TWU - LS 5623 - Poetry, Drama, Film & Novels- WHAY MY MOTHER DOESN’T KNOW

YA

Sones, Sonya. 2001. WHAY MY MOTHER DOESN’T KNOW. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.  ISBN 9780689841149

PLOT SUMMARY - ANALYSIS

In this poetry novel, Sonya Sones delves into the teenage world of love and friendship when she sets Sophie on her journey. This entire book is written from Sophie’s point of view and is revealed in a chronological diary format. The title of each of the entries is written in a different font than the entries made by Sophie. The dialogue is authentic of teenage girls with the language and the concern over what her peers will think about her if she leaves the popular Dylan to go out with Murphy.

Sones documents the rather self-involved relationship building and then details the relationship demolition with Dylan through Sophie’s thoughts, obsessions and jealousy. "Drawing on the recognizable cadence of teenage speech, the author poignantly captures the tingle and heartache of being young and boy-crazy," wrote PW in a starred review. "She weaves separate free verse poems into a fluid and coherent narrative with a satisfying ending." Publishers Weekly (February 24, 2003)

The school setting gives the readers the feeling of the social dynamic of the school and lets the readers understand how perception issues can cause fear in how relationships are formed. Sophie has only two very close friends at school that she trusts with her personal love life updates. 

Sophie’s own family situation is revealed in her explanation of her mom as spending more time involved in the lives of the soap stars on television than in her life.

“I walk from room to room switching off all the other set, wishing she would show half as much interest in my life as she does in Luke and Laura’s” (page 22).

In between her two real life romantic encounters, Sophie has a sad realization that her computer relationship with someone named Chaz, is really dangerous and a big mistake. Sones takes this opportunity for a gentle reminder about Cyberstalkers and putting too much trust into someone that sounds nice on the Internet.

In a Cinderalla-like twist, Sophie meets a masked dancer at a school dance and they share glances and dances, but he leaves without revealing his identity. Sophie finds her prince charming to be the very person that she has so much in common with and is surprised and a little ashamed at first that he may be her prince charming. She soon overcomes the peer pressure and chooses to be with a person who shares so many common interests and has a great accepting family.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Book Links (ALA) 05/01/04

Notable Best Books (ALA) 01/21/02

Book Report starred 03/01/02

Publishers Weekly starred 10/15/01

School Library Journal 10/01/01

Booklist starred 11/15/01

Books for the Teen Age (NYPL) 05/01/02

Wilson’s Junior High School 01/09/10

CONNECTIONS

Levithan, David. 2008. HOW THEY MET, AND OTHER STORIES. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 9780375848865

·         Partner this book as another look at teen relationships and falling in love

McMullan, Margaret. 2010. SOURCES OF LIGHT. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

ISBN 9780547076591

·         Partner this book in looking at a different form of prejudice

Trembath, Don. 1998. A BEAUTIFUL PLACE ON YONGE STREET. Victoria, BC, Canada: Orca Book Publishers.

ISBN 9781551431215

·         Partner this book to explore a first love novel from a male perspective