Unlike many of the young adult books out there who don't touch on relationships other than within themselves and with a boyfriend or girlfriend, Sarah Dessen explores--in this book especially--troubles with parents. I've noticed that Sarah Dessen talks about and explores divorce between parents, which is so very prevalent in our world today, a lot more than what is common among young adult novels. Let alone the aftermath of divorce.
Auden just graduated from high school looking at practically nothing but her studies. Her mom and dad divorced a few years back. While her dad remarried and is now having another baby with his new wife, her mother is married to her work as a college professor and her little parties she throws with some of her grad students. Everything is about studying and getting into the best college at Auden's home with her mother. But on the spir of the moment decision she takes a summer trip down to live with her dad and new wife, Heidi, and their newborn, Thisbe (what a name right?). Both Auden's mom and dad are rather manipulative, it seems they are consciously unaware of it. Getting Auden to do exactly what they want and making her thing that it is her idea or always getting the last word in.
Auden arrives finding that Heidi, who is normally so happy-go-lucky is completely worn out with her new baby who is constantly screaming, wailing, and not sleeping. Her dad has been no help with the newborn at all, constantly writing and needing his "nine hours of sleep" otherwise he doesn't function (and somehow he had two other kids--Auden and her brother). He's neglecting his wife and child and doesn't realize it.
Auden starts helping out, not only studying all the time for her college classes. She gets a job at Heidi's shop on the beach to get away from the screaming newborn. Here she is surrounded by squealing, giggling girls that are also preparing for college/life after high school. She also meets a boy riding on a bike in the middle of the night, a night she was helping quiet the baby down by taking her on a stroller ride by the beach. Of course, more relations bloom and they do so realistically.
That is something that I've truly loved about her books. The relations are all realistic. The problems are realistic. And the characters deal with their problems in ways that would actually work in this situation.
If I can be a writer like Sarah Dessen... They are magnificent books.
Her use of time, where there is a scene and where there is a summary, is masterful. There is one part where you know some hanky panky is going on, but she doesn't hang out there. Enough detail is given that you know what happened, but nothing is truly described (like some of the other YA/Adult books).
My only other warning is some of the foul language they use. It is sparse, but it is there. But that is really my only complaint. I love the way Sarah Dessen writes.
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