Module 3-Verse Novel by Sonya Sones- Book 3

1.Bibliography
Sones,Sonya.2004.One of those Hideous Books where the Mother Dies.New York,NY:Simon Pulse.ISBN:9781416907886.

2.Plot Summary
Told in verse, the novel follows teenager Ruby as she grieves over her mother's recent death and moves in with her previously unknown movie star father. Ruby misses her best friend Lizbeth and her boyfriend Ray and corresponds with them through email about her Hollywood father and her trendy,"new-age" high school.

3.Critical Analysis
With its emphasis on celebrity and predictable plot,this novel reads like a Jacqueline Susann novel for teens. Although fast paced and absorbing,this book is ultimately unsatisfying because protagonist Ruby's reactions are stereotypical,shallow and predictable.Sones displays a good command of pacing and contemporary teen language in individual poems. She creates a brisk rythym of short,everyday words to smoothly move the action forward in such poems as The Next Few Days Just Sort of Blur By.
[Ruby feels..]
"Like I'm riding on a train
through the pouring rain
trying to see out the window
wearing someone else's glasses".
The free verse style does not seemed forced and the natural use of language and steady action should capture the attention of reluctant readers. Yet, the poems do not stand up well on their own.Each poem must be read in context to be enjoyed.It has no meaning at all,or linguistic merit when removed from its place next to other poems.

Despite its predictability,uninteresting language,and stock Hollywood and best friend characters, this verse novel does have some genuine insights. Because Sonya Sones has worked in Hollywood,both as a personal assistant on a movie set and an animator,she is in a good position to document the culture shock someone would feel if they came from the heartland to Hollywood.This aspect of the novel should appeal to teens who follow celebrity tweets and blogs.

Still, the novel is hampered by the incomplete development of the main character. Although Sones attempts to capture Ruby's emotional turmoil with overwrought,dramatic imagery such as,"my[Ruby's] eyes threaten to turn into two gushing faucets",Ruby's reactions never develop beyond skin-deep excitement or rudeness and glumness.Ruby's grief never seems very genuine and Sones uses the contrived celebrity plot so that she can neatly create a verse novel that comes across as a typical problem novel.


4.Review Excerpts

School Library Journal.
"This is not just another one of those gimmicky novels written in poetry. It's solid and well written, and Sones has a lot to say about the importance of carefully assessing people and situations and about opening the door to one's own happiness. Despite several predictable particulars of plot, Ruby's story is gripping, enjoyable, and memorable."

The Horn Book
"Sones' novel is an unusual combination of over-the-top Hollywood fairy tale and sharp, honest story about overcoming grief."
Connections:

Another novel in verse about a teen dealing with grief:
Escaping Tornado Season:A Novel in Verse by Julie Williams.
ISBN:9780060086398

Teens might want to read other verse novels by Sonia Sones.
Stop Pretending ISBN:0064462188 (pbk.)
What my Girlfriend Doesn't Know ISBN:9780689876028
What my Mother doesn't Know. ISBN:9780689876028

If teens liked the Los Angeles setting of the book and the glimpse into the movie industry, they might enjoy
Boy Proof By Cecil Castelluci. ISBN:9780763623333