Book Review - Saint Anything - Sarah Dessen
A few weeks ago I mentioned checking out two Sarah Dessen books - Once and For All ( click here for review -> ) and Saint Anything.
Whereas OaFA had more light-hearted moments, Saint Anything is darker.
We begin in a courthouse hearing a verdict when we meet Sydney and her family. Her older brother - the charming, bigger than life, troublemaker - was being sentenced for an accident when he was under the influence and hit a 15-year old boy, leaving the boy paralyzed and in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
The rest of book takes up months later when Sydney is trying to start over at the local public school. In order to avoid 3 hours at home along (her 'old' friends are busy after school) she stops by the pizza place close to the school.
There she meets Mac and Layla - siblings whose family runs the pizza parlor with the best pizza ever.
Layla adopts Sydney into her bunch of friends and everything takes of from there.
This book is about finding your voice and being heard. Some of the situations Sydney faces could have been avoided if she spoke up and if her parents listened.
Her mom (Julie) is so focused on helping her son (Peyton the Third) even when he doesn't want her help.
Julie doesn't notice that Peyton's "best friend" and 'sponsor' creeps out her daughter and ignores Sydney's protests. For example - having Ames and his girlfriend Marla stay over so that 17-year old Sydney isn't home alone overnight.
But Sydney is wise. When she returned home and Ames was cooking dinner, candles ready to be lit on the table, and Marla 'home sick with the stomach flu' she calls Layla and Mac's pizza place knowing that Mac would be doing a delivery there AND that she could get Layla there to stay over.
Layla does her part to get the invite extended to the entire weekend when Sydney's mom calls; even she caught the creepy vibe Ames was giving off.
There's also dealing with being the good daughter when your brother was the trouble maker.
Sydney closes herself off the more she feels like her mother isn't treating her fairly, judging her by what Peyton did and not on Sydney herself. Even revoking previous, 'Yes, you can,' when something Peyton does upsets her.
But with the Chatham family - Mac and Layla - Sydney doesn't feel invisible. She's listened to. She's included.
Until one mistake. Technically, two mistakes,... but that's entering spoiler territory.
But that one mistake and the over-protective consequences sets the stage for Sydney to be seen by her parents, especially her mom.
Do I recommend it? Highly. But have something light and fluffy to read afterwards to help rebalance yourself. While the book has its light, comedic moments, the cover (dark with the only light coming from a carousel) is fitting.
Whereas OaFA had more light-hearted moments, Saint Anything is darker.
We begin in a courthouse hearing a verdict when we meet Sydney and her family. Her older brother - the charming, bigger than life, troublemaker - was being sentenced for an accident when he was under the influence and hit a 15-year old boy, leaving the boy paralyzed and in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
The rest of book takes up months later when Sydney is trying to start over at the local public school. In order to avoid 3 hours at home along (her 'old' friends are busy after school) she stops by the pizza place close to the school.
There she meets Mac and Layla - siblings whose family runs the pizza parlor with the best pizza ever.
Layla adopts Sydney into her bunch of friends and everything takes of from there.
This book is about finding your voice and being heard. Some of the situations Sydney faces could have been avoided if she spoke up and if her parents listened.
Her mom (Julie) is so focused on helping her son (Peyton the Third) even when he doesn't want her help.
Julie doesn't notice that Peyton's "best friend" and 'sponsor' creeps out her daughter and ignores Sydney's protests. For example - having Ames and his girlfriend Marla stay over so that 17-year old Sydney isn't home alone overnight.
But Sydney is wise. When she returned home and Ames was cooking dinner, candles ready to be lit on the table, and Marla 'home sick with the stomach flu' she calls Layla and Mac's pizza place knowing that Mac would be doing a delivery there AND that she could get Layla there to stay over.
Layla does her part to get the invite extended to the entire weekend when Sydney's mom calls; even she caught the creepy vibe Ames was giving off.
There's also dealing with being the good daughter when your brother was the trouble maker.
Sydney closes herself off the more she feels like her mother isn't treating her fairly, judging her by what Peyton did and not on Sydney herself. Even revoking previous, 'Yes, you can,' when something Peyton does upsets her.
But with the Chatham family - Mac and Layla - Sydney doesn't feel invisible. She's listened to. She's included.
Until one mistake. Technically, two mistakes,... but that's entering spoiler territory.
But that one mistake and the over-protective consequences sets the stage for Sydney to be seen by her parents, especially her mom.
Do I recommend it? Highly. But have something light and fluffy to read afterwards to help rebalance yourself. While the book has its light, comedic moments, the cover (dark with the only light coming from a carousel) is fitting.
Comments
Post a Comment