Review: Lock and Key

Title: Lock and Key
Author: Sarah Dessen
ISBN/Publisher: 978-0-14-241472-9/Speak (part of Penguin)
Age Group/Genre: Young Adult

Ruby's mom walked out on her and left Ruby to live in a house without running water or heat for a couple of months. Seventeen year old Ruby tries to keep her mom's disappearance on the down low because she's going to be eighteen soon, which means legally...she is free. However, the landlords discover Ruby and no mom, on their land just a few months shy of her bday.

Now, social service's place her in the care of her older, estranged sister, Cora and Cora's successful husband, Jamie. Ruby is moved into a beautiful home, where she will receive private school education, and on the possible upside...there's a cute neighbor boy, who happens to be the same age as her. However, all these great things are around her, but she still can't let down her guard because she has never had to depend on anyone, but herself.

Will Ruby let people into her life???

Hmmm...Sarah Dessen is an amazing author and does it again!!! This is a book about friendship and family. It is somewhat heartbreaking, but at the same time, I got this warm fuzzy feeling because the moral of the story was sweet.

I would have to say that Lock and Key is totally character plot driven and these are my type of stories. Ruby, Cora, Jamie, Nate, and the minor characters are the ones that build the novel. I wanted to be in this story. Ruby, yes...struggles with accepting people, but as the reader you want to push her and protect her from situations. Then, there's Nate...a good guy. Probably the cute neighbor that every girl wants. And then, we get Cora and Jamie...they remind me of my sister and brother-in-law. They're loving and caring and would help their family no matter what.

It is a beautifully written story and if you're a fan of Sarah Dessen, I promise you won't be disappointed. I will continue to follow Mrs. Dessen and her characters...no matter how old I get!

Favorite lines...

Leaving was easy. It was everything else that was so damned hard. page 202

"My point is, there are a lot of people in the world. No one ever sees everything the same way you do; it just doesn't happen. So when you find one person who gets a couple of things, especially if they're important ones...you might as well hold on to them. You know?" page 312
It's a lot easier to be lost than found. It's the reason we're always searching, and rarely discovered---so many locks, not enough keys. page 365

What is family? They were the people who claimed you. In good, in bad, in parts or in whole, they were the ones who showed up, who stayed in there, regardless. It wasn't just about blood relations or shared chromosomes, but something wider, bigger. [...] we had many families over time. Our family of origin, the family we created, as well as the groups you moved through while all of this was happening: friends, lovers, sometimes even strangers. None of them were perfect and we couldn't expect them to be. You couldn't make any one person your world. The trick was to take what each could give you and build a world from it. page 400

My Rating:

(This book was bought at a store called FullyBooked)

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea or because it's Laurie Halse Anderson month...Laurie's fave: Earl Grey Tea (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***