Review OneHemphill, Stephanie. Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath. Knopf Books for Young Readers 2007
Annotation: Love, depression, the mundane and manic- visions of Sylvia Plath presented in verse.
Justification for Rejection: Imaginative, creative, stretches the the mind to think poetically, it explores the life and identity of a creative individual, and even amidst the tragedy surrounding Plath, the novel ends on an uplifting note. Although it hits many of the high notes of a great piece of literature for young adults-it is questionable if it merits a nomination for a Mock Printz.
Hemphill's poetry is accessible as it is passionate and emotive. The much needed annotations help in filling in the holes of who exactly Svylvia Plath was; without them the reader is left in the dark. The most pressing hurdle keeping the novel from a nomination for justification is its format. Now, depending on the function you wish a text to serve, you may disagree with me here entirely. The length of the novel may be problematic for today's readers who want the thrill now, not tomorrow and certainly not a month from now. This type of immediacy goes opposite the grain of poetry, which some say only begins to sink in after the third, fourth, fifth...reading. The problem is not only the issue of instant gratification, but a lacking ability for a clear, strong young adult connection. Although themes relevant to a young audience such as identity and self-discovery are present, and it works wonderfully to inspire creativity, it lacks in its ability to make a strong connection to the YA audience. The book may be an excellent read for those with mastered poetry skills and a deal of knowledge of Plath's biography; but it is not a book for a Mock Printz.
Genre: Verse Novel; Printz Honor Book, 2007
