Lock and Key

Reader reviewed by CQ

      The book Lock and Key is a wonderful book for teenagers. As I read the book I felt like the events could really happen to me. It was full of excitement, I couldn't put the book down. The way that the author wrote the book was perfect because it was so realistic and contemporary. I'm glad that i found a book i can relate to and actually enjoy reading. I suggest you read this book if you like adventurous, funny, romantic stories. The characters could be just like you.

Reader reviewed by Adriana

4.5 stars. I think so far this is my favorite Dessen book, although I've only read three. I could really see how the characters evolved and dealt with all of the things going on around them. Ruby finds herself reunited with her "long lost" sister Cora after their mother left one day and didn't return. Ruby and Cora are 10 years apart and now worlds apart with Cora married and living in a gorgeous new house with the love of her life Jaime, a self-made success story who founded a website similar to MySpace or Facebook, and Ruby attending a tough High School and living on her own in a pretty shabby house. At first Ruby is very hesitant to acclimate to her new situation. It was her and her mom for a long time, and she was used to that dynamic. Now she is attending a pricey, private high school and living in an area that boasts custom ponds and in-ground swimming pools. As the story progresses though Ruby comes to understand not only what she really wants out of life, but also who she is and in the process she unlocks several aspects of her family's life. The story was understated but powerful at the same time, and I think Dessen fans will not be disappointed.

Reader reviewed by trishalynn0708

I am a new reader, and fan, of Sarah Dessen's.
This is my second book I have read by her. My first book I read by her
was Along For The Ride, which I have not put the review up for. I
really enjoyed this book, but I have to say that Along For The Ride was
better. This book moved kind of slow for me, especially at the end. I
felt bad for Nate because he lived with his abusive father, and I felt
bad for Ruby, and her sister Cora, because they had no one but each
other. I have to say that Jamie, Cora's husband, and Ruby's
brother-in-law was funny in this book. He was so upbeat and joyous all
of the time. He loved the holidays so I am going to share a part of the
book that I thought was funny. This is from page 322:
"I
already knew Jamie liked holidays. There were matching blue shirts, for
one thing, not to mention the thankful lists. But even armed with this
knowledge, I still was not fully prepared for how he approached
Christmas.
"Just stand
still, okay?" Cora said, making a face as she stuffed the pillow father
up under his jacket. "Stop wriggling around."
"I can't," Jamie replied. "This long underwear is a lot itchier than I thought it would be."
"I told you to just wear your boxer shorts."
"Santa
doesn't wear boxers!" he said, his voice rising slightly as she yanked
the wife black belt of his costume tight over the pillow, holding it in
place. "If I'm going to do this, I want to be authentic about it."

This part was just so funny because Ruby and Cora didn't have a tight family so their holidays growing up were not like Jamie's.
This was a good read, even though it was not my favorite by her.

Reader reviewed by Sarah D

This is the first Sarah Dessen novel I have read. I enjoyed it so much, I can't wait to pick up another. In this novel, Ruby is forced to go live with her estranged sister and her husband after her mother abandons her. Throughout the book Ruby struggles with wanting control over her own life and letting other people care about and love her. The characters and their relationships are well developed. Ruby's struggles are very relatable and there is satisfaction at the end of the story. The novel moves along at a nice pace and leaves you craving a sequel at the end.

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.