“The author, now healthy, renders her tale with a poignant awareness of the joy that is possible even in the most dire circumstances. Readers will swiftly be drawn into this beautifully written story of a brave and quite fascinating young woman.” ―Publishers Weekly (US)

“An extraordinary book from an extraordinary girl.” ―Marie Claire (France)

“[Sophie's diary] will give you goosebumps.” ―Elle Girl (Italy)

“The grandeur of this book does not rest only in the description of pain that Sophie suffered but also the courage with which she suffered it. What Sophie van der Stap has written is truly a masterpiece; she has managed to seize the lightness in the gravest of situations.” ―Der Spiegel (Germany)

Nothing about my first book was planned. I was 21, I got sick - cancer - and in the hospital I learned to write. Somewhere in the midst of this struggle, I picked up a pen and couldn’t put it down. After a year of chemo & wigs, my diary was quite voluminous. It became a book and I became a writer. From the hospital I sent out a few pages to a newspaper and a few  days later I signed a contract with a publishing house.  

Wearing wigs started as a nightmare. However, as some nightmares strangely do, my wigs turned into something good. They gave me the space to explore who I was, or at least, didn't want to be. They helped me cope and forget. They heped me say, fu*k this, now it's time to dance. 

The Girl With Nine Wigs has been published in 25 countries and was made into a German movie. The book was nominated for a Dutch Literary Award and Sophie has received several heroic awards for her story. On a TEDx conference she spoke about her story.