13 Little Blue Envelopes
young adult
Series · young adult
Sofia
The Sofia series by Henning Mankell has 3 books and is best read in publication order, starting with Secrets in the Fire (1995).
- Books
- 3 books
- First published
- 1995
- Status
- completed
- Last checked
Start here: Secrets in the Fire (1995) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The order the books were released — the default way to read the series.
- Book 1:
Secrets in the Fire
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Secrets in the Fire - Book 2:
Playing with Fire
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Playing with Fire - Book 3:
The Fury in the Fire
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Fury in the Fire
About the Sofia series
The Sofia trilogy is based on the true story of Sofia Alface, a young woman Henning Mankell met and befriended during his decades directing a theatre in Maputo, Mozambique. Secrets in the Fire (1995) opens with the real event that shaped Sofia's life: as a girl, she and her younger sister step on a landmine left over from Mozambique's civil war, killing her sister and costing Sofia both her legs. Written for younger readers but unflinching about poverty, disability and loss, the book follows Sofia's recovery and her determination to keep living a full life rather than being defined by the accident.
Playing with Fire (2001) and The Fury in the Fire (2005, also published as Shadow of the Leopard) continue Sofia's story into young adulthood, as she navigates work, love and the ordinary difficulties of building an independent life in Mozambique as a young disabled woman -- with the same clear-eyed honesty about hardship that runs through Mankell's adult fiction, scaled for a teenage readership.
Mankell dedicated significant time and royalties to landmine-clearance and children's charities in Mozambique, and the trilogy grew directly out of his relationship with the real Sofia, who he said remained a lifelong friend. Secrets in the Fire won Japan's Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award.
Frequently asked questions
How many books are in Henning Mankell's Sofia trilogy?
Three: Secrets in the Fire (1995), Playing with Fire (2001), and The Fury in the Fire (2005, also published under the title Shadow of the Leopard).
Is the Sofia trilogy based on a true story?
Yes. It's based on the real life of Sofia Alface, a young Mozambican woman Henning Mankell befriended while directing a theatre in Maputo. The landmine accident that opens Secrets in the Fire really happened to her.
What order should I read the Sofia books in?
Publication order: Secrets in the Fire, then Playing with Fire, then The Fury in the Fire. Sofia's story develops continuously across all three.
Is The Fury in the Fire the same book as Shadow of the Leopard?
Yes -- The Fury in the Fire is the UK/US title; Shadow of the Leopard is an alternate title used on some editions of the same book.
Is the Sofia trilogy connected to Kurt Wallander or Joel Gustafson?
No. It's a separate body of work, written for young-adult readers and set in Mozambique rather than Sweden.
If you like the Sofia series
Reading order last verified .