Sonya Sones facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sonya Sones
Sonya Sones (2011)
Born	Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation	Author
Genre	Children's books, Young adult, Women's fiction
Notable works	What My Mother Doesn't Know, Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy

Sonya Sones is an American writer and poet. She is famous for her "verse novels." These are books where the story is told through a series of poems, not regular paragraphs. She has written many of these books for young adults. The American Library Association (ALA) has recognized her work.

About Sonya Sones

Sonya Sones was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She grew up in a nearby town called Newton. Today, she lives in Southern California. After college, she taught filmmaking at Harvard University. She has also worked as a baby clothes designer, an animator, and a photographer.

Sonya Sones is married to Bennett Tramer, who writes for TV shows like Saved by the Bell. They worked together on a picture book called Violet and Winston. This book was published in 2009. It has pictures by Caldecott Medal winner Chris Raschka.

Her Writing Style

Sonya Sones writes in a special way. Her novels are told in "verse form." This means they are a collection of poems. When you read the poems in order, they tell a complete story. This is different from most books, which use regular paragraphs.

Many of her books have won awards. The American Library Association has named several of her novels "Best Books for Young Adults." They also listed some as "Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers." This means they are good for teens who might not love reading.

Her first novel, Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy, won many awards. It was inspired by her own experiences.

Her book One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies (2004) was also very popular. Reviewers said it was a "winning portrayal of a teenage girl's loves and losses."

Another book, What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know, received a special mention from Booklist.

Sonya Sones has written seven verse novels for young adults. These include To Be Perfectly Honest and Saving Red. Her book The Opposite of Innocent was chosen by the Junior Library Guild. It was also named one of Barnes & Noble's most anticipated books in 2018.

Books That Were Challenged

Some of Sonya Sones' books have been "challenged." This means that some people or groups have tried to remove them from libraries or schools. In 2004, 2005, 2010, and 2011, her novel What My Mother Doesn't Know was on the ALA's list of the Top Ten Most Challenged Books. It was also listed among the Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books of the 2000s. Sonya Sones sees this as a "badge of honor."

List of Books

Young Adult Novels in Verse

• Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy (1999)
• What My Mother Doesn't Know (2001)
• One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies (2004)
• What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know (2007)
• To Be Perfectly Honest (2013)
• Saving Red (2016)
• The Opposite Of Innocent (2018)

Adult Novels in Verse

• The Hunchback of Neiman Marcus (2011)

Short Stories in Verse

Sonya Sones has also written short stories in verse. These stories are included in different collections, such as:

• Necessary Noise (2003) - includes a story called Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde
• Sixteen: Stories About that Sweet and Bitter Birthday (2004) - includes a story called Cat Got Your Tongue

Picture Books

• Violet and Winston (2009) - written with Bennett Tramer and illustrated by Chris Raschka.
• The Night before College (2014) - written with Ava Tramer; illustrated by Max Dalton.