Sonya Sones

Sonya Sones (born c. 1953)

Biography She was born in Boston, Massachusetts, was raised in nearby Newton, and lives in Southern California. After graduating from Hampshire College, she taught filmmaking at Harvard University; her other jobs have included baby clothes designer, animator, photographer, and film editor.

Writing career Her style differs from most contemporary writers in that her novels are told in verse form rather than prose.

The American Library Association has named several of her novels Best Books for Young Adults, as well as Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. Her debut novel, Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy, won numerous awards, including a Christopher Award, the Claudia Lewis Award for Poetry, the Myra Cohn Livingston Poetry Award, and a nomination for a Los Angeles Times Book Prize.

Her third book was One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies (2004). Kirkus Reviews called it "a story worthy of Hollywood".

Her first novel in verse for adults, The Hunchback of Neiman Marcus, was published by Harper Collins in April 2011. It is about "a writer way behind on her deadline whose fiftieth birthday is rushing at her like a freight train," and deals with issues related to going through menopause, adjusting to an empty nest, and caring for aging parents. The film rights to The Hunchback of Neiman Marcus were optioned by actress Michelle Pfeiffer.

Sones' sixth novel in verse for young adults, Saving Red, received a starred review from Booklist.

Sones' seventh novel in verse for young adults, The Opposite of Innocent, is a Junior Library Guild selection, and was named one of Barnes & Noble's Most Anticipated Contemporary YA Novels of 2018.

Sones has participated in multiple panel discussions at the annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. She was the moderator on the panel "Young Adult Fiction: Teens and Turmoil" with Gayle Forman, Jandy Nelson and Cynthia Kadohata during the 2010 event.

Censorship In 2004, 2005, 2010, and 2011, the ALA included her novel What My Mother Doesn't Know on their list of the Top Ten Most Challenged Books, and it was named 31st on the ALA's list of the Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books of the 2000s. She regards her inclusion on the lists as "a badge of honor". What My Mother Doesn't Know (Simon & Schuster 2001) One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies (Simon & Schuster 2004) What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know (Simon & Schuster 2007) To Be Perfectly Honest (Simon & Schuster 2013) Saving Red (HarperTeen 2016) The Opposite Of Innocent (HarperTeen 2018)

Adult novels in verse The Hunchback of Neiman Marcus (HarperCollins 2011)

Short stories in verse Her short stories in verse are included in numerous anthologies, including: Love and Sex (2001) - a story called Secret Shelf Necessary Noise (2003) - a story called Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde Sixteen: Stories About that Sweet and Bitter Birthday (2004) - a story called Cat Got Your Tongue

Picture books

Violet and Winston (Dial 2009) - with Bennett Tramer and illustrated by Chris Raschka.