So B. It

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Book summary

Heidi is a girl, who's extremely lucky, and she also has a mentally disabled mother. She doesn't know who her father, or other family is. Bernadette, their next door neighbor, lives with them sometimes, and Heidi considers Bernadette her second mother. Heidi goes on an adventure to in search of the meaning of the word soof, which is something only her mom says. She meets a person called Thurman Hill. Then She Meets Ruby and Her Husband Roy. Later in the book she finds out that Hill is her grandfather. She finds out that soof was her mom's word for love. But, just as she is returning, her mom passes away.

Characters

Heidi DeMuth (originally known as Heidi It): The main character in the story. She is kind, courageous, extremely lucky and determined.

Sophia Lynne DeMuth (called Mama by Heidi; Soof by Elliot; Precious Bouquet or just Precious by Bernadette; and So B It by herself): Heidi's mentally disabled mother. She is kind and loving, even though she has a very limited vocabulary and little ability to learn. She is afraid of buses (see Diane DeMuth).

Bernadette "Bernie" (called Dette by Sophia): Heidi's Next-Door Neighbor who is like her mother or guardian to Heidi. She has agoraphobia.

Elliot Hill: Heidi's father and Sophia's best friend. He is also mentally disabled. Calls Sophia "soof" because he cannot pronounce "Sophia".

Thurman Hill: Heidi's grandfather. He works at Hilltop Home, a place for the mentally disabled, where Heidi's mother lived for a year.

Ruby Franklin: A woman who helps Heidi with her quest and takes care of her for part of her journey. Her husband is Roy Franklin (see below). She works at Hilltop Home.

Roy Franklin: Ruby's husband who helps Heidi find the truth about herself. He is also a sheriff.

Diane DeMuth: Heidi's grandmother. She unfortunately died when Heidi was a baby, in a bus accident, the reason Sophia is afraid of buses.

Georgia Sweet: An 18-year-old bound for college who joins Heidi for part of her bus trip. Unlike Alice Wilinsky, the first woman Heidi meets along the way, Georgia asks instead of telling, and Heidi finds herself sharing her story in detail and without embellishment.

Alice Wilinsky: The first person Heidi meets on her way to Liberty. Heidi told her that Shirley Temple taught her grandmother how to bake, Heidi actually lied to her, and Alice knew.

Alexander "Zander": Heidi's dishonest, friend who lives downstairs.

Mama's words

Soof: A mysterious word that Mama and Elliot use to call Mama because Elliot can't pronounce her name (Sophia). It is also Mama's word for love.

So B It: How Mama pronounces her own name.

Dette: Mama's word for Bernadette.

Back Soon: tells her to be back soon

Heidi: The story's main character, also daughter.

Tea: Tea, which Mama makes for Heidi or Bernadette.

Done: Once Mama is finished with a task ( example: opening cans), Used by Mama when she gets frustrated

Complete list of Mama's words in order (Also the names of the chapters)

1. Heidi
2. So be it
3. Good
4. No
5. Blue
6. Soof
7. Out
8. Hot
9. Bad
10. Done
11. Shh
12. Uh-oh
13. Back soon
14. Hello
15. Dette
16. Tea
17. Ow
18. More
19. Again
20. Pretty
21. Now
22. Kiss

Film adaptation

The book is currently being adapted to a film directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal, starring Talitha Bateman, Jessica Collins, Alfre Woodard, John Heard, Jacinda Barrett, Dash Mihok, and Cloris Leachman.