Genre Three - Poetry

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Sones, Sonya. ONE OF THOSE HIDEOUS BOOKS WHERE THE MOTHER DIES. 2004. New York: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689858205.

PLOT SUMMARY:
In ONE OF THOSE HIDEOUS BOOKS WHERE THE MOTHER DIES, 15 year old Ruby tells her story about moving across the country to live with a father she has never met. After her mother dies from cancer, Ruby must live with her movie star father that she despises because he divorced her mother before she was born. Through poetry and e-mails, Ruby pines for her home, family, friends, and boyfriend. As hard as she tries to hate Hollywood and her father, she slowly warms up to both. ONE OF THOSE HIDEOUS BOOKS WHERE THE MOTHER DIES is a story about loss, love, and finding family where you least expect it.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Sonya Sones has captured the essence of a teenage girl in the form of free verse poetry. This story of young angst covers topics such as dealing with the death of a parent, first love, best friends, betrayal, unfamiliar situations, and homosexuality. Teenage girls can easily identify with issues portrayed in the story. Even those who have not lost a parent to death has been betrayed by a close friend or lost their first love. The main character, Ruby, experiences these things and the reader sees her pain and grief and ultimately how she comes to term with them.

Although Ruby’s reasons for moving to California are unique, her feelings toward her father are not new to teenagers. Many young people come from broken homes and have a less than perfect relationship with their parents. This book explores how it is possible that there is another side of the story to explore and things are not always as they seem.

Ms. Sones writes as if she is a teenage girl herself experiencing the most difficult time of her life. Any teenager, but especially girls will love this book of free verse poetry. From the moment they read the title until the last page, readers will clamor for more.

REVIEW EXCERPTS:
Booklist (starred review)
“A satisfying, moving novel that will be a winner for both eager and reluctant readers.”

School Library Journal (starred review)
“It’s solid and well written, and Sones has a lot to say about the importance of carefully assessing people and situations and about opening the door to one’s own happiness…Ruby’s story is gripping, enjoyable, and memorable.”

Publisher’s Weekly
“Ruby’s voice conveys genuine emotion.”

Bookpage
“Sonya Sones is one of the leading practitioners of the novel in verse for young adult readers, and readers will enjoy this new book every bit as much as her previous novel, What My Mother Doesn't Know, a huge hit with teens.”

American Library Association 2005 Best Book for Young Adults

Society of School Librarians International 2004 Honor Book

CONNECTIONS:
Use this book as an example that poetry does not always have to follow a certain formula.

Suggest this book to reluctant readers.

Have students predict what will happen at the end of the story.

Have students write their own free verse poem about any subject they choose. Use the style of Sonya Sones as a guide.