What My Mother Doesn't Know

Bibliography

Sones, Sonya. 2003. What My Mother Doesn’t Know. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9780689841149

Plot Summary

In this novel in verse we are introduced to a 15 year old girl named Sophie. We follow Sophie as she falls in and out of love with a boy not one, two, but three times. Not only is Sophie dealing with her changing feelings, she is also dealing with the ups and downs of friendships at that age and struggling to understand the arguing between her mother and her father.

Critical Analysis

The rhythm of the poems that makes up the novel “What My Mother Doesn’t Know” is a roller coaster just as the life of the 15 year old writing them. Some poems are short, sweet and to the point, while others go on and on as a girl’s confused mind often does. The changing of the rhythm makes the novel and enjoyable, quick read.

Sonya Sones’ language mimics that of a typical teen. We experience Sophie’s first love in the poem “I Wish” where she longs to be small enough to fit into Dylan’s pocket to be able to hear the beating of his heart every minute of every day. You can feel the urgency of this wish to come true with the Sophie’s wanting to “drink the magic potion.” The shape of the poem, wider at the top, narrow at the bottom, creates the feeling of shrinking to fit in a pocket. When being introduced to Chaz, Sophie’s internet love, the use of fonts creates the choppy, boyish demeanor while Sophie’s Victorian font creates the illusion of the hopeless romantic we’ve been living vicariously through. The off center, tilted position of the poems mimics the often all over the place thoughts of a 15 year old girl.

Review Excerpts

Awards:
-American Library Association as one of the Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2004 and of 2005
-American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults (2002)
- American Library Association Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (2002)
- International Reading Association Young Adults' Choice (2003)

Reviews:
"...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." –Publisher’s Weekly

"...hilarious and irreverent in the style of Naylor's Alice books. 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." -Booklist

Connections

Encourage Students to share experiences of a week in verse form
Sonya Sones official website

Other Book by Sonya Sones:
-What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know
-One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies
-Stop Pretending What Happened When my Big Sister Went Crazy