What My Mother Doesn't Know

 What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones

Bibliographic Data 

Sones, S. (2013). What my mother doesn’t know. Simon & Schuster. ISBN:9780689841149 

Summary 

This is a story about a girl named Sophia who takes the reader on a journey through her “love life.” Sophia is trying to determine what love really is and what is just a crush. The reader is walking through the ins and outs of navigating relationships between the “perfect” boyfriend, the mystery online boyfriend and the least likely boyfriend that Sophia encounters. Sophia also reveals that her mother struggles with what the reader infers as a little depression. 

Critical Analysis 

The author Sonya Sones has written a book in prose poems. The reading is quick and meaningful. The author draws the reader alongside Sophia as she journeys through her “Love Life.” The scenarios that Sophia shares give the reader an in-depth look at how Sophia thinks and imagines what the relationship could be like. There is humor when the reader reads what the reality is of the relationships. The fact that the author brings in the mystery of online dating I felt like was a great strength because it shows that online people are not always who they seem to be. I am thankful that the character of Sophia was smart enough to not pursue that relationship. It was also sweet to share that sometimes a crush or relationship can be with the most unlikely person when open to finding a relationship. 

Reviews and Awards 

Publishers Weekly, 02/24/2003 

"Drawing on the recognizable cadence of teenage speech, the author poignantly captures the tingle and heartache of being young and boy-crazy," 

Horn Book Guide, 10/01/2002 

This novel chronicles the life and love of eighth-grader Sophie in first-person free-verse poems. 

Publishers Weekly, 10/15/2001 

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. 

Connections 

• Explore Sonya Sones website for other recommendations of Novels in Verse  

• Read the sequel What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know to see what happens to Sophie Next. 

• On page 66, The author writes “I Wish” … Try your hand at writing a verse with the same title.