Lock and Key

This story is beautiful. It's about family and learning to see the good, and also the bad in them. Ruby's life is far from perfect, but then she meets Nate who's life isn't the best either. And it's funny! Gervais is one of the best characters, even though he's not such a big part. He shows up again in another one of Dessen's novels! :)

A story that's so AMAZING it's hard to forget. This book will not disappoint you. It will stick in your head long after you've finished. It's the best Young Adults novels I've read in a long time.

Ruby is my all-time favorite character I really FELT for her. She isn’t like most teenage girls. She’s strong, independent, and determined. Ruby’s been on her own ever since her mother abandoned her and hoping she would return someday. But in the end, she was sent to live with her sister, Cora, along with Cora’s husband, Jamie.

I adore Ruby and wish I would be just like her. She’s been going through some hard times and is still able to manage on her own. I feel like I’m right there with Ruby, seeing how she fixes things up when they shatter all over the place. She has shown me how to live one step at a time and to put one foot in front of the other.

Nate is another character I really CARE about. He’s sweet, nice, and friendly. Everyone would be lucky to have him in their lives. Nate’s life is no different from Ruby’s. His mom left him, and his dad is totally abusive, selfish, and bossy. I do feel sorry for Nate, and by knowing more about his life, it makes my heart ache a lot more.

The story ends in an emotional, comforting way. I cried twice during this book. One when Ruby found Nate alone in the house. And second when Ruby and Nate said goodbye to each other. It’s hard to see them heading in two different directions. It makes me feel empty, alone, and heartbreaking. This book has taught me the importance of friendship and how life isn’t always straightforward. Sarah Dessen has written such a wonderful Young Adults novel about finding the perfect Lock and Key!

Reader reviewed by Amanda(;

Hello Again, fellow reviewers and readers. Lock and Key, by the infamous(sorry, I mean FAMOUS AND AMAZING) Sarah Dessen. Is the hottest thing, next to Twilight by Stephine Meyer, which will be in my next review. (; Lock and Key opens your eyes to the real life positions of how life has 'too many locks and not enough keys'. Translation? There's too many things to go through in life, so many locked doors and you don't have all the keys. It's like that saying one door opens, another closes. You have to choose one or the other, you can't always go with both. The main character in Lock and Key has grown up in a life where she's independent, and she's the only boss. She knows right from wrong, but weather she chooses to use that knowledge is her issue. It shows a bond between sisters, a bond between friends who can also turn out to be lovers. It's a good eye opener.

Reader reviewed by mockock

when you love someone, you wanna protect them right?..that is the question that Ruby has to face when she falls in love with a guy with a secret.. but what is that secret?.. guess you will have to wait and see when you read it!..i would recommend this book to any young adult reader who loves to see the thrill and craziness of a young couple in love..lock and key is the book to read if you are looking for one!
with lots of love,,
girl with no secrets.

Reader reviewed by Iryna

"Ruby, where is your mother?"

Ruby
knows that the game is up. For the past few months, she's been on her
own in the yellow house, managing somehow, knowing that her mother will
probably never return.

That's how she comes to live with Cora,
the sister she hasn't seen in ten years, and Cora's husband Jamie,
whose down-to-earth demeanor makes it hard for Ruby to believe he
founded the most popular networking Web site around. A luxurious house,
fancy private school, a new wardrobe, the promise of college and a
future-it's a dream come true. So why is Ruby such a reluctant
Cinderella, wary and defensive? And why is Nate, the genial boy next
door with some secrets of his own, unable to accept the help that Ruby
is just learning to give?

Best-selling author Sarah Dessen
explores the heart of a gutsy, complex girl dealing with unforeseen
circumstances and learning to trust again.

Wow.
If any word could describe this book perfectly it would be "wow". Sarah
Dessen created a very real problem that I found I could relate too even
though I have not experienced it. The character development was
phenomenal. The setting was well planned out. The overall idea was
amazing. As you can see, this book is so good that it brings tears to
my eyes.

I also
really like the title of this book. It is so perfect that it makes me
jealous -- when I write, titles are always the things I have trouble
with. I have also looked at Sarah Dessen's other books and the titled
seem just as creative and intriguing. Who wouldn't want to read about a
book called "Keeping the Moon" or "The Truth About Forever"? I want to know the truth about forever!

However,
I wish that Sarah Dessen could have included prologue because their are
some loose ends I think she could have tied up. What happens to Nate?
Do Reggie and Harriet get married?

All in all, I would give this book and A.

Reader reviewed by Taylor

I have honestly never read a Sarah Dessen novel before. I know, thats
embarrassing. For some reason I almost felt intimidated by her books
because their so popular. Lock and Key is no exception when it comes to
amazing books.

The story starts quickly, which is a must for me. I HATE when I can't get into a book right from the beginning.

I
absolutely love the realism of this book. I don't know very much about
any of the problems Ruby goes through but it sounds so realistic. The
whole time I was reading I could picture the problems existing. Whether
things were going well or not, the consequences of all of the actions
were well explained. I absolutely love books that are completely
realistic. I hate when the characters in books just get everything all
pretty and perfect. I believe in the struggle.

I absolutely LOVE
Nate's character. He was so much more interesting than most boyfriend
types. He had his own problems that were so apparent right from the
start but he was so genuinely kind that he kept working to help Ruby
get over hers.

The only complaint I have about this book is how
Nate moved away. I was hoping that he would move in with Ruby or
something, not to Arizona!

This book is great and I have an ARC of Along For The Ride that I am soooo looking forward to!

4.5/5

Reader reviewed by katie

I was a little weary about reading this, after reading the back. This by far has to be one of Dessen's best books. In this book Dessen tells the story from the point of view of a 17 teen year old abandoned by her mother. When she is found by her landlords she is shipped off the live with her sister Cora, who she hasn't seen in ten years and is now married to a wealthy family guy. This book reveals relationships, and bonds of sisters struggling to make up for the time they have missed. This book also has a shocking surprise about a secret her mother has kept from her for years

Reader reviewed by lia

This is wonderful book I loved it. This is the story of Ruby who for the past few months, she's been on her own in the yellow house, managing somehow, knowing that her mother will probably never return.That's how she comes to live with Cora, the sister she hasn't seen in ten years, and Cora's husband Jamie, whose down-to-earth demeanor makes it hard for Ruby to believe he founded the most popular networking Web site around. A luxurious house, fancy private school, a new wardrobe, the promise of college and a futureit's a dream come true. So why is Ruby such a reluctant Cinderella, wary and defensive? And why is Nate, the genial boy next door with some secrets of his own, unable to accept the help that Ruby is just learning to give?

This is an awesome book to read you wont want to stop reading!

Reader reviewed by hpatel

I think that Lock and Key, Sarah Dessen's most recent novel, is a great book about trying to cope with change in your life. Even though Ruby finally has a nice house to live in and a great sister and brother-in-law to take care of her, she cannot let go of that old house--if that's what you want to call it--where she and her mother once lived. That is why she always wears a key to the lock of the old house around her neck. As she makes a new friend, Nate, she starts seeing many similarities between his life and hers as she digs deeper. This book is about friendship, trust, and overcoming the scary factors that come into play when change occurs. Hopefully, everyone else likes this book too, because I reccommend it to everyone.

Reader reviewed by the book muncher

Ruby is having a hard time adjusting to her new life. Shes not used to not having to worry about the bare necessities such as food and clothing. Shes not accustomed to all the money. Shes not used to living with her family.

It wasnt too long ago that Rubys mother left her for good. No one besides Ruby knew, and she was planning to keep it that way until she turned eighteen and was legally an adult. But someone found out, and now Ruby has to live with her sister and brother-in-law. But Ruby doesnt know how to deal with this new lifestyle, or with her overly friendly neighbor Nate. Ruby doesnt like depending on anyone or letting anyone really get to know her. But Nate might be more like her than she thinks.

Sarah Dessen is one of my favorite authors of all time, and she does not disappoint with Lock and Key. I really love how Sarah Dessen can really capture the emotions people like Ruby feel, the stubborn independence and loneliness. She weaves a beautiful story of the healing of a girl and the healing she returns. Like all of Sarah Dessens novels, Lock and Key is truly amazing.

There is a lot of symbolism in this novel, mostly stemming from the title, and this is what makes the story so brilliant. On one hand, there is Ruby who is reluctant to unlock her past to anyone but ends up letting Nate into her heart. On the other, Nate refuses to let Ruby unlock him. The struggles of both Ruby and Nate are so similar to some of the struggles many teens face today, although in different perspectives, and I really appreciated how realistic it was.

I highly recommend Lock and Key along with all of Sarah Dessens other novels, including The Truth about Forever, This Lullaby, and Just Listen. Fans of Deb Caletti will also enjoy this novel, as well as teens everywhere.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com