Sophy's Stars

About the Book

Sophy’s Stars is a mystery novel for middle readers. Eleven-year-old Linda Aldrich of tiny Tresserville, Montana, was perfectly happy (or would have been, if her parents hadn’t been in danger of losing their general store) until author Chet Saunders decided to use the town for a publicity stunt to sell books. Linda’s friend and the town’s famous resident, retired silent star Sophy Worth, is the subject of Saunders latest biography. To promote the book he is putting on a contest; a trip to New York for the girl who can best reproduce the dress Sophy wears in her famous one-reeler, “Sophy at the Depot.”

In the film, the Depot Dress had jewels sewn into the hem. Rumor has it that the original dress does too, but Sophy - who owns the dress - scoffs at that. Still, the real dress disappears the night before the contest. Did Allie, Linda’s best friend, take it? Why?

Linda accuses Allie, and loses a friend. She also takes on Saunders, upsetting him and her family - then finds out that the thief is her own sister Carole.

Should she tell on Carole? Or try to get the dress back? She chooses the second way, and finds herself suspected of the theft by both the author and her old friend Sophy.

Still, Linda can’t worry about that now, because she must make amends to Allie. She helps her with her contest entry, even though sewing is definitely not her thing. The resulting dress is a total disaster. Linda doesn’t see how things could be worse.

But at the contest, Allie’s dress and Allie herself come through beautifully. Carole does too, and Saunders even rises to the occasion.

Still, the true star, as always, is Sophy Worth who comes up with a surprise that astounds everyone, and saves the store in bargain.

About the Author

Caroline Conklin is a retired school speech therapist, and an ordained Permanent Deacon in the Episcopal Church. She and her husband, who have three children, live in Great Falls, Montana. Her previous books are Meditations for Altar Guild Members, published by Morehouse, and Sophy’s Stars, a Young Readers Novel also published by Xlibris.