I found it really easy to relate to Sophie-being the eldest of three girls resonates when you have two younger sisters. She is that rare character-a strong, shy heroine.
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She is a quiet woman-near the beginning of the novel, she is called a mouse. She says things as an old woman that she would never say as a young woman, exerts her will, and makes strong decisions, some good, some bad. Becoming an old woman liberates her, allowing her to find her determination come into her own.
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Sophie is a young woman who is resigned to her future. Wynne Jones often uses advanced (or rather, old-fashioned) vocabulary and has created a framework regarding alternate dimensions and the potential of travel between them that makes sense in the context of the book (especially if you don’t think about it too hard), but rapidly gets complicated upon further reflection. The plot is simple and easy to follow, and follows the tropes of a coming-of-age story. It is a well-written fantasy novel that will be reachable by anyone, at any time, of any age. This book straddles the line between children’s lit and young adult lit. When the Witch of the Wastes enters the hat shop and curses Sophie to be an old woman, she must set out and have her own adventure! Why you should read it: But there is magic afoot, with the Wizard Howl’s moving castle wandering the Wastes around Market Chipping (it’s said that he eats young women’s hearts) and rumours that the terrifying Witch of the Wastes has returned. When their father dies, their step-mother finds the sisters apprenticeships-the youngest, Martha, goes to learn magic, pretty Lettie goes to Cesari’s Pastry shop where she is sure to find a beau, and Sophie is set to inherit the hat shop.
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In fairy tale lore, this means that she will be the family’s failure, so she lives her life preparing her sisters for the exciting lives they are sure to lead. Sophie Hatter is the eldest of a hat merchant’s three daughters.