Wednesday, October 13, 2010

What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones

Genre 3 - Poetry

"Read one of the following novels in verse"
What My Mother Doesn't Know

Plot Summary

What My Mother Doesn't Know follows Sophie's many romances from first kisses with Lou, the boy she didn't really like, to Murphy, the skinny homely boy she can't keep her mind off of. It also chronicles the events that made Sophie, Grace, and Rachel best friends, and the declining state of her parent's marriage and their relationships with her. Poems about getting her first period, shopping with mom, school dances, and interfaith relationships are all given fair treatment in this verse novel. Eventually, Sophie sorts her emotions out and decides that the boy she's fallen for over winter break, even though he is shunned by others at school, does not have to remain a secret.

Critical Analysis

In this tale Sones has captured the idealism and youth of our poetic narrator Sophie. She accurately represents the fickle lust of an adolescent girl and her many different relationships, of all varieties. The events and feelings within the story are representative of those any adolescent girl might encounter as she tries to make sense of herself and the world around her.

The free verse form feels so raw and truthful it's as though we're reading through the diary of a young, idealistic girl as she figures out the nuances of love and relationships. This poetic narrative flows so well in natural speech patterns that the story flies past in what feels like moments. The different voices of Sophie and her friends are printed in different typefaces, so as to lend an additional bit of personality to each one, even though we mostly hear from Sophie throughout the novel.

Connections


Awards/Reviews

American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults 2002
American Library Association Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers 2002
Iowa Teen Award
Nominated for SCASL Book Award (South Carolina)
Nominated for Volunteer State Book Award

From Publishers Weekly:
Drawing on the recognizable cadences of teenage speech, Sones (Stop Pretending) poignantly captures the tingle and heartache of being young and boy-crazy. . . With its separate free verse poems woven into a fluid and coherent narrative with a satisfying ending, Sophie's honest and earthy story feels destined to captivate a young female audience, avid and reluctant readers alike.
From School Library Journal:
Sonya Sones's novel (S & S, 2001) draws listeners into the private thoughts and longings of a ninth grade girl on the verge of finding love and learning what it means to mature. . . Although the reading is sometimes too rapid for listeners to absorb the changes in topics, girls will relate to the author's honest prose and Sophie's angst. An excellent addition to YA collections.-Jessica Miller, New Britain Public Library, CT
From The Horn Book:
Sones tries a little too hard to be hip and her style is sometimes contrived, but overall the voice is fresh and honest, often transcending cool to realistically portray adolescent vulnerability.
From Booklist:
In a fast, funny, touching book, Sones uses the same simple, first-person poetic narrative she used in Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy (1999), but this story isn't about family anguish; it's about the joy and surprise of falling in love. . . The poetry is never pretentious or difficult; on the contrary, the very short, sometimes rhythmic lines make each page fly. Sophie's voice is colloquial and intimate, and the discoveries she makes are beyond formula, even while they are as sweetly romantic as popular song. A natural for reluctant readers, this will also attract young people who love to read. --Hazel Rochman

Bibliography

Sones, Sonya. What My Mother Doesn't Know. 1st ed. New York: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0689841140.

Related Links

Posted by Nan, C. at 9:04 PM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)