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Sonya Sones
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What My Mother Doesn't Know Paperback – February 1, 2003

by Sonya Sones (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 289 ratings
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My name is Sophie.

This book is about me.

It tells

the heart-stoppingly riveting story

of my first love.

And also of my second.

And, okay, my third love too.

It's not that I'm boy crazy.

It's just that even though

I'm almost fifteen

it's like

my mind

and my body

and my heart

just don't seem to be able to agree

on anything.

Previous page
  1. Reading age
    12 - 13 years, from customers
  2. Print length
    259 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    7 - 9
  5. Dimensions
    4.25 x 0.75 x 7 inches
  6. Publisher
    Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
  7. Publication date
    February 1, 2003
  8. ISBN-10
    0689855532
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0689855535
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Entertainment Weekly Winning.

Booklist Starred review Fast, funny, touching.

Kirkus Reviews Starred review A verse experience that will leave readers sighing with recognition and satisfaction.

Publishers Weekly Honest...destined to captivate.

KLIATT Brilliant.

About the Author

Sonya Sones has written four novels-in-verse: Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy, One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies, What My Mother Doesn’t Know, and its companion, What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know. Her books have been honored with a Christopher Award, the Myra Cohn Livingston Poetry Award, and the Claudia Lewis Award for Poetry. But the coolest honor she ever got was when What My Mother Doesn’t Know made it onto the ALA’s list of Top Ten Most Challenged Books, thrice. She lives near the beach in California. You can visit her at SonyaSones.com.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (February 1, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 259 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0689855532
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0689855535
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 - 13 years, from customers
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.25 x 0.75 x 7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 289 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Sonya Sones

    Sonya Sones

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
289 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Robert Zimmermann
5.0 out of 5 stars Review: What My Mother Doesn't Know, by Sonya Sones
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2013
Verified Purchase
What really struck a chord with me in this book is that it's a free-verse novel. I feel that Sones' decision to write this novel in verse instead of prose makes it stand out from other young adult novels that might deal with similar characters and situations.

Because of the nature of poetry, there was a certain lack of depth to the story. With that in mind, there was also a much deeper depth to the story than what could be found just through reading this as if it were prose. The poems that make up What My Mother Doesn't Know range in what they convey. Some are a full scene in Sophie's day. Others create a full scene with a series of poems, where each might be a bit shorter and focus on one thought. Weaved together in a mixture of lengths and subjects, they create a beautiful patchwork view into who Sophie's character is.

I really enjoyed the voice in this books as well. Sophie is a 15-year-old girl who is trying to sort out her heart, deal with an abnormal home-life and even touches on the prejudices of her being Jewish. While I'm not, nor have I ever been, a 15-year-old girl, I found her believable and was able to sympathize with her. At times I wanted to reach into the book and give her a good slap, but she's learning how to go through life and to sort things out for herself.

I'm happy that I went along on this little journey with Sophie figuring out what love is, who she really is, and ultimately a journey about growing up for a teen who could represent many teens in one way or another.
3 people found this helpful
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Mona Mainstreet
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely book!
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2023
Verified Purchase
For the life of me I can't understand why this book is banned! It's a great story about a young girl growing up! Struggling to make sense of her very normal life. I would gift it to any of my niece's who were in their mid teens.
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Lauren Drazen
4.0 out of 5 stars "What My Mother Doesn't Know" is a very good and intriguing quick read
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2017
Verified Purchase
"What My Mother Doesn't Know" is a very good and intriguing quick read. The book is written in verse, from the same point of view the entire time. The main character, Sophie, is the narrator; she writes about love, boys, friends, and family. She is going through a tough time at home and deals with break ups, crushes and the struggles of the teenage years. This book is definitely geared towards young women, but is not limited to that. Kids from the age of 13 and up would enjoy and relate to the book. The only downside to this book is that it is so brief that there isn't really a strong plot. Although the plot is weak/not really there, as a teenage girl, I really enjoyed the book. It was very relatable to my life and entertaining to read. It's a great book that you can't put down. I definitely recommend it!!
One person found this helpful
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lower@sedona.net
5.0 out of 5 stars Free verse used well, PG 13
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2013
Verified Purchase
I prefer poetry that tells a story, like Hiawatha or Canterbury Tales. I enjoy some of Billy Collins free verse, but on average most is unmemorable because as a whole they don't tell a story or have a theme. I only bookmarked 3 of Sones' poems, but as a whole l enjoyed the story. This was good use of free verse, moving the story along by crystalizing one idea and mood at a time, allowing the story to be stopped or started again as easily as a Vonnegut story.

Some reviewers complain that the story is inappropriate. I rate it PG 13, not because of any offensive content, but because hitting puberty seems a reasonable prerequisite. If your kids saw Transformers, they've been exposed to worse.

I feel I got lucky in 2013 choosing this book for Natl. Poetry Month.
One person found this helpful
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Gomerel
5.0 out of 5 stars Charming book. Misleading title
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2007
Verified Purchase
Sophie's pig of a mother doesn't know anything because she numbs out watching tv and eating chocolate all the time. Sophie could probably say "I gave my boyfriend oral sex last night" and her mother would just grunt.

But there isn't really much to hide. Sophie is a "nice Jewish girl." She's adorable. She thinks about sex. Duh!

The book is written in free verse. Some reviewers have complained that it isn't great poetry. No, it is a teen girl writing her thoughts in poetry. It isn't supposed to be great poetry.

Sophie's mother really angered me. She went into a huge ugly guilt trip because Sophie secretly wore a slinky black dress to a halloween party instead of the stupid dress her mother wanted her to wear. Believe me, any parent whose teenager didn't do anything worse than that should get down on her knees and thank the universe.
2 people found this helpful
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A Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars Dang!
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2012
Verified Purchase
I have to admit that I put off reading this book for ages. A YA novel in verse? Blech, right? But the reviews finally convinced me to give this a try, and I'm so glad I did. I have no idea how the author managed to make a book so light, sweet, rich and full all at the same time. The verse isn't pretentious or tedious in the least -- it goes down smooth and easy, making every moment pop bright and clear. And it brought back memories of my first love so vividly it made my heart hurt (in a nice way). I think my only complaint is that the girl on the cover looks nothing like I pictured, and the overall cover design doesn't quite suit the mood of the book. But that, obviously, is just a nit-pick.

Amazing!
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Catey
3.0 out of 5 stars Sweet!
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2013
Verified Purchase
I loved the build-up of romance for Fee, and the end was very satisfying. I also loved the theme of art and how important it was to her and Robin. However, the title made me expect more of the mother/daughter relationship, and I think the story may have been better served overall by not being in verse.
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Sydney Warch
5.0 out of 5 stars Glad I read it
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2013
Verified Purchase
When I first started this book, I was a bit annoyed that there were not full pages and long chapters like I usually like to read. Yet I kept reading because I was going to try it.
I'm glad I did.
The book was beautifully written and heartbreaking at the same time, you'll want to laugh, cry and maybe even through this story across the room(unless you're reading this on a kindle like myself)
It was a great story and had your head turning with thoughts at the end. I would highly suggest reading it.
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