Review of "Angels Deployed" by Sophia Pavlou

​Score: 95(+)/100 (9.5(+) out of 10)

Have you ever been separated from a loved one? Perhaps they're traveling for work, going to college, or deployed to war. There's always that fear and anxiety of what might happen when they're away.

Speaking of what might happen...What happens to all the hopes, dreams, and prayers we put out into the universe? Do they hit a wall? Fall on deaf ears? Vanish into a void? Or are they heard? Carried to the ear of God? Do they touch heart of the universe?

This book was a breath of fresh air—like a tall glass of water on a hot day. There's just something so infectiously positive, uplifting, and hopeful about this novel and its characters that we couldn't put it down!

There's an innocence and childlike charm to it that reminds us of something like The Noble Adventures of Beryl and Carol by Jeremy Sherr.

Even though it deals with gritty things like war (in the case of Scott), there's a strong sense of hope and a powerful aura of light. It puts forward the idea that we are never forgotten, we are never unheard—even in the depths of despair and in our darkest days.

In Angels Deployed, Sophia Pavlou delivers an emotionally resonant novel that beautifully bridges the gap between the magic of childhood and the harsh realities of military life. Set between the coastal town of Watchtower Harbor and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the story follows two emotionally intertwined arcs: the gifted young sisters Julia and Sophie, who possess the extraordinary ability to receive heartfelt wishes from children with deployed loved ones; and Jimmy, an eight-year-old boy whose brother, Scott "Scooter," is stationed in Afghanistan. Through the eyes of children, Pavlou explores themes of emotional resilience, spiritual communication, familial bonds, and the quiet heroism of those left waiting.

The plot intertwines two emotionally resonant storylines.

Julia and Sophie, two sweet and spirited sisters from Watchtower Harbor, aren’t like most kids. They have a special gift: they can hear the unspoken wishes of children who are missing their moms, dads, brothers, or sisters serving far away. It’s not something flashy—it’s more like a quiet calling passed down from their mother, Annalise.

Meanwhile, in Harrisburg, eight-year-old Jimmy Andrews is having a hard time with the silence from his older brother, Scott—nicknamed "Scooter"—who’s deployed in Afghanistan. Encouraged by his kindhearted teacher, Ms. Jessica Beck, Jimmy sends out a wish into the universe, hoping somehow it might reach Scott. That wish finds its way to Julia, riding on the wind like a message meant just for her.

A highlight of Pavlou's storytelling is her use of gentle magical realism. The girls’ ability to receive and deliver wishes is never over-explained, instead functioning as a metaphor for empathy, prayer, and the innate spiritual receptivity of children. When Julia appears as a vision to Scott in his tent—a scene described with reverence and awe—it’s not framed as fantasy but as a spiritual moment of clarity and emotional intervention. "I'm a messenger," Julia says, as light surrounds her. "I bring messages to soldiers that are away from kids in their families that really miss them."

This scene is one of the novel’s emotional turning points. Scott, initially shaken and uncertain, is reminded of his little brother’s vulnerability, and the weight of his silence. His commanding officer, Mike—a character who embodies the tension between duty and compassion—also receives a dreamlike visit from Julia. Mike’s internal conflict reflects a broader theme: the difficulty of balancing military structure with emotional humanity. His ultimate decision to bend protocol to allow Scott a brief return showcases leadership with heart.
The character development is another of the book’s strengths. Jimmy is depicted with emotional honesty—sensitive, imaginative, and brave enough to speak his longing aloud. Scott is devoted but torn, his guilt over not contacting Jimmy palpable.

Ms. Jessica Beck, Jimmy’s teacher, emerges as one of the most quietly heroic figures in the story. Her belief in the unseen—fueled by her own childhood experience of a brother’s deployment—gives Jimmy the courage to wish, and eventually, to believe. "Sometimes, our hearts make wishes for us, even when it’s not our birthday or Christmas," she tells him. Her words echo throughout the story. Ms. Beck is a definite consideration for our "Best Supporting Character" award.

There are so many great little character moments and elements in this book. For example, it's explained why Scott never says "Goodbye" when leaving but rather "Be safe." Ms. Beck has times when she's lovingly (and lovably) irritable as an overworked and underpaid teacher who does what she does for the love of the game. She often has to deal with interruptions and annoyances from students and their parents, but usually strives to meet them with empathy and understanding.

We're told that she was inspired to be a 3rd grade teacher when she was in 3rd grade, seeing how her favorite teacher inspired her and made her feel like a million bucks.

Julia and Sophie are more than magical intermediaries—they are compassionate anchors in their world. Julia’s emotional intelligence and sense of responsibility are clear as she not only hears Jimmy’s wish but insists on helping Scott feel peace. Sophie, though younger and more playful, contributes levity and innocence, highlighting the contrasts in how children process fear and distance.

Pavlou also layers the story with rich subplots and settings that reinforce the main themes. Annalise’s memories of her own childhood as a messenger and her conversations with Sean, her deployed husband, give the story intergenerational depth. Ms. Beck’s recollections of her brother Matt and her childhood ice cream shop experience (with a pivotal side character, Patti) adds thematic continuity across timelines. These memories reinforce a key idea: love, even across space and time, leaves echoes.

In closing, we wanted to discuss some of our little favorite moments and quotes. This is a book with a lot of small joys--small moments that got us either smiling, laughing, or thinking.

There's a really funny scene in which the sisters argue over watering some tomatoes. Julia, groggy and trying to collect her thoughts, lies under the oak tree after feeling overwhelmed by a wish.

Sophie tries to rouse her, and when Julia tells her to go back inside, Sophie snaps, “I’m telling Mommy you went to sleep and the tomatoes won’t grow, and she won’t have anything for her salad for the whole summer, and you will be in big trouble.” Julia, ever the big sister, fires back with, “If you don’t go inside and leave me alone, I will turn the water back on and water you instead of the tomatoes.” It’s a wonderfully grounded, silly exchange that captures the genuine love and rivalry of siblings—and gives the story a refreshing dose of humor amid its more serious themes.

The wording of this banter is comedy gold, and it seems like an authentic petty argument two young sisters would have. We especially love how Sophie's passage steamrolls and builds like an escalating rant—growing a small problem (like not watering tomatoes for a day) to a big one (like famine).

We also love the care and respect that this book pays to the power of prayer and making wishes—both things which millions of people around the world do every day, believing it might help them somehow or that it's the right thing to do. We love these quotes about the topic, it's very Classic-Disney-esque:

"Sometimes, our hearts make wishes for us, even when it’s not our birthday or Christmas"

“When you send messages from your heart into the universe, angels hear them. They deliver the messages to the person you are missing most.”

“When you make a wish from your heart, it always comes true.”

“She said that you have to believe, and the wish must be from your heart. If it is, the universe will listen.”

There are other quotes in this book that pack a punch like:

“The old saying is true. Be careful who you trust because salt and sugar look the same.”

Ultimately, Angels Deployed is about more than magical communication or military hardship. It’s a meditation on the unseen threads of connection that hold families and communities together. It’s about emotional labor, spiritual faith, and the ways children navigate grief and longing with more wisdom than we often expect. Pavlou’s prose is elegant and clear, her pacing measured, and her characters fully realized.

Check it out on Amazon!