Review: STOP PRETENDING by Sonya Sones

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sones, Sonya. 1999. Stop Pretending. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 0060283874

2. PLOT SUMMARY
This verse novel is a collection of poems that tell the true story of a young girl, Cookie, whose older sister suddenly starts to act erratically because she begins hearing voices in her head. Through these poems, which were written by Sones at the time when her sister was first hospitalized, a teenager remembers happier times, tells of her fears of being isolated or even going crazy herself, and gives the reader insight into the world of the mentally ill.

Also included at the end is a note from the author about her sister’s illness and a list of resources for information about mental illness.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The poems are compelling on their own because each one is a window into the emotions that the author is feeling. Whether it’s a poem about her family relationship, her friends who bail out on her, or the boyfriend who accepts the situation for what it is, each poem portrays the strong teenage emotions in short, descriptive verses to which any teen can relate. On page 22 in “Wondering through the Halls at School” she contemplates what her classmates would think of her if they found out that her sister has been committed to a mental hospital. Later in the book appears the poem “Molly, Kate, and me” in which her friends start ignoring her after she tells them about her sister.

The simple, emotional language used by Sones throughout the book captures the teenage soul. She tells not only of the problem of her sister’s mental illness but also of other typical teenage issues such as family relationships, boyfriends, and school. It is amazing how each poem remarkably adds more depth to the story. Equally surprising is that the time span covered by the book is a mere six months from Christmas to Memorial Day.

Stop Pretending is a poignant story that is appropriate for students in sixth grade and up. Students will particularly be attracted to its verse format.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
KIRKUS review: “The form, a story-in-poems, fits the story remarkably well… pinpointing the emotions powerfully.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “…the simply crafted but deeply felt poems reflect her thoughts, fears, hopes, and dreams…”

5. CONNECTIONS
Stop Pretending can be used to teach the concept of acceptance.
Meaningful classroom discussions about the importance of the support of friends during a difficult time could be sparked after reading this book.
Students could write a letter of support to Cookie.

After reading this book, student may also want to read other verse novels, such as:
Sones, Sonya. What My Mother Doesn’t Know. ISBN 0689855532
Kearney, Meg. The Secret of Me. ISBN 0892553367
Frost, Helen. Diamond Willow. ISBN 0374317763