Your Own, Sylvia (by Stephanie Hemphill)

A fictionalized biography of poet Sylvia Plath, written as a series of poems -- some from the point of view of various people in her life, and some in the style of Plath's own poems. Many include footnotes of factual information about Plath's life. Includes Author's Note, extensive source notes, and a few photos.

A biography, written in verse, of Sylvia Plath -- this is going to have a very limited voluntary readership. But it is an excellent introduction to her life and work for English classes, and may even hook a few skeptical students. Teens who have discovered Plath on their own will be enthralled, and may be inspired to try some of their own poetry in her style.

There are a few frustrations here. The book would have benefited from a lot more photos. And at least some quotes, if not the full texts, of some of Plath's poems would have been welcome, though they are certainly easy enough to find elsewhere. Nonetheless, this lyrical introduction to the dramatic, all-too-brief life of a great and influential poet rewards rereading -- the author uses many different verse forms, layers of metaphor and voices, and subtle references to Plath's own way with language. Plath's life raises many topics worth discussing, including mental illness and its relationship to art, and gender roles in the '50s and '60s. It's unlikely that many teens will pick this up on their own, though its Printz Honor assures that it will be easy to find. But for high school and even college English and writing classes it is highly recommended.

Author: Stephanie Hemphill
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Publication date: March 1, 2007
Number of pages: 261
Hardcover price: $15.99
Read Aloud: 13
Read Alone: 13