Embrace possibility in this luminous novel about a girl in search of her past who discovers a secret rooftop world in Paris.

Everyone thinks that Sophie is an orphan. True, there were no other recorded female survivors from the shipwreck that left baby Sophie floating in the English Channel in a cello case, but Sophie remembers seeing her mother wave for help. Her guardian tells her it is almost impossible that her mother is still alive—but “almost impossible” means “still possible.” And you should never ignore a possible.

So when the Welfare Agency writes to her guardian, threatening to send Sophie to an orphanage, she takes matters into her own hands and flees to Paris to look for her mother, starting with the only clue she has— the address of the cello maker.

Evading the French authorities, she meets Matteo and his network of rooftoppers—urchins who live in the hidden spaces above the city. Together they scour the city in a search for Sophie’s mother—but can they find her before Sophie is caught and sent back to London? Or, more importantly, before she loses hope?

Phillip Pullman, author of the His Dark Materials series, calls Rooftoppers “the work of a writer with an utterly distinctive voice and a wild imagination.”

In this charming story about love, friendship, and believing in possibilities, an orphaned child sets off on an adventure across the rooftops of Paris in search of her long-lost mother.

Never ignore a possible.

Sophie was only one year only — or thereabouts — when she survived a shipwreck, and was found floating in a cello case by a kind man who decided on the spot to give her a home and a family. Charles Maxim raises Sophie with generosity and wisdom, encouraging her wild imagination and bravery, and teaching her to embrace whatever life has to offer, even against the odds.

Charles and Sophie’s life together is threatened by the official government agency which monitors guardianships. Aghast at Sophie’s inappropriate upbringing — including writing poetry on walls, wearing trousers, and learning from life rather than school — they inform Charles that Sophie will need to go to an orphanage.

Meanwhile, Sophie has yearned all her life for the mother she can barely remember — a woman who played the cello, and was presumably lost at sea. Sophie is convinced that her mother is alive — it may not be probable, but it’s at least a little bit possible — and when the authorities seem about to take 12-year-old Sophie away from Charles, the pair hatch a daring plan.

Following a very slender lead, they escape London and make their way to Paris, where the search for Sophie’s mother seems to hit a dead end. Sophie won’t give up though, and soon makes the acquaintance of Matteo and other “rooftoppers”, orphans who make their homes on the roofs of the city. The rooftoppers are tough and cunning and creative, and help Sophie find her way across the roofs as they follow mysterious cello music and chase down further hints and clues.

Rooftoppers is a lovely, sweet book that’s never overly sentimental. Charles and Sophie have a wonderful relationship: He clearly loves Sophie, but never hesitates to support her dream of finding her mother, and meanwhile ensures that she broadens her mind and experiences life to the fullest extent possible.

The adventure is terrific, with some glorious rooftop action sequences. The solving of the mystery may not be terribly realistic, but it’s heart-warming and exciting none the less.

As an adult reader, I found the ending rather abrupt. The book has a beautiful final scene, and perhaps for the book’s target middle grade audience, that will be perfectly satisfying. For me, though, I couldn’t shut out the “and then what?” that immediately came to mind. I liked the ending, but was desperate for an epilogue to tell me where the characters went from there and how it all worked out.

Other than that, I truly enjoyed reading Rooftoppers. It’s a book that I meant to get to years ago, and I’m glad I finally picked it up. Highly recommended for middle grade readers who enjoy a bit of whimsy and adventure — as well as for adults who enjoy beautifully written middle grade fiction.