what my mother doesn't know by Sonya Sones

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sones, Sonya. (2001). WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN'T KNOW.  NY: Simon & Schuster for Young Readers.  ISBN 0689841140

PLOT SUMMARY
Written entirely in free verse, this novel poignantly describes the trials and tribulations of being a teenage girl.  With extraordinary realism, each of the individual poems authentically represents 14-year old Sophie's innermost thoughts, feelings, and experiences.  From best friends to boyfriends to relationships with parents, female readers will easily relate to Sophie's struggles. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In her own distinctive writing style, Sones allows the main character of Sophie to narrate her teenage life experiences through individual poems.  One after another, the poetry unfolds as clearly as a motion picture.  This is because Sones masterfully describes these events using everyday conversational language and a smooth, almost carefree rhythm.  Beginning with Nicknames, Sophie humorously introduces the interesting collection of names given to her by family and friends.  Readers can almost hear the teasing voices of Zak and Danny who "...think it's cute/ to call me Couch/ as in:/ "How're your cushions today, Couch?"  This creates a playful, light-hearted mood that makes readers eager to turn the page.

The arrangement of the individual poems moves the story forward effortlessly and clever titles such as “Sixth Sense” and “How It Happened” tantalize readers to keep reading.  Other titles like “In the Girl’s Bathroom” and “My First Time Buying You-Know-Whats” vividly remind readers of their own teenage years.  As Sophie heads to the cash register with her purchase of feminine products, female readers can easily relate to her predicament of  “But I hadn’t counted on a guy/ being the cashier.”  By sparking curiosity and triggering memories, Sones creates an irresistable story that is difficult to put down.

     

The events in this book realistically portray teenage angst and many of the rollercoaster emotions that accompany it.  This is one aspect that young adult readers will find most appealing.  In Friday Night Fight, Sophie’s boyfriend, Dylan gets a buzz cut and soon everyone refers to him as “Dumbo.”  Besides the fact that she is now “Mrs. Dumbo,” Sophie misses his curly hair and tells Dylan that “maybe he could at least/warn me next time he’s/planning on getting scalped” to which he replies that she will “have to get used to it.”  In typical adolescent mode, Sophie impulsively retorts, “not if I don’t/ have to look at it anymore” and Dylan fires back, “you don’t!” as he angrily leaves the house.  

Sophie’s apprehension as she waits to see what happens is described in the next two poems.  In Long Weekend, the words may be simple, but the imagery is powerful: “Forty-eight hours alone./ Forty-eight hours/ is such a long time/ to sit/ and stare/ at the phone.”  Sophie’s anxiety intensifies during I Didn’t See Him at School Today - “Not in the hall./ Not in the cafeteria./ Not in the library./ Not anywhere./ Not even once.”  As desperately as Sophie wants to know what’s going to happen, so too does the reader.   In the next poem, I Yank Open the Door, Sophie discovers that “his I’m sorry kisses are so sweet/that for a second/ I find myself thinking/it was almost worth/ having the fight.”  

What makes this book an engaging read is that women of all ages will be able to see themselves in Sophie's thoughts, actions, and feelings.  Being a teenager has its emotional ups and downs, but the lessons learned, whether pleasing or painful, usually last a lifetime.  Although few people would actually want to "re-live" those years, it is oh-so-delightful to briefly re-visit those days through someone else's experiences and to view the events through "wiser" eyes.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Starred Review from VOYA:  "The poems are snappy, and each one strikes a chord that fluidly moves the reader to the next episode."

Starred Review from Booklist:  (Grades 6-10) "The poetry is never pretentious...the very short, sometimes rhythmic lines make each page fly."

Starred Review from Publishers Weekly:   (Ages 12 and up)  "...Sophie's honest and earthy story feels destined to captivate a young female audience, avid and reluctant readers alike."

CONNECTIONS
English/Language Arts - the following two exceptional teaching ideas were found at: 
http://www.edb.utexas.edu/resources/booksR4teens/book_reviews/book_reviews.php?book_id=124

Through the Character's Eyes - After students have read the majority of the text, have them chose a character from the work. Instruct the students to think of ten adjectives that they can use to define the personality of that character. Students should write the ten adjectives down on paper without sharing their work with anyone else. After all students have completed their lists, have students display their work in the classroom where it is visible to all students. Students try to determine which characters are being described using only the list of adjectives provided. [Summarized from "Through the Character's Eyes" by John Forsyth in Classroom Notes Plus. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English. October 1992, page 2.]

Recording a Typical Family Meal - Students will chose a typical day of the week and take notes during a family meal at their house. Students will then write a narrative detailing the event. Prompt students by giving them several questions about the people in attendance, the setting, the food, the activities, and the conversation. Encourage students to closely observe the family meal and pay strict attention to details. This activity should help students learn to develop and use their own unique voices in their writings. [Summarized from "Recording a Typical Family Meal" by Robert H. Rempe in Classroom Notes Plus. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English. March 1992, page 4.]

Related websites:
http://www.netpoets.com/poems/teenlove/ contains love poems written from an adolescent's perspective.

http://www.gravityteen.com/poetry/pick.cfm more poetry from the teen perspective. Users may even submit their own poems.

Related books:
Janeczko, Paul B. (1991). Preposterous: Poems of Youth. New York. Orchard Books.
ISBN 0531059014
A poetry anthology that includes many of the themes presented in What My Mother Doesn't Know (i.e.  love, family problems, friendship, secrets, etc...).

Mackler, Carolyn. (2000). Love and Other Four-Letter Words. New York: Delcorte.
ISBN  044022831X
The story of a teenage girl who learns that one's character is strengthened through personal struggles.