WhatMy Girlfriend Doesn't Know

Bibliography

Sones, Sonya. 2007. WHAT MY GIRLFRIEND DOESN’T KNOW. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689876025

Plot Summary

In this sequel to What my mother doesn’t know, Sones shares the thoughts and feelings of a fourteen year old boy named Robin Murphy who doesn’t fit in at Cambridge High School. Robin is an unpopular arty kid “whose last name people use as a diss. As in: You are a real Murphy.” But his luck changes when he dates Sophie Stien, the most beautiful popular girl in school. Sophie is soon out-casted by her two closest friends and together Robin and Sophie become the “outlaws”. Robin is thrilled that Sophie has chosen him over her best friends, but feels terribly guilty that she is being ostracized by the school.

Robin’s luck is further changed when his art teacher invites him to audit for an art class at Harvard University. He is apprehensive about starting the class, but soon finds that he is accepted by his peers. In fact, he is tempted by Tessa, a Harvard student and friend. Robin must decide who he has stronger feelings for, Tessa or Sophie and face the consequences of temptation.

Critical Analysis

This free verse novel was hard to put down. Sones’ use of everyday language is evident and real. She uses combinations of short rhymes as well as longer verses to reveal Robin’s authentic voice.

Sones has creatively used several shaped poems to portray more comical moments. For example, when Robin shows his girlfriend the sketch of a naked girl in his art class, he pretends that it is no big deal. “It felt…artistic. Like it wasn’t sexual or anything.” Of course, Robin is completely lying and Sophie doesn’t believe a word he says. The use of Pinocchio’s head creatively portrays this conversation with the ever growing nose. Other verses are more touching and honest and reveal Robin’s true feelings. In the verse When We Finally Come Up for Air, Robin says “Sophie’s eyes/ are smiling into mine./ And it’s amazing, really,/ because all she has to do is look at me/…If only everyone else could see/what Sophie sees/when she looks at me.” In this one verse the reader is able to understand how painful it is to be bullied by classmates.

Throughout this verse novel, Sones brilliantly illustrates the ups and downs of a teenage boy’s first love, and teens will be able to relate to the struggles that overwhelm them as teenagers.

Reviews

Booklist starred review: “Many teens will see themselves, and they'll cheer when Sophie and Robin thwart the bullies and reclaim their social standing. Like Sones' other titles, this is a great choice for reluctant and avid readers alike."

School library Journal: “Written as a novel in verse, this title is a fast-paced, page-turning romp that gives authentic voice to male youth even when it is painfully truthful.”

Connections

Other books by this author include:

Sones, Sonya. WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN’T KNOW. ISBN 0689855532

Sones, Sonya. ONE OF THOSE HIDEOUS BOOKS WHERE THE MOTHER DIES. ISBN 0689858205

Sones, Sonya. STOP PRETENDING: WHAT HAPPENED WHEN MY BIG SISTER WENT CRAZY. ISBN 0060283874