Lara Bergen: Sophie the Snoop

“Drink it!” said Jack. He leaned across the lunch table. “Go ahead. I dare you!”

The other kids from her class were all gathered around. “Drink it! Drink it!” they started to chant.

“I will, I will,” Sophie said at last. “You know there’s never been a dare I wouldn’t do.”

But she also couldn’t help leaning back in her chair. Whew ! That cup smelled bad!

It pretty much smelled like what was in it. And by themselves, those things were okay. Sophie liked milk. And fruit punch. And chocolate pudding. And ketchup. And applesauce. And ranch dressing. And chicken noodle soup.

But together?

Not so much.

But Sophie had asked for it. Or she had asked for a dare, anyway. How else would she prove her great new name?

Sophie the Daredevil ! How good did that sound? How special! And unique! Sophie was dying for a name that would make her stand out. And now at last she’d found it!

In her head, she had ideas of what some extra-fun dares would be. Dares like climbing up the big oak tree. Or jumping off the swing. Or holding her breath for a whole minute. (She’d even practiced that.)

Unfortunately, things had not gone as she planned. Sophie’s friends were happy to dare her. Very happy. But their ideas of dares were … different.

They were GROSS.

All of them.

So far, Sophie had licked the blacktop and the window on the school bus.

She had smelled Dean’s sneakers (both of them!), and sat on a mysterious wet spot.

Then there was the lunchroom. That was not fun at all. This “Drink of Doom” was actually Sophie’s second one.

Sophie looked down at the lumpy liquid. A noodle floated to the top.

“Drink it! Drink it! Drink it!” her friends chanted.

Sophie’s best friend, Kate, patted her back. “Just close your eyes and pretend it’s a smoothie. Like the last time,” she said.

“Right.” Sophie made a face. She swallowed hard.

She wondered if she’d ever drink a smoothie again. Probably only if someone dared her. She would have to then.

At last, she sat up straight. She grabbed the cup in one hand. She pinched her nose using the other and squeezed her eyes shut.

Gulp … gulp … gulp . Sophie let the liquid slosh down her throat.

Ugh! She did not feel good.

For a second she thought, Was it worth it?

Then a cheer rang out: “Yeah! Sophie!”

She smiled a big smile. Was it worth it? Yes! For sure !

Finding the right name isn’t easy! See what else Sophie tries out…

SOPHIE the AWESOME

SOPHIE the HERO

SOPHIE the CHATTERBOX

SOPHIE the ZILLIONAIRE

SOPHIE the SNOOP

SOPHIE the DAREDEVIL

SOPHIE the SWEETHEART

Just like Sophie, Lara Bergenwould love to find a name that describes her perfectly … but for now she’ll settle with being the author of this great series and many other books for children — and, before that, the proud editor of many more. She lives in the Big Apple, New York City, with the best husband and two children in the world.