Just Listen

by Sarah Dessen

The best way out is always through. - Robert Frost


First paragraph: "I taped the commercial back in April, before anything had happened, and promptly forgot about it. A weeks ago, it had started running, and suddenly, I was everywhere.

Review:

Annabel Greene is the girl who has everything. At least, that's what she portrays in her modeling shoots. But Annabel's life is far from perfect. Her friendship with Sophie ended bitterly, and her older sister's eating disorder is weighing down the entire family. Isolated and ostracized at school and at home, Annabel retreats into silent acceptance. Then she meets Owen---intense, music-obsessed, and determined to always tell the truth. And with his guidance, Annabel learns to just listen to herself and gains the courage to speak honestly. But will she be able to tell everyone what really happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends?

Had I read this book two years ago I probably would have given it five stars. I think I'm starting to be more picky with my books. It was well written, interesting, the story kept you turning the page, but it lacked what my "five-star books" have.

You have to be pretty oblivious not to figure out what happened to Annabel the night her and Sophie stopped being friends. And maybe that was the point -- that particular event wasn't the plot device that was meant to keep you reading. But there weren't a whole lot of other unexpected things that happened either. You sort of knew where things were going and how they'd end. But the great thing about this book is that it was still pretty entertaining to read regardless.

In Adult Fiction there are usually a lot of F-bombs. I don't really like seeing them in YA Fiction but this book had a few. I guess it was to help build the the impression you were supposed to have of one of the characters but I don't buy it. I think there are ways to make someone a rough and tough teenager with out using that word. But that's just my opinion.

I really did enjoy the way Dessen handled the more serious topics that were broached in the story. She was able to show that everyone handles certain situations differently and just because one person did it one way doesn't mean they did it wrong. They did what they thought was best for their family and most importantly themselves at that point in their lives.

Anyway, I enjoyed this book. I think it'd probably rate at about three stars nowadays but that isn't a bad thing. It just means there are other books I've enjoyed more.

Click here for Sarah Dessen's Just Listen website.

A Dangerous Dress

by Julia Holden

Dedication: "To my daughter Rachel and the Jane in all of us"

First paragraph: "This is the story of a dress. A dangerous dress. A magical dress, I think. My Grandma's dress. And it is a true story."

Review: Thanks to her grandma's mysterious dress Jane is taken on a series of life changing journeys. Including, but not limited to, getting to know her grandma's secrets and why her grandma had such a magical, mysterious, sexy, dangerous dress.

I have mixed feelings about this book. For the most part I loved it. It was a simple, fun, easy read. It had a lot of things in it that I wish I could do. In fact, I got a passport so that if I should need to leave the country at a moments notice I'd be able to. (Yes, I am a bit of a dreamer). It was about clothes which I would love to know more about but don't. It was about being strong, being brave, and finding that article of clothing that really gives you the strength to do anything. While I don't know much about clothes I do believe that those types of clothes exist. I loved that about this book.

The worst part was being so frustrated with the lovely Jane. She just made some choices/assumptions that were so obviously going to cause trouble that I had a hard time reading on. But I plugged along and eventually got through those parts and continued to enjoy the story. I did hate the nickname she gave her hometown. It just seems so ... unclassy, but I guess that was the point.

If you love reading about clothes, fashion, etc. I'd probably suggest you at least take a look at this book.

Click Here for an interview with Julia Holden as she talks about A Dangerious Dress and many other things.