Lock and Key
by Sarah Dessen
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Book Summary Information
Author: Sarah DessenEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Published)
Format: Bargain Price
Published: 2008-04-22
ISBN: 067001088X
Number of pages: 432
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Book Reviews of Lock and Key
Book Review: Memorable
Summary: 5 Stars
After finishing Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen, of all things, a Grey's Anatomy quote came to mine.
"There's an old proverb that says you can't choose your family. You take what the fates hand you. And like them or not, love them or not, understand them or not, you cope. Then there's the school of thought that says the family you're born into is simply a starting point. They feed you, and clothe you, and take care of you, until you're ready to go out into the world and find your tribe."
Indeed, the book is about family - what it means, and who can be part of it. Does it refer to blood relatives, or something more? That's the question Dessen brings in her eighth young adult novel.
Lock and Key is, essentially, just like Dessen's other novels (spoilery for those who've never read her books): girl has a problem; girl is taken out of her elements and meets a boy with problems; girl and boy (after much back and forth) fall for one another; quickly after, girl and boy break up and don't speak; girl learns to confront her problem; with a handful of pages remaining, girl is better and gets back with boy.
It's very formulaic, and yet, I still love it. In this story, the girl is Ruby Cooper and she has a disagreeable past. Her dad left when she was very young, and her sister raised her as their mother spiraled downward. At 18, her sister, Cora, left for college and was never heard from again. After, Ruby and her mother moved from place to place, always living in horrible conditions. After settling into a small, yellow house, Ruby's mother disappears for good.
The story starts with Ruby, 17, being picked up by child services, despite her protest to live alone until she's of age. She's forced to live with the now-found sister and husband, Jaime. The couple live on the swanky side of town, in a large house with a nervous dog. Ruby has to adjust to this new life, her new upscale school, the disappearance of her mother, and her new relationship with her sister.
At first, I must say, I wasn't very impressed. I didn't like Ruby; I found her annoying and ungrateful of anything Cora gave her. Then, I remembered Ruby was a teenager. Then I remembered her past. And, okay, she was still annoying, but I understood.
By about halfway in, any negative thoughts about Ruby vanished. The character's subtle change was beautiful, and I find that Dessen's greatest skill. Not only can she weave an addictive plot, she can have a character completely change by the end of a book without any obvious "aha!" moments. Just like in life, her characters slowly come to truths and realizations.
Dessen's writing is rich with description and introspective looks at each character. I love her for this because although the story is simple, it discusses serious issues and uses analogies more suited for adult novels. Dessen doesn't write down for young adults; she writes a good story, knowing her readers will understand.
While Ruby was a good leading character, I found Lock and Key's background characters much more interesting. Cora, with her desire to make her life the opposite of the one she lived as a child; Jaime, who constantly tries to give Cora everything she never had (with an amazing amount of patience and understanding). I adored the shaky relationship between all of them - the new family. It grew and changed and felt real.
Other characters include Olivia, Ruby's new somewhat friend who might seem completely heartless on the outside, but will do anything for friends and family. And Nate, the boy next door (literally) who has a dark problem of his own. I found him most interesting, as he and Ruby dealt with their problems in complete opposite ways. Him, an eternal optimist, her always negative. The duality was interesting, and their relationship endearing. Their situation taught Ruby to help someone else, as well as herself.
Overall, Lock and Key was a great read that left me wanting more. I'm still thinking of the characters, and hope they'll re-appear (as some of her characters are want to do) in later novels. And I think that's what makes a great novel, isn't it?
Summary of Lock and Key
?Ruby, where is your mother??Ruby knows that the game is up. For the past few months, she?s been on her own in the yellow house, managing somehow, knowing that her mother will probably never return.
That?s how she comes to live with Cora, the sister she hasn?t seen in ten years, and Cora?s husband Jamie, whose down-to-earth demeanor makes it hard for Ruby to believe he founded the most popular networking Web site around. A luxurious house, fancy private school, a new wardrobe, the promise of college and a future?it?s a dream come true. So why is Ruby such a reluctant Cinderella, wary and defensive? And why is Nate, the genial boy next door with some secrets of his own, unable to accept the help that Ruby is just learning to give?
Best-selling author Sarah Dessen explores the heart of a gutsy, complex girl dealing with unforeseen circumstances and learning to trust again.
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