ONE OF THOSE HIDEOUS BOOKS WHERE THE MOTHER DIES by Sonya Sones

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sones, Sonya. 2004. ONE OF THOSE HIDEOUS BOOKS WHERE THE MOTHER DIES. New York. Simon and Schuster.  ISBN 0689858205.

2.  PLOT  SUMMARY

Sones book tells the story of Ruby Milikin, a 15 year old who’s mother has recently passed away from cancer. The story describes her flight from Boston to California and her lifestyle adjustment with her estranged father, Whip Logan, who happens to be a mega super star. He also happened to abandon her as a baby, which does not set well with Ruby at all and is determined to hate him no matter what. She is in no way friendly toward him as he tries to relate and get to know her. Other than attending school, Ruby spends most of her time e-mailing her dead mother, her best friend and the boyfriend she left behind. A friendship develops with her father’s personal assistant Max and provides Ruby some comfort. Things in Ruby’s already shook up life becomes even more troublesome as she discovers her best friend and boyfriend have developed a relationship in her absence. It takes an earthquake, literally, to bring Ruby to open up to her dad and the truth of their separation.

3.  CRITICAL ANNALYSIS

In one or two page poetic, free verse poem style entries, Sonya Sones took the reader through the ups and downs of 15 year old Ruby’s adjustment to moving across country to live with her movie star dad.  The title may allude to some drama, which sucks the reader in, but the photo on the cover, a somewhat smiling girl, gives the hint the book may not be all serious business.  Once inside, devouring the short  “chapters” you become engrossed to the emotionally verses of Ruby, her dead mother, famous father and her friendships that have gone awry. The reader will find Ruby’s depth of character  and personality can be found through her sarcasm and humorous quips, as well as her point blank honesty and discoveries. The fact that the language is minimal was an effective way to develop the story but not to overpower the main idea with filler words. The hatred for her father becomes redundant but the ending leaves the reader with a happy ending…of sorts.

4.  REVIEWS and AWARDS

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY review:  “Winning.”
BOOKLIST Review: “Fast, Funny, Touching.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW; “Honest…destined to captivate.”
KIRKUS review; “ Romantic and Sexy.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review:  “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.–Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2005
YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2005

5.  CONNECTIONS

Below information is from http://teenreads.com and authors’ website.

Discussion questions for a reading group:

What influence does Ruby's relationship with Max have on her relationship with her father?
What do you think are the reasons why Ruby continues to email her dead mother?
How does the difference in weather between the East coast and the West coast impact Ruby's adjustment to her new life?
Why do you think Ruby is able to forgive Liz's betrayal with Ray? Do you think she will ever be able to forgive Ray for betraying her?
What are some of the things Ruby finds she has in common with her father? What events help change her perspective of Whip?
Ruby claims to have a strong "gaydar," and she senses that Max is gay. Why do you think she never suspected Whip was gay?
What are some reasons the death of Devon, a boy she never met, might have affected Ruby so deeply?
How do Ruby's feelings toward her mother change, as reflected in her letters? Has she come to terms with her mother's death?
Do you think Ruby's dream warning from her mother will change her spiritual views about life and death?
Where do you see Ruby in a few years? Do you think she will return to the East Coast for college, or stay in California?

Related Websites:

Author's Website - http://www.sonyasones.com/

Read-a-Likes:

Jinx by Margaret Wild, 2002 (2004 RITBA Nominee)
Keesha's House by Helen Frost, 2003
Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff, 1993
Pepperland by Mark Delaney, 2004
Running Back to Ludie by Angela Johnson, 2001
The Simple Gift by Steven Herrick, 2004
True Believer by Virginia Euwer Wolff, 2001(sequel to Make Lemonade) (2002 RITBA Nominee)
Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block, 1989
You Remind Me of You: A Poetry Memoir by Eireann Corrigan, 2002
Other Books by the Author:
Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy, 1999 (2002 RITBA Nominee)
What My Mother Doesn't Know, 2001 (2004 RITBA Nominee)