One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies (Poetry)

Sones, Sonya. One of those hideous books where the mother dies. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2004. ISBN 0689858205

Plot Summary
This fast paced novel in verse is told through the perspective of a young teenager named Ruby. Early in the book readers discover that Ruby is no ordinary teenager, but the daughter of a recently deceased mother and an estranged father, who just happens to be a famous actor. The plot reveals the everyday turmoil and confusion of being a teenager, with common teenage themes of relocation, friendship, and first love. More unexpected, the novel follows Ruby’s emergence through the grief of losing a mother and stress of developing a relationship with her previously unknown father.

Critical Analysis
One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies is full of predictable plot and over the top scenarios, locations, and drama. Despite this, its quick pace and laugh out loud humor gives it an addictive quality similar to eating chocolate or watching a soap opera on daytime television. Teens will have fun imagining going from middle class teenager to offspring of the rich and famous. Furthermore, this book goes beyond a fun read and becomes memorable and recommendable because of the deep and honest quality of it’s star character, Ruby. The book details the personal thoughts of its main character in a language that will feel relaxed and familiar to the average American teenager. Finally the reader can openly relate to the book and make connections beyond wishful or sympathetic thinking.

The free verse of the book provides an ideal avenue to express Ruby’s many emotional states. Sones’ arrangement of stanzas and lines within each poem serve to emphasize or articulate the expression of certain emotions. For example, when Ruby uses three lines to state “Now I hate the rain” the reader fully digests how even the small things in Ruby’s life have changed since her mother’s death (208). Direct, meaningful, and occasionally laconic language will find home with reluctant and avid readers alike.

Review Excerpts
Publisher’s Weekly- “winning portrayal of a teenage girl's loves and losses”
Booklist- “acrimonious, raw, and very funny”
Kirkus Reviews- “the fulfillment of many a teen's fantasies”

Connections
*Other suggested books in verse by Sonya Sones
Sones, Sonya. What my mother doesn’t know. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2001. ISBN 0689841140
Sones, Sonya. What my girlfriend doesn’t know. New York: Simone & Schuster Books for Young   Readers, 2008. ISBN 0689876033
Sones, Sonya. Stop pretending, what happened when my big sister went crazy. New York: Harper  Teen, 1999. ISBN 0064462188

*University of Texas suggests these texts with related themes (http://www.edb.utexas.edu/resources/booksR4teens/book_reviews/book_reviews.php?book_id=124).

Cisneros, Sandra. House on Mango Street. New York: Vintage Press, 1991. ISBN 0679734775
Janeczko, Paul B. Preposterous: Poems of Youth. New York. Orchard Books, 1991. ISBN 0531059014
Mackler, Carolyn. Love and Other Four-Letter Words. New York: Delcorte, 2000. ISBN 044022831X