I first heard about What My Mother Doesn’t Know by Sonya Sones through Angie‘s meme Retro Fridays. I liked the premise but since I’d never read a novel in verse before I wasn’t sure if it was for me. (And I say I like to try new things…) A few months later when someone happened to have an extra copy, I thought I may as well take it on the off chance that I’d have the desire to read it someday. That someday turned out to be just around the corner when I needed a light, quick, and undemanding read one night. This novel consisting of 259 pages of short poems perfectly fit the bill. As it is entirely written in free verse, and I am not a poet, I think it fitting to borrow the summary from the back cover, which will serve a double purpose in giving a small taste of the novel itself:

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.

Not boy crazy, eh? That’s just Sophie being her typical, funny self. I’m still amazed by how much can be said in so little words, especially by way of plot and characterization. Naive, fourteen-year-old Sophie’s voice came alive for me in just a few short poems. I felt her strained relationship with her disinterested, clueless parents and related to her young, fickle attitude toward boys and love. To an extent I even related to her preoccupation with the kissable lips of her boyfriends. Being in love with the idea of love told in such an honest way is something to which everyone can connect. What the summary doesn’t explain is that Sophie is part of the ‘in’ crowd, and her first boyfriends are cute and popular too. But then she questions what attracted her to them in the first place after she begins *cough* an online relationship.  Meanwhile at school she is drawn to the quiet, loner Robin Murphy in her art class. The clincher? He’s a dork and she worries what her friends would think. Sophie’s struggle to determine her true feelings for the boys around her and realize what really matters beyond the high school social scene is incredibly sweet and satisfying to watch. As far as the poetry itself, don’t fear; as free verse the writing is simple yet meaningful in the sharp word choice and thoughtful line spacing. What My Mother Doesn’t Know is a readable, engaging, and at times touching YA contemporary that will definitely not be my last novel in verse. I am flabbergasted that this was an ALA challenged book but hope more people will read it and the sequel, What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know for more of Sophie and Robin.

Second Opinions
Angieville Review
Books and the Universe Review
Laura’s Review Bookshelf Review
That Bookish Girl Review