Just Listen

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen (2006), narrated by Jennifer Ikeda

Annabel is the youngest of three sisters, all models, and until last spring was popular and had plenty of friends. But something happened at a party just before school got out, and this fall her best friends aren't speaking to her and everyone is whispering about her in the hallways. To make matters worse, her sister Whitney has moved back home as she struggles to overcome an eating disorder. As Annabel sits alone during lunch at school, wondering how her life changed so much in just a few months, a guy named Owen sits next to her. Owen hasn't heard about Annabel's new reputation and he's also the most honest person Annabel has met. As their friendship develops, Annabel comes to realize that it's time for her to also be honest and speak out.

There were so many great elements to this story. Annabel has to deal with a sullied reputation and an especially mean ex-friend who calls her a whore every time she passes them at school. Her relationship to her sisters has changed. Whitney is sullen and quiet, staying alone in her room all the time. Kirsten knew she didn't want to model anymore, but was just flailing around without a real direction. And as they each struggled to find their way, Annabel realizes she no longer wants to be a model but is too afraid to tell her mother, who was far more invested in it than any of her daughters.

On top of that is the romance. I can see why Annabel was drawn to Owen. His character is unique because he's the exact opposite of the mysterious loner dude so frequently found in young adult lit. Owen has been in jail and was forced to turn things around for himself by managing his anger. His radio show is even called Anger Management. Part of his efforts include being open and honest and communicative. This is part of what Annabel finds so appealing about him, because she keeps so much bottled up inside and is afraid to open up.

I had forgotten how much I enjoy Sarah Dessen, and now I want to go read/listen to all of her books. They touch on serious issues, yet still feel light-hearted. Her characters feel real and I want to be friends with them; even her parents were endearing. By the end of this book, I was a little jealous of Annabel's family and Owen, who is just awesome. (They didn't make high school boys like that back in my day.)

I listened to the audiobook, and the narration was quite good though some of the voices were a bit overdone. Owen sounded a lot like Milhouse Van Houten, but who doesn't like Milhouse? Anyhow, none of the voices were bad or distracted me from the story. You can't really go wrong with this book, whatever format you choose.

The Truth About Forever : a review

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen (2006)

Macy can’t forgive herself for showing up late to run with her father that day. Maybe if she had gone right away instead of sleeping those extra few minutes, she could have arrived in time to prevent his death. Now she is the girl who watched her father die, and is tired of everybody’s pitying looks and words of sympathy. She keeps her feelings inside and does what is expected of her, studying hard, working at a boring job in the library, and trying to be perfect. Her façade begins to crack a bit when her goody-goody boyfriend Jason suggests they take a break. Then she takes a second job at Wish catering. Thriving on the busy chaos and befriending her new co-workers, Macy begins to feel alive for the first time since her father’s death. She becomes close to Wes, opening up with him about her past as he shares stories of his mother’s death and his incarceration. But Macy’s mom, hiding her grief behind long hours of work, doesn’t see things the same way and Macy can’t bring herself to confront her mother about what she is going through.

I started off on the wrong foot with this book. Having a very similar experience as a teenager, I couldn’t buy the idea of Macy being “the girl who saw her dad die.” I absolutely understood the constant ongoing words of sympathy (so fake and polite and requiring some sort of awkward response), but to be labeled like an outcast because she happened to be there when he died? Shaky premise. Jason, her boyfriend, was also a little hard to picture with his bizarre language that was somehow a cross between a therapist and a businessman, but contained zero teenage boy. However, I warmed up to Macy and the book very quickly. I understood the torture of her boring job where she wasn’t actually allowed to do anything interesting, and found the characters vibrant and genuine.

Macy’s trajectory of grief was believable, as was her strained relationship with her mother and their inability to discuss her deceased father. I loved the details about her dad’s addiction to ordering products advertised on tv. Wes was also great, an artist with a somewhat dark past. Their game of Truth reminded me of so many conversations I had with friends as a teenager, and I rooted for them to finally make a romantic connection. Don’t let the stupid cover deter you – this is a satisfying novel that has nothing to do with feminine hygiene products.