ONE OF THOSE HIDEOUS BOOKS WHERE THE MOTHER DIES

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sones, Sonya. 2004. One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0689858205

PLOT SUMMARY
Fifteen-year old Ruby Milliken who is grief stricken over her mother’s death and is shipped off from Boston to Hollywood to live with a father she’s never met. Whip Logan, Ruby’s father, is a mega-famous movie star who divorced her mother before she was born, so she was told. Ruby is miserable in L.A. and detests the mansion she now lives in, her dad’s classic cars, and her new school. She struggles to adjust to her new surroundings and by the end of the novel she begins to make sense of her new life.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Sones’ free verse novel is told through the eyes of 15 year old Ruby Milliken. Ruby tells her story in short poetic sections which describes her life after her mother’s death. She leaves her Aunt Duffy, her best friend, her first boyfriend and moves to “Hell A” with her estranged father. Ruby describes her anger towards her father as she gets off the plane to meet him: “I don’t know whether to ask him for his autograph, kick him in the balls, or run.” The reader can feel Ruby’s aversion of having to move to a new city, her unhappiness of leaving her family and friends behind in Boston, and her grief of the loss of her mother. Sones takes you through many twists and turns from finding out Ruby’s boyfriend is cheating on her with her best friend to being told her father is gay. Ruby eventually finds it in her heart to forgive her father. She finally feels some sense of closure when her father states, “he’s sorry for all the pain he caused Mom/Sorry for all the pain he caused me/Sorry that being sorry is all he has to offer.” Ruby learns to embrace her life in “Coolifornia.” Even though there are some predictable moments, this heart-warming story will take you through many emotional paths and will help give an understanding of the struggles of being a teenager today.

REVIEW EXCERPTS Review in 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.” Starred Review in Booklist: “Sones' novel is an unusual combination of over-the-top Hollywood fairy tale and sharp, honest story about overcoming grief. “A satisfying, moving novel that will be a winner for both eager and reluctant readers.”

CONNECTIONS
Other books by Sonya Sones:
Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy. ISBN 0613349792
What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know. ISBN 0689876025
What My Mother Doesn’t Know. ISBN 0689855532