One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sones, Sonya. 2004. ONE OF THOSE HIDEOUS BOOKS WHERE THE MOTHER DIES. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster  Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689858205

      2.  PLOT SUMMARY

     Ruby Milliken's life has been turned upside down by the death of her mother. Now she must fly across the country to live with her celebrity father who has been absent for most of her childhood. Leaving behind friends, family and her boyfriend, Ruby must face life as a movie star's child. Although her father tries to buy Ruby's love with clothes, technological gadgets, and a bedroom outfitted for a queen, she will have nothing to do with it. Ruby is perpetually in a bad mood as she longs for the comfort of her friends back home in Boston. To compound her misery, Ruby is still very much in the grieving process over the death of her mother. Learning to overcome this pain, while adjusting to life in an unfamiliar place, nearly incapacitates Ruby. Finally, Ruby reaches the end of her rope when her long distance romantic relationship ends in betrayal. The sudden loss of a fellow classmate at her school also occurs within the same time-frame. At this lowest moment, Ruby is finally able to break down the barriers she has built towards her father, and the two are able to communicate. Ruby begins to realize she has a special place in her heart for her father, and her new life in California appears to be promising after all.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

  

This novel-in-verse is constructed as a series of independent poems that tell the story of Ruby as she begins her new life in California after the death of her mother. Each poem is spread over one to one-and-a-half pages, each with its own unique title.

As a verse novel, Sones is able to maintain an interesting plot line that reflects the emotional highs and lows of a typical teenager. The progression of events including the death of a mother, moving, losing friends, losing a boyfriend, gaining a father, meeting new friends, and adjusting to a new home proves to be highly engaging and able to hold the reader captive.

Sones' primary rhythm throughout most of the novel is characterized by free verse. One example states "The tears surge to my eyes, / swelling and stinging like salty waves. / But I don't cry. / I never do anymore." (Sones, 2004, 37). Most of Sones' writing uses a short staccato rhythm to portray Ruby's irritable and annoyed attitude. Sones also occasionally uses paragraphs in the form of email communication between Ruby and her friends back home. These asides serve to break up the monotony that one might feel from reading a novel in verse. In addition, Sones uses this informal communication to highlight the relaxed and comfortable format teenagers use to correspond with friends.

Sones uses minimal rhyming, however when used it helps to emphasize an emotion felt by Ruby. For example, in the poem No Clouds, repetition and rhyme help describe the utter doom and despair Ruby is feeling. "No rain./ No hail./ No fog./ No nothing./[…] No rain./No hail./ No fun./ No friends./ No clouds./ No fog./ Just smog." (Sones, 2004, 139). The reader gains a sense of the doom Ruby is feeling and her inability to see anything beyond her immediate circumstances. 

Sones' choice of language accurately describes the thoughts and feelings of a modern teenager. Ruby uses sarcasm when viewing her father's grand home. "What?  / No moat? Really, Whip. / You're slipping"  (Sones, 2004, 39). Another example of typical teenager word choice may be heard in "he looks like such and idiot in that apron" (Sones, 2004, 51). Metaphors such as "suddenly I'm one big goose bump," allow the reader to experience the tension and angst felt by Ruby (Sones, 2004, 38).

Sones uses sensory details to contribute to the vivid imagery of the novel. Descriptions such as "curving through a forest / of anorexic palm trees, /[…] miles above an unnaturally green lawn" allow the reader to grasp a sense of the setting of the novel (Sones, 2004, 39).

One of Sones' strengths is conveying emotions through her novel. The reader easily identifies with Ruby as she faces the ups and downs of life after the death of her mother. Sones especially allows the reader to experience Ruby's emotions through the use of the intermittent email style writing. Ruby begs, pleads, and yearns for contact from her friends back home. It is through these emails that Ruby is able to deal with the grief she is experiencing over the death of her mother. Ruby writes to her deceased mother exposing her feelings of anger, sadness, and betrayal. The email communication provides details that help bring continuity to the individual poems. Readers will find they easily identify with the emotional roller coaster Ruby experiences, and will be relieved to learn she is ultimately satisfied with her new, fulfilling life.

4. PERSONAL RESPONSE: STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

In my opinion, one weakness was the mature subject matter and language. Ruby openly discusses sexual content and experiences. In addition, Ruby addresses her deceased mother with some inappropriate language such as "I'm so pissed at you right now, that I'd be wishing you were dead, if you weren't dead already" (Sones, 2004, 177). Although this language and subject matter is very accurate of a typical teenager, it can be hard to imagine this novel on the shelf of a middle school or high school library from the perspective of an elementary teacher.

A strength of this book is the fast paced plot and the momentum provided by the use of free verse poetry. The reader's attention is held fast through the tumultuous battles faced by Ruby, and it is easy to finish the entire novel in just a few sittings.

5. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

"A satisfying, moving novel." (BOOKLIST, starred review)

"A winning portrayal of a teenage girl's loves and losses." (PUBLISHERS WEEKLY)

"Romantic and sexy." (KIRKUS REVIEWS, starred review)

6. CONNECTIONS

*Students could write their own free verse poetry about an important event in their life.

* Students could read other works by Sonya Sones such as WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN’T KNOW (ISBN 0689855532).

*Students could characterize Ruby by creating a Glog on Glogster.com. The Glog could be created from Ruby's point of view, highlighting her new life and emotions.