Article
Art by Macky Pamintuan

Sweet Potato

Sometimes all you need is a second chance

By Cynthia Leitich Smith

Learning Objective: Students will make inferences to better understand the characters Sophie and Miz Wilson.

Lexile: 500L-600L
Other Key Skills: vocabulary, key idea, character, plot, main idea, narrative writing
Topic: Animals, SEL,
UP CLOSE: Inference

As you read, look for what you can infer—or figure out—from Sophie’s and Miz Wilson’s words and actions. What do they tell us about each character?

Lying on my bed, I click my way from one furry face to the next. The animal shelter website offers so many choices, all eager for forever homes.

A pit bull named Micky (3 years). 

A shepherd named Jazzy (2 months). 

A dachshund named Sweet Potato (4 years, 7 months).

I hear Mama come in. “Sophie, I’m back!”

Normally, she’d be at rehearsal right now, playing guitar with her punk band, the Screaming Head Colds. That’s why we moved to Austin, Texas—the live music capital of the world. But Mama worked late today at her other job. She’s a driver and helper to Miz Wilson, our landlady. In exchange, we pay very little for rent. Our apartment is above Miz Wilson’s garage, across the driveway from her house. It’s super small, but we love it. We can walk to my school, which is one of the best in town. 

I peer through the window at what we call “the fancy house.” Mama just finished planting marigolds in the garden. It could’ve waited until tomorrow, but Miz Wilson wanted it done today—period.

She’s also the one who says, “No pets allowed—period.”

Mama peeks into my tiny bedroom. “Sophie! Are you fantasy shopping for dogs again?” 

I show the image of Sweet Potato on my phone. “I know what our lease says, but look how cute she is . . . Could I just ask Miz Wilson? Please?”

Mama shakes her dark curls. “Oh, honey, I don’t think you should push it. We’ve got a sweet deal on rent.”

I put on my pleading expression. She laughs. “Talk about puppy-dog eyes! OK, but don’t get your hopes up. She’s not what you’d call a flexible personality.”

The fancy house sits on a high hill, overlooking the city. Like usual, Miz Wilson is on the front terrace, bird-watching with her binoculars.

“Is that a new tattoo on Dr. Ambrose’s arm?” she mutters. 

I suspect Miz Wilson does more neighbor-watching than bird-watching.

“Excuse me, Miz Wilson?” I begin. “Could we talk?”

“Did you bring the rent check?” she asks, lowering her binoculars. It’s how she starts almost every conversation with me, no matter how long until the money is due.

“No, ma’am.” I inch closer. “I’ve come to ask you an important question.”

Miz Wilson is a handsome, freckled White lady with polished fingernails. She and her husband, Mr. Navarro, used to take long walks, hand in hand, through the neighborhood. They called each other “Precious.” You’d never guess any of that now.

He died last year. Heart attack. Miz Wilson’s three daughters had already moved far away, raising families of their own.

Mama says Miz Wilson is lonely.

I say it’s harder to make friends when you’re so grumpy. 

Today, though, I feel hopeful. We’ve had our share of chats, Miz Wilson and me. She’s a little too nosy, and I’ve had to explain more than once what it means that I’m a citizen of the Muscogee Nation. But she did give Mama a bonus last Christmas that meant we could visit family in Oklahoma. She told Mama, “I believe in fair pay for a job well done.” 

I put my phone on the table with the pic of Sweet Potato smiling up. “She’s the absolute cutest dog at the shelter,” I begin. “I clicked through all 68—”

“Sophie Bigheart!” Miz Wilson exclaims. 

“I just thought I’d ask—”

“No pets allowed,” Miz Wilson says. Gazing at Sweet Potato, she adds: “You know, my husband and I had a dog like this, back when our girls were young. Oh, how Charlie doted on that animal.” 

Then she shakes her head. “But your apartment is too small. There’s no room for a dog. And rules are rules.”

Mama was right. Miz Wilson isn’t what you’d call “a flexible personality.”

I can’t have a dog, so I figure out a way to be around dogs instead. It turns out the animal shelter allows volunteers ages 12 and up. It feels like destiny. A parent or guardian has to accompany the kid volunteers at all times, so Mama agrees to join me.

Soon enough, we start walking shelter dogs. Every day, I ask for Sweet Potato. Every day, somebody else has already taken her out. But there are plenty of other pooches.

A poodle named Lulu (6 years). She dances a jig whenever anyone pets her. 

A beagle mix named Buster (8 months). He has lots to say, especially to the squirrels.

A Great Dane named Giovanni (5 years). Majestic, the size of a pony.

It’s Giovanni that gets us in trouble.

One evening, as we walk home from the shelter, we hear brakes squeal. I turn around, and I see Giovanni trotting between cars. 

“Oh my goodness! He must have gotten loose,” Mama says. “He was being adopted by a family just before the shelter closed for the day.” 

“Giovanni!” I call.

Giovanni comes right to us, tail wagging.

“Good dog! Can we bring him home, Mama?”

Mama frowns. “We’re not allowed to, baby.”

“But the shelter’s closed.”

Mama hesitates, stroking Giovanni’s big head. 

“Please,” I beg. “He might get hurt.”

“Oh, Sophie, stop with those puppy-dog eyes! I guess we have no choice. But just for tonight.”

When we reach Miz Wilson’s driveway, we pull Giovanni quickly toward our apartment. As we’re climbing the stairs, I think I see something move in a window of the fancy house. I panic, but when I look more closely, I realize it’s just a curtain rustling in the evening breeze. Phew!

For one night, just one night, I have a dog! It’s my dream come true. 

Mama feeds Giovanni roast chicken and rice. I fill a bowl with water. He’s so big he almost knocks over a chair. At bedtime, I scrunch to one side of the mattress to make room for Giovanni.

We call the shelter first thing after breakfast, and they’re so relieved we found him. “I’m glad he’s going to a good home,” Mama says as she looks at Giovanni, filling up our entire living room. “I hate to admit it, but Miz Wilson is right . . . This apartment is too small for a dog.” 

The next morning, I wake to Mama’s muffled shouting. “Please open the door and listen to me!”

Peering out my window, I see Mama pounding on the front door of the fancy house. Miz Wilson disappears behind the curtain.

Mama stomps back to our apartment. 

I rush to meet her. “What happened?” 

“Miz Wilson claims we’ve broken our rental agreement.” 

“Wait, what?”

Shaking her head, Mama says, “No pets allowed. She saw us bring Giovanni inside. She says we’ll have to leave.”

“But Mama, it was just for one night.” 

Mama sighs. “Renters have rights. But we can’t afford avocados, let alone a lawyer.”

“What’ll we do?”

She shakes her head. “I don’t know. And I don’t know what she’ll do without us, either.”

That settles it. I got us into this mess, I have to get us out. I have an idea. But I need a bigger power on my side. Puppy-dog eyes.

That afternoon, we finally get to walk Sweet Potato. She and I hit it off right away, like instant best friends. Sweet Potato strolls the sidewalk of our neighborhood, her short legs working double-time. 

When we get close to the fancy house, I spot the reflection of Miz Wilson’s binoculars, pointed in our direction.

“I’ll drop off the rent,” I say.

Mama crosses her arms. “No, baby. You shouldn’t have to face that grump.”

“I’ll take Sweet Potato for protection,” I reply.

Right then, Mama gets a phone call about that night’s band gig. While she’s distracted, I hightail it with Sweet Potato.

Miz Wilson is sitting on the terrace. “Did you bring the rent check?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I say. “And I brought a visitor from the animal shelter—Mama and I have been volunteering to walk their dogs. Her name is Sweet Potato, remember?”

Tail flying every which way, the dachshund rushes over to charm her.

“I . . . I remember.” Miz Wilson frowns, but like it has a mind of its own, her hand strokes the dog’s smooth coat. Sweet Potato wriggles with joy, then jumps right onto her lap.

A smile tugs at Miz Wilson’s lips, but she forces them back into a straight line. “I saw you bring that big dog home. I can’t go bending the rules willy-nilly.”

“It wasn’t our dog,” I say quickly. “He ran away from the shelter, and it was closed by the time we found him.”

“But you took him inside your apartment.”

I nod. “We’re sorry, Miz Wilson. It was just for one night.”

She’s still petting Sweet Potato. “That’s not allowed.”

“I know. And Mama says you’re right. Our apartment’s too small for a dog . . .”

Time for my secret weapon: puppy-dog eyes.

“. . . but your house isn’t.”

She stares at me.

“Your house would be the perfect size for Sweet Potato.”

Miz Wilson’s lips purse, but she’s still patting Sweet Potato. “D-dogs are a lot of work.”

“I can feed her and play with her,” I say. “And what if we walk the dog together?” It’s a risk. But I bet she misses those long walks through the neighborhood with her husband. 

“Walk together?” she asks. “The three of us?”

Is she blinking back a tear? “Yes, ma’am,” I say. 

Miz Wilson nods slowly. “I’d pay you for your time and efforts, of course.”

I try not to bounce in place. A dog! A dog! A dog! 

“So you’ll think about it?” I ask.

Miz Wilson cuddles Sweet Potato and kisses her head. It’s my turn to stare.

“What are you waiting for, Sophie Bigheart?” Miz Wilson says. “Run down and ask your mother to bring my car around. I need to go to the shelter to adopt her. Just remember this is my dog, not yours. Your apartment is too small.”

“Our apartment?” I say. “Does that mean we don’t have to leave?”

Miz Wilson smiles. Inside, I’m shouting with happiness. Out loud, I breathe, “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me, thank this precious Sweet Potato.” 

I’d better scoot before she changes her mind. But first I ask, “Can I give you a hug?”

With a friendly wink, she replies, “Don’t you dare.”

Write to Win

Think about what Sophie and Miz Wilson want at the beginning of the story and whether they get what they want by the end. Write a journal entry by each character telling how they feel about how things turned out. Entries must be submitted to “Sweet Potato Contest” by a teacher, parent, or legal guardian.* Three winners will each receive a copy of On a Wing and a Tear by Cynthia Leitich Smith.

Contest deadline: February 1, 2025

*Entries must be written by a student in grades 2-8 and submitted by their teacher, parent, or legal guardian, who will be the entrant and must be a legal resident of the U.S. age 18 or older. See the Digital Resource Guide or visit storyworks.scholastic.com/contests for details.

This story was originally published in the December 2024/January 2025 issue.

video (1)
Audio ()
Activities (11)
Quizzes (1)
Answer Key (1)
video (1)
Audio ()
Activities (11) Download All Activities
Quizzes (1)
Answer Key (1)
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

Click here for great ideas for using Storyworks as a whole class, in small groups, or independently!

Click here for great ideas for using Storyworks as a whole class, in small groups, or independently!

1. Preparing to Read

Build Engagement, Preview Vocabulary, Set a Purpose for Reading

Build engagement and activate understanding of the story’s characters by asking students what a “second chance” is and why someone might need one.

Distribute or digitally assign the Vocabulary Skill Builder to preview challenging words. Vocabulary words include bonus, destiny, flexible, gig, and lease. Students will be able to add other unfamiliar words from the story as well.

Invite a volunteer to read aloud the Up Close box on page 10. Point out the questions in the margins and the arrows that connect them to lines in bold in the story. Preview the questions together.

2. Reading and Discussing

Click here for great ideas for reading as a whole class, in small groups, or independently!

Close-Reading Questions

1. What does the list of animals available for adoption tell us about what Sophie wants? (inference) The list of names, ages, and dog breeds tells us that Sophie wants a dog.

2. What does Mama have to miss to plant marigolds? Why does she do it? (key idea) Mama has to miss rehearsing with her band because Miz Wilson wants her marigolds planted right away. Mama works for Miz Wilson in exchange for a low rent on her and Sophie’s apartment.

3. How did Miz Wilson change after her husband died? (character) When her husband was alive, Miz Wilson took walks with him in the neighborhood while holding hands. They were very sweet with one another. Now Miz Wilson no longer goes for walks. Instead, she spies on her neighbors while pretending to bird-watch. Sophie describes her as very grumpy, and Mama says she’s not flexible.

4. How does Giovanni’s escape cause a problem for Sophie and Mama? (plot) Because the shelter is closed until morning, Sophie and Mama take Giovanni to their apartment to keep him safe overnight. Miz Wilson sees the dog entering their apartment and tells Mama that she and Sophie have to leave because they broke her “no pets allowed” rule.

5. Why is Sophie worried about seeing something move in Miz Wilson’s window? (inference) Sophie is worried that Miz Wilson will see Giovanni going into their apartment and be angry because they broke her rule about pets.

6. What does Sophie learn about having a dog when Giovanni stays for the night? (key detail) Sophie learns that Miz Wilson is right: Their apartment is too small for a dog—especially a big dog like Giovanni.

7. How does Mama think the misunderstanding with Miz Wilson will end? Why? (key idea) Mama thinks the misunderstanding will end badly for everyone. If Mama and Sophie have to leave their apartment, they might not be able to find a new place they can afford. And Miz Wilson won’t have anyone to help her out, drive her places, or visit with her.

8. What can you infer about Sophie from the line “That settles it. I got us into this mess, I have to get us out”? (inference) You can infer that Sophie feels responsible for their losing the apartment since she’s the one who begged for Giovanni to stay with them overnight. You can also infer that she has a plan for setting things right and she’s determined to make it work.

9. Why does Sophie bring Sweet Potato with her to talk to Miz Wilson? (plot) Sophie brings Sweet Potato because she knows that Miz Wilson and her husband once had a similar dog that they adored. She hopes that Sweet Potato’s sweet face and puppy-dog eyes will warm Miz Wilson’s heart and make her more likely to agree to Sophie’s dog-sharing plan.

10. How does Sophie’s understanding of Miz Wilson help her make a deal? (character) Sophie knows that Miz Wilson misses her walks with her husband. She believes the possibility of walks with her and Sweet Potato will make Miz Wilson more likely to say yes to Sophie’s deal.

11. Write your own question. Responses will vary but may be similar to: Is Miz Wilson being friendly or grumpy? How do you know? Or: How do you think Miz Wilson and Sophie’s dog-sharing arrangement will work out?

Critical-Thinking Questions

12. Explain what Sophie wants at the beginning of the story and whether she gets it by the end. (inference/plot) At the beginning of the story, Sophie wants her own dog. She looks at pet adoption sites and daydreams about which dog she would like. Unfortunately, Sophie’s landlady, Miz Wilson, has a strict “no pets allowed” rule. By the end of the story, Sophie realizes her apartment is too small for a dog. However, she comes up with a plan to share a dog with Miz Wilson by convincing her landlady to adopt Sweet Potato, a dog they both really like. Sophie doesn’t get a dog of her own, but she will get to feed, walk, and play with Sweet Potato every day. 

13. Read the subtitle: “Sometimes all you need is a second chance.” Which character (or characters) get a second chance in the story? Explain your answer. (main idea) Miz Wilson, Sophie, Mama, and Sweet Potato all get second chances. Miz Wilson gets the opportunity to love another dog, Sweet Potato, that reminds her of the dog she and her husband used to have. Miz Wilson also gets a second chance to feel happy about life by caring for Sweet Potato and enjoying walks with Sophie and the dog. Sophie and Mama get to stay in their apartment despite breaking the “no pets allowed” rule. And Sweet Potato gets a second chance to be in a loving home for the rest of her life.

3. Skill Building and Writing

Featured Skill: Inference 

Distribute or digitally assign the Inference Skill Builder, which will guide students to respond to the writing prompt on page 16.

Differentiate and Customize
For Small Group Intervention

Before reading, review how to make an inference by showing students our “What is an Inference?” video (which you can find here in our Skill Library). Afterward, read the story with your students, pausing at each bolded line to discuss as a group the corresponding question in the margins. 

For Advanced Readers

This issue includes an article, “The Amazing Life of Flora the Elephant,” and a poem, “Just When Things Seemed Impossible,” that also explore the importance of second chances. Ask students to write an essay comparing and contrasting the ways second chances are presented in all three texts.

For Multilingual Learners

There are many colloquial and idiomatic phrases in the story. As you read it with students, pause to make sure they understand these expressions: forever homes, fantasy shopping, push it, sweet deal, puppy-dog eyes (page 11); our share, feels like destiny (page 12); dream come true, hit it off, double time, hightail it, every which way (page 13); a mind of its own, willy-nilly, secret weapon, better scoot (page 14). 

Can't-Miss Teaching Extras
Explore the Storyworks Archive

Check out other fiction stories about kids and pets: “Following Boo,” “Super Dog,” and “Squeak Twice for Yes.” 

Learn about Empathy

In the story, Sophie uses empathy to imagine what might help Miz Wilson feel less lonely. This short video titled “All About Empathy (for kids!)” discusses what empathy is and how to practice it with others, 

Connect with Seniors

The website The Educators’ Spin On It offers this list of 5 Ways For Kids to Volunteer with Senior Citizens. Suggestions include doing yard work or chores for a neighbor and starting a book club at a retirement home. (Note: This webpage has ads.) 

Literature Connection

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac

Stay by Bobbie Pyron

Brave Like That by Lindsey Stoddard

Text-to-Speech