Thursday, May 1, 2008

Lock and Key

LOCK AND KEY: Sarah Dessen: Viking: Young Adult: 422 pages

When 17-year-old Ruby’s mother abandons her, she’s sent to live with the sister she hasn’t seen in 10 years and her sister’s wealthy husband. The transition from caring for herself in a rundown house to attending private school and becoming part of a functional family overwhelms Ruby and it takes a host of new people—including a popular neighbor boy, an eccentric jewelry artist, and a 12-year-old calculus prodigy—to help Ruby find a place in her new situation.

While this isn’t my favorite of her books, I consider Sarah Dessen to be among the best authors currently writing for young adults. She portrays contemporary teen issues in an enjoyable and relatable style, crafting complex characters who eventually find hope and direction in difficult circumstances. Without becoming heavy-handed or overly-sentimental, family and personal relationships are explored in this nicely-written high school tale. Drug use and occasional strong language do occur in the story.

MBC

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have read several books by Sarah Dessen, and although this was not my favorite, it was a good story. I really appreciate how Sarah Dessen takes real issues and allows the characters to work through these difficult situations and come out on top.

ALC said...

I loved this novel by Sarah Dessen. Her teenager characters are always complicated and face real life issues. I would have liked a bigger peek into Ruby's life at her new school. I thought she was appropriately emotionally reserved considering her relationship with her mother. I found the big sister, Cora, a fascinating character. I would love for Dessen to write a novel from Cora's point of view. Ruby was lucky to have someone in her life to catch her when she fell.