"The best way out is always through!"
--Robert Frost
The New York Times Best-Selling Author, Sarah Dessen, wrote a novel that captivates many readers.
Sarah Dessen's "Just Listen" tells the story of Annabel Greene who is a lonely isolated girl that has nothing. Ironically she stars as a top student, popular cheerleader, and dazzling prom queen surrounded by friends in a commercial for Kopf's Department Store. Dessen's 300+ page novel expresses the insights and experiences of Annabel and takes the reader into her world, the world of a sheltered, shy, and sometimes anxious young girl. Since Annabel's friendship with mean--but exciting Sophie ended with malicious rumors flying and no peace at home while her older sister's eating disorder (anorexia) preoccupied the family Annabel had no ability to speak what was on her mind.
It isn't until later in the novel when Annabel met Owen Armstrong, a boy that was intense, obsessed with music, and determined to always tell the truth--no matter what the consequences. As the introduction asks, "Can a girl who hates confrontation find a way to connect with a guy who thrives on it?" Dessen's readers are intrigued especially when the topic at hand involves Annabel and Owen.
Annabel's family life is as follows: she is the middle sister, Kirsten, the oldest is the drama queen (p. 22). Whitney is the middle sister who has the eating disorder (p. 28) and continuously loses an excessive amount of weight until she becomes deathly ill. Their father is an architect and attached to his work, while their mother especially after their grandmother passed (Annabel was 9years old) she was severely depressed. Annabel continues each day trying to pull through somewhat better than the previous. She wants to reconnect with Sophie and tries to be there for her family, but can she please herself?
Sarah Dessen's novel would definitely relate to females in either junior high or high school. Students tend to feel isolated during school if they had a fight among friends, as well as feel isolated in their family (Annabel being the youngest of three, a family of five people)--girls just want to be heard, they want someone to just listen...
www.teenreads.com/reviews/0670061050.asp - 26k
*Teens Top Ten Books, Nomination for 2007.
3 comments:
From your summary I see the theme of silence which would connect with SFFSB and Speak. Someone teaching a young adult class could use the three novels in literature circles.
Two proofreading comments: the second to last paragraph gets a little confusing with the sentence about her mother. maybe that can be reworded. the last sentence of that paragraph is a question, so change to a ? but it sounds like a pretty good book.
Amanda, I have read several of Sarah Dessen's novels before in book clubs with my students. This sounds like another interesting novel by her. I enjoyed your opening quote from Frost, as it makes the reader wonder what type of problems the main character has that she needs to face. It sounds like a novel many teens can relate to, about wanting someone to listen to their thoughts and ideas. I completely agree with May that this sounds like a novel that could tie in well with SPEAK or SFFSB, perhaps a literature circle option? Just an idea. Thanks for an interesting posting!
Post a Comment