Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
Sarah Dessen is regarded as one of the most popular writers for young adults and I know exactly why. I've only read one of her books before (This Lullaby) which was very good, but I like this even more. Her portrayal of the teenage characters--and all her characters for that matter--are all so real. It is so enjoyable to read her books because they are so believable. In Along for the Ride, it is the realness and actual plot that captivates me.
Riding bikes. Bowling with friends. Food fights. Breaking curfew. These are just a few things that academically-focused Auden West has missed out on in her life. The socially-inept teenage girl just graduated high school at the top of her class. There wasn't much she left behind though. She had few friends, and none of them were close to her and the typical "high school experience" was just a myth to her. Then, she decides that it's time to change. Inspired by her older brother's impromptu travelling all over Europe, Auden decides to visit her father, stepmother and new born sister at their beach town home. This experience changes her life forever and helps her to develop as a person.
Among many other reasons which I've already addressed, I liked this book because it teaches the lesson to not assume and be judgmental. There's more to a person than what they wear or how they seem to act.
I knew she was cataloging him instantly: high school education, not college bound or even interested, working class. The same things, if I was honest, that I would have thought, once. But I was one night, and many hours, further away from my mother now. Even with the short distance between us.
posted by Abby | 4:34 PM
3 Comments:
First off, I'd like to say that I read this book over the summer after my friend Kim read it. It was amazing! I loved it. And you're absoultely right, the plot is real! I've read a ton of books by authors that are supposed to be about teenagers that are not at all realistic and as a teenager, we notice. It almost seems like Sarah Dessen lives a double life where in one of her lives, she is a teenage girl because she understands almost everything that goes into (for lack of better words) being a teenager. I've read a lot of books by her (and own a couple--in case you want to borrow) and have actually blogged about them maybe you could comment on them later lol. About your blog post specifically, I'd like to say that I love your word choice or diction. 'Socially-inept', 'captivates' and words similar are all so fitting. They really bring your blog to the next level in a sense because they make the blog even clearer. I also liked how you included a link and a picture. I try to include a picture with my blog and it makes it very fun to look at visually.
Keep up the great work Abby!
Allie
Yeah, it is amazing! The same thing has happened to me which is why I love Sarah Dessen's books. I know what you mean. Sometimes I think that she really is a teenager. I hope to read more of her books. I already commented on the Looking for Alaska one, but I'll check those out! Thank you!
Well, I guess I'm the only one who didn't read this. Maybe I should though, because the way you described it was very motivating. Well, by that I only mean you brought out the base of the story very well.
So, what does Sarah Dessen write about that makes her seem so multi-dimensional? I wonder if it's just she's really able to connect with the characters she writes about. Just a thought.
Anyway, I think I might read this book. Great description! :]
~Evan
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