Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

Over the course of just one summer before her junior year of high school, Annabel Greene has managed to lose all her friends. Always the quiet, nice one, a misunderstanding at an end-of-school party results in Annabel losing her gregarious best friend, Sophie, a complicated go-getter with many mood swings and only two sides to friendship. Youre either her friend, or youre her enemy. Being Sophies friend has caused the nice Annabel to lose several of her old friends as well, including her former best friend, Clarke, whom Sophie indirectly deemed nerdy and thus dropped like a hot potato.

Suddenly, Annabel finds herself all alone. She sits on the wall at lunch next to Owen, the loner boy who exudes an aura of intimidation for his gigantic stature and the omnipresence of earphones in his ear. Meanwhile, Annabels situation at home is not too great either. The past year was focused mostly on middle sister Whitneys eating disorder, and Whitney and eldest Kirstens constant clashes and subsequent falling-out in the face of Whitneys anorexia/bulimia.

Now, Whitneys at home and slowly recovering, but shes still taking up most of their parents attention. Thus, Annabel feels unable to tell her mother that she wants to quit modeling, something that all of her sisters have done and grown out of. Annabel is the last one left, and as a result, she feels pressured to stay on it in order to make her mother happy.

In the middle of Sophies attacks, her mothers inattention, and Whitneys glowers, Annabel strikes up an unexpected friendship with Owen. Turns out Owen is obsessed with musicand telling the truth all the time. With him, Annabel feels like a different person, one who can say what she wants to say all the time, instead of holding everything back like she usually does.

That is, until her past catches up to her. By trying to suppress all horrible memories of what happened to her that night at the party, Annabel is gradually but steadily ruining her future, including a possible romance with Owen. She must first admit to herself the truth before she can tell others and start on the path to recovery.

Like all of Sarah Dessens books, JUST LISTEN is chock full of important lessons. There are parallels between Annabel and Whitneys predicaments, as well as symbolism in the form of the Greenes glass house. While I did not find this novel to be as good as her other ones, I nevertheless could not put it down both times I read it. I recommend taking this novel in short breaths, instead of devouring it as you will most likely want to do. Just read&then go back and look for the deeper messages. JUST LISTEN will grow with you.