Just Listen

Reader reviewed by Katie P

The book Just Listen by Sarah Dessen is amazing. When I first heard about it I was just starting to read some of her books. I had read Dreamland which was another truly exceptional book by her. When I decided to read this book I had high expectations and it did not let me down. The way its starts out immediately makes you wonder about what Annabels terrible secret is and how shes going to deal with it when she returns to school. Everything is so life like in this book. The characters are honest and have faults. Like Owen Armstrong, Owen is a reformed bad boy who relies on telling the truth to keep him out of trouble and away from fighting. He always seems so mysterious and is totally obsessed with music. The main character Annabel is another example; shes just your basic teenage girl. She starts out a shy teenage girl who on the outside appears to the world as perfect in everyway. But underneath her beautiful exterior hides layers of family trouble, betrayal, and secrets, which can be easy for many teenage girls can relate to. Also, for this is a great book for anyone out there who loves music. Music is a key part of the plot and references to a lot of older rock songs. The fast pace of the book constantly keeps you interested and begging to know what happens next. I read the entire book in one day it was so amazing. Over all this book is just a great read, its funny, life like, and easy to understand. So if youre looking for a good weekend read pick up Just Listen and you wont be disappointed.

Reader reviewed by Dominique

Annabel has had a rough summer, losing friends that had once been very close. Some of her family members have been experiencing rocky times as well, which has taken a toll on Annabel as well. Relationships between many have become fragile and Annabel finds herself putting on a smile and pretending that nothing is wrong. Avoiding confrontations at all costs, Annabel is hardly the girl that had it allpopular friends, a modeling job, and a perfect familyany more. The truth seems too hard to bear, and Annabel finds it easier to hide behind lies than to face reality. That is, until she meets Owen. Owen, the guy who always tells the truth. Owen, the guy who loves music. Owen, the guy who thinks silence is too loud. Owenthe boy who turns Annabels life upside down. The two become quick friends, and Owen helps Annabel come out from her shell and web of lies and helps her confront her problems and fears. Annabel must find herself again and do what she wants, instead of what everyone else wants for once. The truth is rarely ever easy to face, but can Owen help her come to terms with her troubles and help her find the courage to reveal the truth?

This is definitely my favorite book by Sarah Dessen so far! It was a touching, highly enjoyable read that had believable characters and emotions that Im sure some readers can connect to!

Reader reviewed by Kate

What a beautiful book. It had me reading for hours- I could not put it down! I cannot praise Sarah's writing enough-- funny, elegant, serious, and poignant-- she has the right balance of everything. I am never bored and I never skip or skim. I take my time to actually read her books and enjoy them-- they are just wonderful.

This one is about a girl named Annabel. She goes through a painful ordeal and has to find her way back through learning how to be honest. She has to, in order to be friends with Owen Armstrong, who is one of the best characters ever. Through her silence and lack of acceptance of herself and others, Annabel realizes that she has secluded herself. She picks up the pieces and finds out that "Silence is just so freaking loud," as Owen says.

Beautiful story with amazing supporting characters (such as her sisters and Mom and Owen's little sister) Had me hanging on until the very last word, as always.

Reader reviewed by Kristin

I enjoyed this latest book from Sarah Dessen, but it definitely wasn't my favorite. I'm a fan of all of Dessen's books for a lot of reasons - she has realistic and likable characters, a clear, easy tone, peppered with humor and poignancy throughout, interesting situations that draw the reader in, and lots of intricate subplots. Dessen delivers all of this in Just Listen, a novel about Annabel, 16, the "girl who has everything" but whose life is really falling apart. However, I disliked how it was often quite similar to Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, and I think Speak did a better job in portraying this type of situation. Overall, worth reading, especially if you're a Dessen fan, but not one of my favorites. If you like this book, you may want to check out Speak as well.

Reader reviewed by abscae

Sarah Dessen has done it again. She successfully weaves a great book from problems that everyone can relate to. The best part of this book was how Dessen again brought everyday teenage emotions and problems to light. This is definitely an interesting read for anyone above 12 years old because it offers a lot to the youth, about all the problems we face everyday and how we should treat others.

Reader reviewed by clarice

I have read every book by this author and this is amazing also. Not as good as some of her others in my opinion but it is still a really good book. A girl who models has to deal with losing her best friends, having a sister with an eating disorder, not wanting to model and being a complete outcast at school, when she meets another outcast he learns a lot and fixes her past mistakes.

Reader reviewed by Kris

This book is one of the best ever. in fact, Owen Armstrong? my 2cd favorite fictional character ever. this is an amazing story about a girl who was hiding a secret that was gnawing away at her. in fact, I thing I started crying at least three times while reading this book. after reading this book, I honestly just had to sit back and thing about friendships that were destroyed, secrets I've kept, and secrets I know others are keeping. this book touched me which makes this one of my favorite books ever. hands down. this book is amazing and everyone I know who has read this simply loves it.

Reader reviewed by Yazmin

Just Listen is about a girl who has no friends because of an incident and a sister who is bulimic. She meets this guy Owen, that loves music and helps her with her problems, tells her the truth even if it will her hurt fellings. Like any other book if Sarah Dessen you will get hooked on it.

Reader reviewed by Val

Just Listen is like any other Sarah Dessen novel in that it involves a female protagonist placed in a realistic situation and thats why many young adult readers among them many girls read her books and find they can relate. In Just Listen the main character Annabel Green begins to narrate her situation. The reader doesnt get the whole story until towards the end of the novel but one can put two and two together to infer what happened. Annabel is the epitome of an American girl with blonde hair, blue eyes and a modeling figure. But when readers learn more they discover that she in fact isnt the glamorous girl she appears to be on commercials and photos. She IS a teenage girl who gave up her true friends to hang out with a girl who finds pleasure in dominating people. This girls name is Sophie and something happens that makes Sophie think that Annabel is worthy to be called rude names like slut and tramp. Annabel like most girls when faced by this sudden betrayal are stunned and doesnt know what to do. She lies to her mother when she continues modeling, which she doesnt like, and she tells her that Sophie and her just got into a little fight.

There are times where you want to shake Annabel and knock some sense into her to remind her that its okay to stand up for yourself, you dont have to be a doormat because your so called friend treated you meanly. Unfortunately, we cannot do so but never fear because just when weve thought about giving up all hope Owen steps in. Owen is considered to be an outcast because he got into fights and he sits reclusively by himself at the lunch table always listening to his ipod. One day after a particularly vicious attack by Sophie, Owen sees Annabel and helps her. They talk and Annabel begins to discover its not the end of the world if she isnt by Sophies side. She finds Owens presence comforting and he opens her into a whole world of music and listening. The change is evident when Annabel becomes more opinionated and more confident. With the inadvertent help of Owen she is able to conquer her fears of her family with her sisters eating disorder and her moms emotional fragility. She begins to make friends with the friends she lost when she began hanging out with Sophie. She is able to face her fears and the incident that has mentally and physically hurt her& the reason why Sophie ostracized her.

Owen serves as her rock and its an interesting combination because you wouldnt think that a fallible character like him what with his anger problems would be a good sort of structure for a somewhat weak character. The novel is uplifting and doesnt disappoint in terms of plot. However I, having read almost every Sarah Dessen book had to say I wasnt as pleased with Just Listen as I was with many of her other novels. My favorite Sarah Dessen novel was Dreamland because it was one of the few books that have been able to move me to tears with its wonderful language and gripping plot. When I found out that Sarah Dessen was working on a new novel I was ecstatic and couldnt wait but reading Just Listen came off more as a beach read. You know& the kind of novel you bring to the beach and forget about maybe for a few days then find it again and read it. Its a good book dont get me wrong but I felt it lacked that powerful impact Sarah Dessens novels usually have on me.

Reader reviewed by Leah



Annabelle Greene has always lived her life to make others happy. She models for the sanity of her mother, was friends with Sophie because she couldn't say no, and lets everyone treat her like dirt because she's too afraid to make Sophie mad. When her friendship with Sophie ends after a terrible secret, Annabelle is left with no one. When she makes friends with Owen, another friendless classmate, he encourages her to do what she wants and speak out.

Sarah Dessen once again creates new complex characters and takes us through a story that not only changes the lives of her characters, but the readers as well.