Challenged Books: What My Mother Doesn't Know

Picture from Amazon.com

Bibliography

Sones, S. (2001). What My Mother Doesn’t Know. New York, NY: Simon and Shuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0689841140.

Summary

Sophie is a spirited, artistic, Jewish teen living in Boston, Massachusetts. She is the only child of a soap opera addicted mother and workaholic, often absent father, both too lost in their own marital strife to pay attention to her. Her mother is distant, emotional, controlling, and out of touch; she mostly side-steps important conversations about puberty and dating. Sophie fills the loneliness with typically handsome heartthrob guys, but in the back of her heart, she is curious about classmate and homely outcast, Murphy. After a series of romantic let-downs, Sophie is drawn to Murphy by their mutual connection to art. His kind, creative, and attentive nature unfurls, and she is able to see the masterpiece beneath.

Critical Analysis

What My Mother Doesn’t Know reads much like a diary. Sophie is an all-American teen girl – chatty, easily excitable, and flitting from one topic (or boy) to next on the turn of a dime. She has a small clique, namely Rachel and Grace, and spends a lot of time on the phone and/or hanging out with them. Her bubbly personality and obsession with boys gives her mainstream appeal, but she is also a bit of an outsider because of her fondness for art and writing. Her opposing “girl’s girl” and reflective, creative sides make her relatable to a wider range of teens, both the social butterflies and wallflowers.

Young readers will give resounding “amens” to Sophie’s pleas that her mother knows nothing about fashion, boys, or her as a person. Sones explores a very real conflict of adolescence – needing parental attention and approval without wanting their interference. Her moodiness and resentment of her mother in particular is a common motif for young women because at this age, kids strive for independence, and, moving away from the idolization of childhood, are able to analyze parents’ shortcomings. The topic of marital discord and its effects on children will also attract adolescent readers.

Mother also addresses the angst of dating and breaking up. It is only by these temporary heartbreaks that Sophie (and her audience) learns to demand respect, to look beyond the surface for companions with character and depth. Perhaps a savvy reader will pick up on clues that Sophie is dealing with a jerk and be able to better define what s/he wants and cannot accept in a date. Mother encourages young people to stand by their convictions rather than buckle to peer pressure and trends, like Sophie stood by Murphy even though he was “plain” and unknown.

Sophie expresses curiosity about her rapidly changing body, admiring her blooming “girls” and hoping for more voluptuous blooms. She describes her crushes to the point of near salivation, in a tone that borders lust. Her encounter with a cyber-pedophile could be somewhat disturbing, but the threat is disposed of quickly and without Sophie being hurt. This, some kissing, and talks about breasts and lime, lacy panties are the most risqué scenes, but presumably the reason why the novel has been challenged.

Mother is written in short to intermediate lines of verse, a rhythm appropriate for the musings of teenage Sophie, who at times flits from boy to boy and thought to thought, while at others, deeply ponders serious issues. Rhyme in this piece is minimal and seems incidental, not too cutesy. This is good for a young adult novel, as heavy rhyme would make it sound too childish. The language is simple where vocabulary is concerned. The flourishes take place in other literary elements, like alliteration and hyperbole, which Sophie uses lavishly to describe the sudden rush she feels looking at the handsome Dylan, or the intrigue that creeps into her reluctant mind for Murphy.

This book has a place in young adult literature because it is a safe, tactful way to confront questions about sexuality, physical maturation, and dating without being too graphic; it is a conversation starter, and something I would recommend parents read if they want to know what their teens are thinking. However, a glaring weakness is that Sophie is pretty vapid and lives in an insular world. She comes across as having no interaction with anyone who does not look or live like her, and her friends reiterate the idea that sameness is the status quo. Readers of color may not be able to connect. Conflict is the stuff that a good book is made of. Sophie does not have any pressing issues or personal tragedy. Teens today, who deal with drugs, sex, parenthood, divorce, illiteracy, and etc. may not be able to take her privileged, “want-my-way” problems very seriously. 

 

Awards 

• American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults (2002)
• American Library Association Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (2002)
• VOYA Top Shelf for Middle School Readers (2003)
• Named a Top Ten Editor's Choice by Teenreads.com (2001)

Reviews

Kirkus Reviews. (1 October 2003). Rev. of the book What My Mother Doesn’t Know by Sonya Sones. Web. Accessed 19 June 2015.

Extension Activities

1. Sophie’s Anatomy – Diagram Sophie using a graphic organizer (think gingerbread man outline). Apply character traits to describe what she thinks, feels, wants, and says. “Accessorize” her outline with details form the story (i.e. new bra for the “girls”) to add humor. 
2. Growth Chart – Trace Sophie’s development, noting how Sophie evolves from flaky and shallow to artistic, introspective, and discerning in her choices. This can be in the form of a timeline, with illustrations that show Sophie as a toddler (immaturity) to a young woman, with coordinating events from the story as the descriptive notes on bottom. 
3. Trip Down Lover’s Lane – Draw a map of all of the places Murphy and Sophie visit. Accompany the pictures with descriptions of why Murphy takes her there and how they contribute to her feelings for him. 
4. Open Diary, Open Mike – Choose a pivotal scene and write a haiku from Sophie’s perspective.

Related Literature

• Sones, S. (2013). What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 978-1442493841. – This is the sequel to Mother, but told in Murphy’s voice. Interestingly, the tables have turned when brilliant Murphy becomes coveted by a popular college freshman and starts to question his relationship with dreamgirl Sophie.
• Green, J. (2008). Paper Towns. New York, NY: Dutton. 978-0525478188. – Told from a boy’s point of view, an interesting twist, the main character has an unrequited crush on a popular girl, much like Mother’s Murphy character, however, this book offers a more in-depth look into the façade of popularity.
• Han, J. (2014). To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 978-1442426702. – The main character is boy-crazed, much like Sophie, and expresses these feelings in love letters…that are accidentally mailed out to the objects of her affection! Details about the family dynamic add depth that Mother lacks.