can do about the dangerous Mount Trashmore. Then she gets an idea—the town can turn the slimy mess into a park! She brainstorms and plans and finally works up the courage to go to City Hall—only to be told by a clerk that she can’t build a park because she’s just a kid! Sofia is down but not out, and she sets out to prove what one kid can do.

2 editions

nerd teacher [books] reviewed Sofia Valdez, Future Prez by Andrea Beaty (Questioneers Picture Books, #4)

Hits My Least Favourite Tropes

1 star

Tolerable. Could be useful if you want your kids to be participants in traditional "democracy," which doesn't tend to be very democratic. The book does at least point at the obstacles, but it makes them seem entirely surmountable despite the fact we know they wouldn't be and would have to be done a dozen times over until you've done them "correctly." (We also know that they'd likely go backwards, as things would be time-delayed and elections would constantly keep them on the "democratic" teeter-totter.)

The two major tropes it hits include One Person Can Do It All (or One Person Can Lead Everyone To Do Everything) and The Youth Shall Fix the Planet, and I loathe them both.