What My Mother Doesn't Know

Sones, Sonya. What My Mother Doesn't Know. Simon Pulse: 2001. ISBN: 9780689855535.

Summary:
Ninth grader Sophie is almost fifteen and eager to engage life and solve the mystery of love and boys. She's had a couple boyfriends, but the magic fades after a while and Sophie is ready for a new adventure. Sophie even tries her hand at an Internet relationship. Life at home is dysfunctional. Mom and dad fight, don't show any sort of affection to her or each other and her mother is a pro at making Sophie feel guilty. The Halloween dance looms large for the high school freshman. Sophie dances with a masked man who sweeps her off her feet and leaves her breathless. Unable to concentrate at school, Sophie must find out who he is and determine if this is her true love.

Evaluation:
Skillfully written in verse, author Sonya Sones builds characters and setting as much by what she doesn't say as opposed to what is on the page. Also in first person, Sophie is an open book and her thoughts tumble across each page with stark honesty and realism. Teens are changeable and explorers, Sophie explores a new relationship that she is convinced is platonic. We see her mind process and evaluate the importance of friends, loyalty and love.

Reader's Annotation:
Love is not a lightening bolt, sometimes it comes softly like the rain.

Bibliotherapeutic Uses:
Relationships are hard to navigate. Reading about how other teens manage is useful.

Genre:
Romance

Why I Included This Book:
I love books written in verse and this is a popular book at our library.