my best friends are books: What My Mother Doesn't Know

Sones, Sonya. What My Mother Doesn’t Know. 2001. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Books For Young Readers, 2003. Print. ISBN: 0780689855535 Pages: 259

Paperback US $7.99

Awards

A Booklist Editors’ Choice 2001

An ALA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults 2002

An ALA Top 100 Most Banned Books of the Decade 2000–2010

An ALA Top Ten Most Challenged Books 2004 and 2005

Iowa Teen Book Award 2005–2006

Michigan Thumbs Up Award Honor Book 2002

International Reading Association Young Adults' Choice 2003

VOYA Top Shelf for Middle School Readers 2003

Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award: YA Recommended Title 2003–2004

New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age 2002, 2003, and 2004

Texas Lone Star State Reading List Choice 2003–2004

Junior Library Guild selection

Volunteer State Book Award (TN) Nominee2004–2005

Utah Children's Choice Beehive Award Nominee 2003–2004

Garden State Teen Book Award (NJ) Nominee 2003–2004

Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award Nominee 2004

Rhode Island Teen Book Award Nominee 2004

South Carolina Young Adult Book Award Nominee 2003–2004

Missouri Gateway Reader's Choice Award for Teens Nominee 2003–2004

Wyoming Library Association Soaring Eagle Book Award Nominee 2003–2004

Sophie falls in love, then out of it, then back in again in this fast-paced, novel-in-verse. She tries to juggle her boy problems, with her friend problems, and her home problems without falling apart and, in the end, succeeds.

A celebrated Banned Book...you'll have to read it to find out why!

Image from boone.lib.ia.us

Snap and Read:

What My Mother Doesn't Know

by Sonya Sones

Sophie loves, loves, loves Lou until he breaks up with her. Then she loves, loves, loves Dylan. Dylan calls her Sapphire, has smoldery dark eyes, and everything else seems to fade away when they’re together. But if things with Dylan are so perfect, why does she always find herself thinking about kissing Murphy, the super geek? And why is she so excited for her evening IM chats with Chaz? And who is the romantic masked man that swept her off her feet at the Halloween dance?!?

If I could marry a font

I’d marry his.

I just love it,

the way all of the letters lean

at those quirky little angles.

They remind me of the letters

in those thought balloons

in the Sunday funnies

like words that Snoopy

or Garfield

might be thinking

And those questions marks are-

well, they’re adorable.

They just are somehow.

If I could marry a font,

I would definitely marry his.

Click here to see if this item is available at Ericson Public Library!

Click here to see if this item is available at Ames Public Library!

Praise for What My Mother Doesn't Know

"Winning." Entertainment Weekly

"Fast, funny, touching." Booklist

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

"Honest...destined to captivate." Publishers Weekly

"Brilliant." KLIATT

Arielle's Recommendation: What My Mother Doesn’t Know rings true to the female, teenage experience. I should know, I've been there and made it out alive. Humor, quick chapters, and intriguing characters make this a necessary addition to school and public library teen collections. Plus the verse style is currently very popular and a great way to encourage reluctant readers. Recommend this book to readers of Louise Rennison and Meg Cabot in 7th grade and older. There is a wonderful poem involving nipples that, while fantastically humorous and insightful, may not be appropriate for younger readers.