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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
Plot Summary:
After her mother’s death, Ruby, a 15 year old teenage girl, is forced to live with her estranged father, a famous movie star who lives 3,000 miles away from her home, friends, and boyfriend. To cope with the loss of her mother, Ruby projects her grief as anger toward her father, who divorced her mother before she was born. As a typical angry teenager, Ruby persistently brushes off her father’s attempts of establishing a relationship with her and continues to long for her past life in Massachusetts by sending constant emails to her best friend, boyfriend, and dead mother. As time passes, Ruby eventually learns the truth, which improves her relationship with her father.
Critical Analysis:
The first page of this free verse novel immediately grabs the attention of the readers because the reader wants to know what is going to happen to the main character, who is about to live with her estranged father for the first time. The first person narration and teenage language utilized in this novel make the story more realistic and relatable to young adults. The content of the novel also coincides with the issues and struggles adolescents face such as, insecurities, heartbreaks, betrayals, sexuality, and parental conflicts. In regards to the rhythm and rhyme, there are no beat, meter, or matching sounds. However, the lines and verses of the poems are succinct and the poem’s free verse style does not sacrifice word meaning. In addition, although there are no sound effects, the adolescent voice is apparently heard by readers because the language used fits that of a teenager. Sarcasm, insults, and witty remarks through perfectly chosen words and the use of figurative language provide an excellent portrayal of an angry and heartbroken young woman.
In regards to imagery, Sones does an excellent job in creating visually vivid mental pictures of the setting. Nevertheless, it is the emotional impact of the poems that makes this novel in verse memorable because readers are able to relate to the emotions Ruby experiences. At one point in readers’ lives, they as well have experienced grief, loss, heartbreak, and anger, thus allowing the reader to connect with Ruby. The integration of modern famous celebrities, technology use, and teenage issues in the story appeal to young adults because these aspects make up part of their world. All in all, I highly recommend this captivating novel in verse because it is an accurate depiction of an adolescent voice who is dealing with grief and other issues commonly faced by teenagers. This page-turning quick read will make readers want to immediately read other novels in verse by Sonya Sones.
After her mother’s death, Ruby, a 15 year old teenage girl, is forced to live with her estranged father, a famous movie star who lives 3,000 miles away from her home, friends, and boyfriend. To cope with the loss of her mother, Ruby projects her grief as anger toward her father, who divorced her mother before she was born. As a typical angry teenager, Ruby persistently brushes off her father’s attempts of establishing a relationship with her and continues to long for her past life in Massachusetts by sending constant emails to her best friend, boyfriend, and dead mother. As time passes, Ruby eventually learns the truth, which improves her relationship with her father.
Critical Analysis:
The first page of this free verse novel immediately grabs the attention of the readers because the reader wants to know what is going to happen to the main character, who is about to live with her estranged father for the first time. The first person narration and teenage language utilized in this novel make the story more realistic and relatable to young adults. The content of the novel also coincides with the issues and struggles adolescents face such as, insecurities, heartbreaks, betrayals, sexuality, and parental conflicts. In regards to the rhythm and rhyme, there are no beat, meter, or matching sounds. However, the lines and verses of the poems are succinct and the poem’s free verse style does not sacrifice word meaning. In addition, although there are no sound effects, the adolescent voice is apparently heard by readers because the language used fits that of a teenager. Sarcasm, insults, and witty remarks through perfectly chosen words and the use of figurative language provide an excellent portrayal of an angry and heartbroken young woman.
In regards to imagery, Sones does an excellent job in creating visually vivid mental pictures of the setting. Nevertheless, it is the emotional impact of the poems that makes this novel in verse memorable because readers are able to relate to the emotions Ruby experiences. At one point in readers’ lives, they as well have experienced grief, loss, heartbreak, and anger, thus allowing the reader to connect with Ruby. The integration of modern famous celebrities, technology use, and teenage issues in the story appeal to young adults because these aspects make up part of their world. All in all, I highly recommend this captivating novel in verse because it is an accurate depiction of an adolescent voice who is dealing with grief and other issues commonly faced by teenagers. This page-turning quick read will make readers want to immediately read other novels in verse by Sonya Sones.
I think the story would have been better if it wasn't told in verse, but besides that, it was a good read!
Fiffig, fin stil. Fick bra styrsel på primärrelationerna av Mamman, Lizzie, Whip och framför allt Max, lite sämre på den nya skolan. Jag hade gärna haft mer av hennes teater-intresse, men över lag var det fint, om än aningen förutsägbart.
Ruby's mother dies (presumably of cancer) and she is sent to live with the father she has never met. She is heartbroken to be separated not only from her mother, but also from her best friend, Liz, and her boyfriend, Ray.
Ruby's dad is a famous actor who lives in a mansion in Los Angeles. She can't help but be impressed by its size and opulence, but she feels lost. Her new school is no better; everyone else has been raised by their rich, famous parents. They have perfect skin, perfect bodies, and designer clothes. Ruby, of course, shows up for her first day with a huge zit, right on the end of her nose. She wonders if she'll ever fit in.
Though it wasn't much of a mystery who the man with the warm dry hand would turn out to be, I enjoyed the way Sones let that knowledge gradually unfold for Ruby.
My favorite character was Aunt Max and his joke about Ripley made me laugh out loud.
Poetry is the perfect medium for capturing Ruby's angst. Teen readers will devour this one.
Ruby's dad is a famous actor who lives in a mansion in Los Angeles. She can't help but be impressed by its size and opulence, but she feels lost. Her new school is no better; everyone else has been raised by their rich, famous parents. They have perfect skin, perfect bodies, and designer clothes. Ruby, of course, shows up for her first day with a huge zit, right on the end of her nose. She wonders if she'll ever fit in.
Though it wasn't much of a mystery who the man with the warm dry hand would turn out to be, I enjoyed the way Sones let that knowledge gradually unfold for Ruby.
My favorite character was Aunt Max and his joke about Ripley made me laugh out loud.
Poetry is the perfect medium for capturing Ruby's angst. Teen readers will devour this one.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I feel so disappointed. I loved Sonya Sones’ other book ‘ The Opposite Of Innocent ‘ (4.5 stars).
Going into it I expected to love it as much as her other book. I thought I would end up reading all her books and loving them all. I got too excited for some reason and I never thought of the possibility of not liking it.
Her father reminded me of mine.He was the sweetest and made sure the main character was happy. He put her in a really good school, He gave her a dream room and so on..
I’m my dad’s only child and he has spoiled me from day one and thanks to him I’m where I am today but this is not a review about my life.
I understand why the character acted the way she did,Lets not forget she is a teenager, but it still really annoyed me.Her dad being so nice and she couldn’t even hold his hand, hug him or even smile at him.
And her friend and boyfriend, I couldn’t care less about. There was so much letters sent back and forth and I DIDN’T CARE.
This is actually written in poetry, which makes it very interesting to read. What I liked most about this book was how hardly anything was explicitly told, but rather everything was implied. I read it a few years ago, so it might be a little young, but I think it'd be a fun read at the least.
good! i love books in verse so this was outimaticly a good book. ;D
What a good book even thoug. I didn't love it as much as what my mother doesn't know. It was still good and I honestly don't know how Ruby handled losing her mom at such a young age because I know I would not have taken it well!