“Never ignore a possible.”
— Charles Maxim's advice to Sophie about keeping an open mind.
Archivist's Choice
Rooftoppers
Katherine Rundell (2013)
Genre
Fantasy / Children's / Historical Fiction / Mystery / Young Adult
Reading Time
278 min
Key Themes
See below
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Orphaned by a shipwreck and raised by an eccentric scholar, a determined girl escapes to the rooftops of Paris with a band of urban acrobats, clutching a single clue in a desperate quest to find the mother everyone else believes is lost forever.
Synopsis
Sophie, a baby found floating in a cello case after a shipwreck, is raised by her guardian, Charles. Sophie remembers her mother waving for help and believes she is still alive, even though she is told she is an orphan. When the Welfare Agency threatens to send Sophie to an orphanage, she and Charles flee to Paris to find Sophie's mother. Their only clue is the address of the cello maker whose instrument saved Sophie's life. In Paris, Sophie meets Matteo, a boy who lives on the rooftops with other children. Sophie quickly learns to navigate the city's rooftops. With Matteo and his friends, Sophie continues her search, using her view from above the city to find clues. Mr. Renault from the Welfare Agency pursues the children, believing Sophie is a runaway. Their investigation leads them to an opera house and then to a mysterious green door, which holds the key to Sophie's past. Sophie reunites with her mother, a cellist who has been searching for her all these years. Sophie, Charles, and her mother Gaëlle form a new family, with Sophie embracing her future with both her guardian and her long-lost mother.
Reading time
278 min
Difficulty
Easy
Pacing
Moderate
Mood
Whimsical, Adventurous, Hopeful, Charming
✓ Read this if...
You love whimsical adventures, charming characters, and stories about finding family in unexpected places, with a touch of magic and mystery.
✗ Skip this if...
You prefer realistic narratives without fantastical elements or are put off by stories featuring children living unsupervised.
Plot Summary
A Baby in a Cello Case
Sophie's story begins when she is found as a baby, floating in the English Channel inside a cello case, the only survivor of a shipwreck. Charles Maxim, a kind and eccentric scholar, finds and adopts her despite bureaucratic resistance. He raises Sophie in his unconventional London home, encouraging her love for books and music, and teaching her Latin and how to climb trees. Sophie, however, remembers a woman with 'hair the color of a new penny' waving for help from the shipwreck. Charles never dismisses her memory, which helps Sophie believe her mother might still be alive.
The Threat of the Welfare Agency
As Sophie nears her twelfth birthday, Miss Eliot from the National Childcare Agency starts to question Charles's guardianship. She believes his unconventional parenting and Sophie's lack of formal schooling are not suitable, threatening to send Sophie to an orphanage. Facing the loss of their unique family, Sophie and Charles decide to escape. Sophie's only clue to her mother's whereabouts is the label inside her cello case: 'Armand Godin, Luthier, Paris.' Believing her mother, a musician, was connected to the cello, they pack their bags and travel to Paris, hoping to find answers before Miss Eliot can act.
Arrival in Paris and the Cello Maker
In Paris, Charles and Sophie immediately look for Armand Godin, the luthier whose name is inside the cello case. They find his shop, a dusty, old place filled with instruments. Godin, a craftsman, recognizes the cello as one he made for a young woman with red hair and green eyes, a talented cellist named Madame Gaëlle. He remembers her well, describing her personality and appearance, which matches Sophie's memory. He tells them she often played at the Opéra Garnier and lived in a house near the Seine, giving Sophie her first real lead.
A Glimpse of the Rooftoppers
Following Godin's directions, Sophie and Charles search near the Opéra and along the Seine. One evening, frustrated by their lack of progress and the city's size, Sophie climbs onto the roof of their hotel, a habit she developed with Charles. There, she meets a boy her age, Matteo, who moves across the rooftops with agility and a large, tattered blanket. Startled, Sophie falls from the roof, but Matteo catches her, saving her from injury. He disappears into the Parisian night, leaving Sophie curious about this encounter and the secret world above the streets.
Sophie Joins the Rooftoppers
Driven by her desire to find her mother and a growing urgency, Sophie decides to find Matteo again. She slips away from Charles, leaving him a note, and returns to the rooftops. She finds Matteo, who, after some hesitation, introduces her to his small community of 'rooftoppers' – children who live hidden above the city, using secret signals and relying on each other. They are a varied group, including Anastasia, a quiet girl, and the younger Safi. Sophie quickly adapts to their ways, finding a sense of belonging and a new view of Paris from its heights.
Life Above the City
Sophie accepts the challenging but exciting life of a rooftopper. Matteo teaches her how to navigate the slopes and ledges, how to find food, and how to stay hidden from authorities, especially Mr. Renault from the French Welfare Agency. From their high spots, Sophie and Matteo carefully scan the city for any sign of a woman with red hair. Sophie shares her story and her cello with Matteo, who, despite initial doubt about her quest, becomes invested in helping her. They form a strong bond, joined by their independence and sense of adventure.
The Pursuit by Mr. Renault
The French Welfare Agency, led by the stern Mr. Renault, learns of Sophie's presence in Paris and her unusual living situation. Renault is determined to capture Sophie and send her to an orphanage, believing she is a runaway and in danger. He patrols the streets and even the rooftops, making the rooftoppers' lives harder. Sophie and Matteo use all their cleverness and knowledge of the city's hidden passages to avoid him, adding a thrilling chase to their search for Sophie's mother.
A Clue from the Opera
Remembering Godin's mention of the Opéra, Sophie and Matteo sneak into the grand building during a performance. They explore backstage areas, hoping to find a connection to her mother. In a dusty, forgotten part of the costume department, Sophie discovers an old concert program. To her surprise, it lists a cellist named Gaëlle Maxim, with a description matching her mother's red hair. The program confirms her mother's profession and gives new hope, though it also raises questions about the 'Maxim' surname and its connection to Charles.
The Discovery of the Green Door
Inspired by the Opéra program, Sophie and Matteo increase their search around the areas Gaëlle Maxim might have visited. They remember Godin mentioning a house near the Seine. One day, while crossing a secluded part of the rooftops, Sophie sees a small, green door in a chimney stack, almost invisible from the street. This door feels important, and Sophie has a strong feeling it is connected to her past. They decide to investigate it, believing it might be the key to her mother's disappearance.
A Reunion and a Revelation
Sophie and Matteo open the green door, revealing a small, hidden room. Inside, they find a woman with red hair, playing a cello. It is Gaëlle, Sophie's mother, who survived the shipwreck. Believing Sophie was lost, she had retreated to this secret rooftop sanctuary, playing her cello to cope with her grief. The reunion is emotional. Gaëlle explains that she had been playing the cello when the ship went down, placing baby Sophie in the cello case for safety. She had seen Charles rescue Sophie but could not reach them in the chaos, eventually making her way to Paris. Sophie also learns that Gaëlle and Charles had known each other before the shipwreck, hinting at a deeper shared past.
Charles, Gaëlle, and the Future
After the reunion, Sophie brings Gaëlle to Charles, who is overjoyed and relieved to find both his daughter and the woman he clearly cared for. It is revealed that Charles and Gaëlle were acquainted before the shipwreck, sharing a love for music and unconventional living. With help from Matteo and the other rooftoppers, who act as lookouts and messengers, they avoid Mr. Renault's final attempts to capture Sophie. The story ends with Sophie, Charles, and Gaëlle forming a new, unconventional family, no longer separated by the sea or by secrets. Gaëlle finds joy in playing music again, and Sophie has found her complete family, embracing both her scholarly guardian and her musical mother, with the spirit of the rooftops always a part of her.
Principal Figures
Sophie
The Protagonist
Sophie transforms from a child clinging to a fragmented memory into a confident young woman who takes charge of her destiny, ultimately reuniting her family.
Charles Maxim
The Supporting
Charles faces the challenge of protecting Sophie from bureaucratic interference and ultimately supports her quest, leading to the reunion of their unconventional family.
Matteo
The Supporting
Matteo, initially self-reliant and emotionally guarded, learns to trust and form deep bonds, finding a sense of purpose beyond mere survival through his friendship with Sophie.
Gaëlle Maxim
The Supporting
Gaëlle moves from a life of hidden grief and solitude to a joyful reunion with her daughter and a reintegration into a loving family.
Miss Eliot
The Antagonist
Miss Eliot remains a static antagonist, representing the societal forces that Sophie and Charles must evade.
Mr. Renault
The Antagonist
Mr. Renault's pursuit intensifies throughout the narrative but ultimately fails to capture Sophie, solidifying her freedom.
Armand Godin
The Supporting
Godin serves as a pivotal plot device, providing crucial information that moves Sophie's quest forward.
Anastasia
The Supporting
Anastasia remains a consistent, supportive presence within the rooftoppers' community.
Safi
The Supporting
Safi's character remains consistent, representing the innocent and vulnerable members of the rooftopper community.
Themes & Insights
Identity and Belonging
The novel explores Sophie's journey to understand her origins and find where she belongs. Her fragmented memory of her mother and the mystery of her past drive her search. As she looks for her biological mother, she also deals with her identity as Charles's daughter and later, as a rooftopper. The theme concludes with her realizing that belonging is not just about blood relatives, but about the family you create and the places where you feel at home, whether it is with Charles, the rooftoppers, or her reunited parents.
“You should never ignore a possible.”
Family, Conventional and Unconventional
The book questions traditional ideas of family. Sophie's first family with Charles is unusual, built on love, respect, and shared quirks rather than blood ties or societal approval. This is set against the rigid family structures promoted by the Welfare Agency. The rooftoppers also form an unusual family, relying on each other for survival and friendship. Ultimately, Sophie finds a family that includes both her biological mother and her adoptive father, showing that love and connection define family more than any legal or societal definition.
“Families don't have to match. You don't have to look like someone else to love them.”
Hope and Resilience
Sophie's entire journey is driven by an unyielding hope that her mother is alive, despite all evidence. Her resilience helps her endure the challenges of living on the rooftops, avoiding authorities, and navigating a foreign city. Charles also shows resilience in protecting Sophie from the Welfare Agency. The rooftoppers themselves show resilience, surviving against odds in a harsh urban environment. The novel shows how hope drives action and how people overcome adversity.
“She hadn't realized how much a person could need hope until she felt it in the pit of her empty stomach.”
Freedom vs. Control
A central conflict in the story is the clash between individual freedom and institutional control. Miss Eliot and Mr. Renault represent society's controlling forces, trying to impose order and conformity on Sophie's life. In contrast, Charles supports freedom and unconventional living, while the rooftoppers represent ultimate freedom, living outside societal rules. Sophie's decision to join the rooftoppers is an act of asserting her freedom and choice, choosing adventure and self-determination over the confinement of an orphanage.
“Rules are for people who can't think for themselves.”
The Power of Imagination and Memory
Sophie's quest begins and continues because of her vivid, though fragmented, memory of her mother. Her imagination allows her to believe in the 'possible' even when others are skeptical. Charles encourages this imagination, seeing it as a strength. The novel suggests that imagination is not just an escape but a tool for problem-solving, resilience, and maintaining hope. Sophie's imaginative leap to the rooftops ultimately leads her to her mother.
“Most things are impossible until someone does them.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
The Cello Case
A literal and symbolic vessel of Sophie's past and hope.
The cello case is the central symbol and a crucial plot device. It is Sophie's ark of survival, saving her from the shipwreck, and literally carries the only clue to her mother's identity – the luthier's name. Symbolically, it represents the music and love that connect Sophie to her mother, and the fragile hope that sustains her. It is also a metaphor for how Sophie herself is 'contained' by her past, yet also protected and carried forward by it. The cello within it becomes a source of comfort and a means for Gaëlle to express her grief and eventually, her joy.
The Rooftops of Paris
A secret world and a stage for freedom and adventure.
The rooftops serve as both a literal setting and a powerful symbolic plot device. They represent a hidden, free world, separate from the rules and surveillance of the street-level society. For the rooftoppers, they are a sanctuary and a means of survival. For Sophie, they are a path to independence, a place where she can actively search for her mother with a unique vantage point, and a metaphor for her unconventional spirit. The perilous nature of the rooftops also adds suspense and highlights the bravery and resourcefulness of the children who inhabit them. It's from this elevated perspective that Sophie finally locates her mother.
The Green Door
A physical and metaphorical gateway to a hidden truth.
The green door is a specific, tangible plot device that acts as the final lock to Sophie's mystery. It's a small, almost invisible door on a rooftop, symbolizing a secret, forgotten truth. Its discovery marks the climax of Sophie's search, representing the culmination of her hope and perseverance. Metaphorically, it is a gateway to the past, a hidden entrance to understanding her origins, and ultimately, a reunion with her mother. Its color, green, can also symbolize hope and new beginnings, fitting for the revelation it conceals.
The Welfare Agency (Miss Eliot & Mr. Renault)
Antagonistic force representing societal control and conformity.
The Welfare Agency, personified by Miss Eliot in London and Mr. Renault in Paris, acts as the primary antagonistic plot device. Their persistent pursuit of Sophie creates the initial conflict that forces her and Charles to flee to Paris, and then maintains the suspense throughout Sophie's time on the rooftops. They represent the forces of institutional control and the rigid societal norms that threaten to stifle individuality and unconventional lifestyles. Their presence highlights the theme of freedom versus control and adds urgency to Sophie's quest to find her mother before she is caught.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“I am not lost. I am exploring.”
— Sophie's response when questioned about her whereabouts.
“You should never ignore a possible.”
— Charles reiterating his philosophy to Sophie.
“The sky is always there for me when I need to breathe.”
— Sophie reflecting on her love for heights and rooftops.
“Books crowbar the world open for you.”
— Charles explaining the power of reading to Sophie.
“On the rooftop, you can see the whole world.”
— Sophie describing her perspective from the rooftops of Paris.
“She was a girl with a compass in her soul.”
— Narration describing Sophie's innate sense of direction.
“Sometimes, the best way to find something is to stop looking.”
— Charles offering wisdom during their search for Sophie's mother.
“The city is a living thing, and we are its blood.”
— Sophie's observation about Paris and its inhabitants.
“Fear is a habit; so is courage.”
— Charles teaching Sophie about overcoming challenges.
“We are all of us made of stories.”
— Reflection on the importance of personal history and memory.
“Home is not a place; it's a feeling.”
— Sophie realizing what truly makes a home.
“The stars are not just for looking at; they are for navigating by.”
— Metaphorical advice about using guidance in life.
“Every child has a right to a story.”
— Charles asserting the importance of imagination and heritage.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
'Rooftoppers' follows Sophie, a girl who survived a shipwreck as a baby in a cello case and believes her mother might still be alive despite official records saying otherwise. When threatened with being sent to an orphanage, she flees to Paris with her guardian Charles and, with the help of rooftopper Matteo and his friends, searches the city's rooftops for her mother using the only clue she has: the address of the cello maker.
About the author
Biography coming soon.
