Your own, Sylvia: A verse portrait of Sylvia Plath by Stephanie Hemphill

Bibliographic Information:
Hemphill, S. (2007). Your own, Sylvia: A verse portrait of Sylvia Plath. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN# 9780375937996

Plot Summary:
Fascinated with Plath’s life, Hemphill has written poems chronicling Plath’s life. The poems are told from the perspectives of Plath’s closest friends and acquaintances. Sylvia Plath is a tragic figure. The poems take the reader through Plath’s life. The reader sees her battle with depression which led her to try shock therapy. This treatment did not seem as helpful as it was purported to be. She also finds a close friend in her therapist who she saw on a regular basis. We read about her joy at finding Ted, her future husband, who she felt was so fascinating in part because of his knowledge of plants and trees, knowing virtually all of their names. The poems continue as she has children and her marriage becomes rocky. Eventually her husband has an affair and moves out. The discovery of the affair damages Sylvia’s already fragile emotional state. She is left to deal with their children. Unable to cope any longer, Plath commits suicide by placing her head in the oven, breathing in the gas until she is no more.

Critical Evaluation:
The poems are a tribute to Plath and her life. As a poet, Hemphill could somewhat relate to Plath and had read Plath’s book The Bell Jar. While the poems are about conversations Hemphill imagines happened between Plath and others, she did do quite a bit of research. I had heard of Plath and knew that she committed suicide, but after reading Hemphill’s poems, my curiosity is peaked. Hemphill has brought Plath’s life alive for me. I want to seek out more information about Plath as well as read some of her work. What a sad ending to such a promising life.

Reader's Annotation:
Using Plath’s journals and other research, Hemphill has written poems following Plath’s life as told through her closest friends and acquaintances. A number of the poems are in styles similar to Plath’s own poems.

Information about the author:
There isn’t much information about Ms. Hemphill’s personal life. She has written three poetry books: Things left unsaid: A novel in poems; Your own, Sylvia: A verse portrait of Sylvia Plath, and Salem a book of poems relating to the Salem witch trials. Hemphill loved Sylvia Plath’s work. By researching Plath’s journals as well as other sources, Hemphill wrote poems reflecting what she thought people in Plath’s life would have said and done in relationship to Plath.
http://www.writersatwork.com/mayPoem.pdf

Genre: Poetry

Curriculum Ties: Language Arts

Booktalking Ideas:
• If you were to write a poem about your life, the poem would be about what event in your life?
• Have you ever felt depressed?
• Have you ever contemplated hurting yourself?
• If you answered yes to the above question, please contact someone
1-800-SUICIDE
1-800-273-TALK
1-800-784-2433
1-800-273-8255


Reading Level/Interest Level:
The widest age range, according to the reviews, is 12 – 18.

Challenge Issues:
Suicide; depression

If the book is challenged:
• Listen calmly to the complainant.
• Ask if s/he has read the entire novel.
• Show positive reviews of the novel.
• Show the selection policy.
If the complainant still has issues with the book:
• Request that the complainant read the entire book if this has not already occurred.
• Have the complainant fill out a reconsideration form.
• Set up a reconsideration meeting.
o Provide the reconsideration meeting members with:
 Positive reviews
 Selection policy
 Reconsideration policy

Selection Process:
I did a search on Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database with the following criteria: Award winner, reviews available, and age range from 15 – 18.

Ten positive reviews

Awards/ Best Books Lists:
• Appears on eight Best Books Lists
• Appears on two state/provincial reading lists
• Received two awards

Reading/Interest level, selection process information, reviews, and Awards/Best Books Lists were accessed using the Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database at http://clcd.odyssi.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~HZgHGl:1 accessed through SJSU and not available to everyone.