Mod 6 What My Mother Doesn't Know

Sones, Sonya. What My Mother Doesn't Know. New York: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2001. ISBN 9780698841149

Summary:

Fourteen year-old Sophie has only two reliable people in her life- her best friends, Rachel and Grace. Her mother hides out in the basement eating chocolate and watching soaps. Her father is gone away on business trips, a lot. This is the story of her first true love. And her second. And her third. A rollercoaster of romances, cyber dating, family fights, and friendships.

Analysis:

In this realistic, teen-angst, free verse novel, Sones latches on to the emotions and speech of teen girls. Using poems that can stand alone, but flow together to make a story allows readers to read short periods of time and still progress through the story fairly quickly. “Each one strikes a chord that fluidly moves the reader on to the next episode,” says VOYA. The novel deals briefly with some difficult topics such as anti-Semitism and divorce, but not to any depth or resolution. The main focus is on friendship and acceptance, especially as Sophie’s latest boyfriend is not really boyfriend material, so she must choose between her new boyfriend and her long time friends. Sophie’s character develops as she asserts her independence. She buys a slinky black dress to wear to the dance, without her mom’s permission. She takes herself on a stay-cation when all of her friends leave for Christmas vacation. She also drops the cute boys who are progressively pushing her for more than kisses for the more homely, but more thoughtful, Murphy.

Reviews:

School Library Journal 2008

"Told in Sophie's own free verse poems, the story moves and evolves quickly in a satisfying and tantalizing manner."

Publisher's Weekly 2001

"The author poignantly captures the tingle and heartache of being young and boy-crazy."

Booklist

"The very short, sometimes rhythmic lines make each page fly."

Kirkus 2001

"The verse format allows Sophie to interrogate and explore her feelings and relationships with quintessentially teenage ferocity."

Awards:

winner of the Iowa Teen Book Award (2005 -2006)

named by the American Library Association as one of the Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2004 and of 2005

Michigan Thumbs Up Award Honor Book (2002)

unanimously chosen an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults (2002)

unanimously chosen an American Library Association Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (2002)

named an International Reading Association Young Adults' Choice (2003)

named a Booklist Editor's Choice (2001)

voted a VOYA Top Shelf for Middle School Readers (2003)

Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award: YA Recommended Title (2003 -2004)

named a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age (2002, 2003, and 2004)

named a Texas Lone Star State Reading List Choice (2003 – 2004)

named a Top Ten Editor's Choice by Teenreads.com (2001)

named a Bookreporter.com Best of 2001 for Teens

chosen a Junior Library Guild selection

chosen a Scholastic Teen Age Book Club selection

chosen a Scholastic Trumpet Book Club selection

chosen a Scholastic Book Fair selection

nominated for the following state awards:

Volunteer State Book Award (TN) (2004 – 2005)

Utah Children's Choice Beehive Award (2003 – 2004)

Garden State Teen Book Award (NJ) (2003 - 2004)

Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (2004)

Rhode Island Teen Book Award (2004)

South Carolina Young Adult Book Award (2003 – 2004)

Missouri Gateway Reader's Choice Award for Teens (2003 – 2004)

Wyoming Library Association Soaring Eagle Book Award (2003 -2004)

Connections:

For more information about the author visit http://www.sonyasones.com/

For an online poetry writing workshop with current poets visit http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/poetry/

For tips on teen dating safety visit http://www.teenhelp.com/teen-issues/teen-dating-safety.html

If you liked this book, you might enjoy:

The truth about forever by Sarah Dessen

Along for the ride by Sarah Dessen

True believer by Virginia Euwer Wolff

Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

The it girl by Cecily Von Ziegesar

The realm of possibility by David Levithan

Ttyl by Lauren Myracle

Picture:

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