What My Mother Doesn't Know...

What My Mother Doesn’t Know

By: Sonya Sones

Simon & Schuster ©2001

ISBN 9780689855535

This intriguing story reveals the trials and tribulations of one fifteen year-old girl’s life. Sophie expresses her infatuation with boys, her adventures with her two best friends and her aggravation with her parents. The first poem is about all of the nicknames Sophie has and why Sapphire is her favorite. As the story moves from poem to poem we learn about Sophie’s new love, Dylan. However, it turns out that Dylan is not the love of her life. We read about the relationship blooming, withering and dying. But don’t worry; Sophie discovers love in an unlikely place. We also learn about her two best friends, Grace and Rachel. Sones describes how the three girls became friends and a few of their adventures. The final facet of the story is Sophie’s annoyance with her parents. One poem discusses her wish for her father to hug her. Quite a few others are about fights she has with her mother. This is a wonderful verse novel that teens can relate to.

The entire novel is written in a unique free verse poetic style. The poetry is a great way to convey Sophie’s indecision with her feelings for Dylan, Murphy, her parents and her friends. For example:

“But We’re Just Friends

Aren’t we?

And that’s how I want it to stay.

Don’t I?

That’s how it has to stay.

Doesn’t it?...”

This poem reads just like a person’s thoughts being pulled in two different directions. Poetry is a great way for an author to convey emotion in a few lines. The entire novel is easy to read and enjoy. Sones experiments with form in this novel. The poem I Wish narrows down to one word to illustrate Sophie’s wish to shrink down to a pocket-size version of herself.

This novel is definitely meant for teen readers because of the content. However, poems could be selected for younger audiences. Teachers could challenge their students to experiment with free verse poetry. Many people believe poetry needs to rhyme and this novel is a great example of free verse. Teachers could have their students try writing their own novel in verse.

Booklist—“Fast, funny, touching.”

Publishers Weekly—“Honest… destined to captivate.”