Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
Posted on: June 8, 2008
Ruby has always lived with her mother and while it wasn’t the happiest or easiest life, Ruby could deal with it. Until her mother leaves. Ruby expects her to come back but when she doesn’t, she finds herself pretending that her mother is still there, working her job, and doing everything she can to keep the landlords from finding out. But they do find out and soon the social workers have contacted Ruby’s sister Cora, whom she hasn’t seen in years, and is forcing Ruby to go live with her. Cora now lives in a fancy house in a fancy town with her rich husband that Ruby has never met. As Ruby struggles with everyone’s decision to force her there, even though she’ll be eighteen in just a few short months, she finds herself trying to escape the first night and meeting Nate, her hot neighbor. Nate, while he seems to have everything, may be exactly what Ruby need to be happy with her new life.
Out of all of Sarah Dessen’s books, Lock and Key ranks in my Top Three. The characters, Ruby and Nate in particular, are so real and they have so many sides to them, that you can always relate to one of them. The plot is so believable that you feel as if you’re right there in Lakeview, going to Perkins Day, and facing the same struggles as Ruby. Though all of Sarah’s books are remarkable, Lock and Key seems to be the most mature and creative. It definitely showcases Sarah’s true talent well and I recommend it to everyone, whether you’ve read any of Sarah’s previous work or not.
June 21, 2009 at 8:07 pm
I bought this book because when I first read it, I feel in love. Much like all of Dessen’s novels, she tells the story of teenagers lives and how they can relate to our own. This novel was one I could NOT put down. It leaves you wanting more and more.