Friday, October 31, 2008

Your Own Sylvia by Stephanie Hemphill

Hemphill, S. (2007). Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath. (p. 272). Knopf Books for Young Readers.
ISBN: 037583799X


Classification: book, nonfiction

Genre: biography

Age Level : 9th-12th grade

Subjects: biography, identity, love story, nonfiction, novel in verse

Reader's Annotation: Each of the poems in this collection helps to tell the story of Sylvia Plath's life.

Summary: Stephanie Hemphill has written a collection of poems that tell the story of Sylvia Plath's life. Each poem is written from the perspective of someone from Sylvia's life and some are written in a specific style of one of Sylvia's own works. The story covers all of Sylvia's life, from the time she was born, through her childhood and school years, her failed marriage, up to the day she committed suicide. The poems describe her manic work ethic, the way in which such a wide variety of people were fascinated by her personality, and her troubled relationship with her family. Mostly, though, it chronicles her experience as a writer.


Reviews / Awards:

Common Sense Media Review

This was a Printz Honor book in 2007



Why it belongs in a Teen Collection: Plath's history may be known to some teens, and she may be an intriguing figure for some teens simply because of her tragic story. On the other hand, most teen readers would need this book pitched to them, and would be more likely to pick it up as part of an assignment. It's an approachable collection of poems, not as abstract as some.

Readalikes :
  • What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonia Sonnes
  • Letters Home by Sylvia Plath
Other Useful Info:
Evaluation:
3.5 stars

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