Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

Living on her own for a few weeks after her mother abandons her, seventeen-year-old Ruby is turned in to social services by her nosy landlords. They place her in the care of her sister Cora, ten years her senior, and her husband Jamie, both intrepid young entrepreneurs living the American dream in a wonderhouse. To Ruby, of course, whos always strived to be self-sufficient, this is no dream come true. She just wants to get through her last year in high school, and then get a job. Now shes being put into Perkins Day, an elite private school in town, and her sister and brother-in-law are encouraging her to think about college the next year.

Ruby means to get through senior year the way she has always done--by staying invisible and not making any connections--but its hard to ignore the friendliness of her next-door neighbor and carpool driver, Nate, one of the most popular guys in school, who has family secrets of his own. Before she knows it, Nate and her are friends, and then maybe more, and more and more she begins to settle into this life as if she had been born into it. But her greatest challenge doesnt come from her own adjustment: its applying what she has learned about the okay-ness of being helped by others to the most important people in her life.

Sarah Dessens novels never lack character development, and LOCK AND KEY is no exception. Once again Lakeview is a world where readers will want to live.