What my mother doesn't know

Poetry Review

LS 5603.20/Spring 2010
S. Vardell

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Sones, Sonya. what my mother doesn't know. New York, New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001.

PLOT SUMMARY:

Adolescence, coming of age, immaturity to maturity is an experience we will go through or have already weathered. All teens have the experience in common, but each has to make the emotionally exhausting journey alone. Sophia is no different.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Reading what my mother doesn't know by Sonya Sones shares Sophia's personal journey of growing up including emotive new feelings, physical desires, changes of course and the possible discovery of "true" love. This free verse story is a mirror into Sophie's mind. Conversational language and current vocabulary create a very relevant reading experience. Sophie is a "cyber-savvy" teen navigating the internet and her hormones at the same time. Ms. Sones creates a very three dimensional Sophie. Using strong imagery and description the reader becomes immersed in Sophie's world. The ups and downs of Sophie's life relate to readers of any age. Another interesting element that Ms. Sones, the artist, adds to this verse novel starts on page 231. Between the pages 231-259, in the lower right hand corner, resides a charming "flip art" image. This sympathetic character wades through her confusion and ultimately chooses her own end. This book is a great read for young adults immersed in seeking the first loves of their lives. This is a difficult, confusing time of life and knowing you are not alone can ease that adolescent angst.

AWARDS WON AND REVIEW EXCERPTS:
Iowa Teen Award 2006
Soaring Eagle Book Award, 2004

CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 2002)
At almost 15, Sophie is trying to make sense of her intense emotions, unreliable hormones, and ever-changing feelings. A novel told through a series of prose poems speaks in Sophie's lively, gut-level honest voice. Her confusion as the rapture she once felt just thinking about her boyfriend Dylan cools to ambivalence, and then to irritation, is refreshingly realistic.

Melissa J. Rickey (Children's Literature)

... The highs and lows of Sophie's life reflect much of the excitement and anguish that mark adolescence--maintaining and developing new friendships; experiencing first love; despairing of parents in the midst of marital strife and personal transitions; and facing down religious bigotry and collective scape-goating. Sophie negotiates all of these life-events with honesty, openness and humor as she reconstructs her identity and learns to trust her own perspective.

CONNECTIONS:

Animated Flip Book Resources: Flip Book Ideas http://www.ehow.com/way_5292083_flip-book-ideas.html

Interesting take on the traditional flip book.  Additional links appearing under the finished video are the property of those who posted their video on Youtube.  I have not followed all links.  User discretion is advised when veiwing any unknown links.

Literature Connections:

Sonya Sones Official website http://www.sonyasones.com/

Other Books by Sonya Sones: http://www.sonyasones.com/mybooks.htm

Make connection with Nikki Grimes' jazmin's notebook and other coming of age books featuring girls from different bacgrounds and cultures.

Images credited to Sonia Sones official website.  Video from Youtube.