Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
Wow
“Ruby, where is your mother?” Ruby knows that the game is up. For the
past few months, she’s been on her own in the yellow house, managing
somehow, knowing that her mother will probably never return. That’s how
she comes to live with Cora, the sister she hasn’t seen in ten years, and
Cora’s husband Jamie, whose down-to-earth demeanor makes it hard for
Ruby to believe he founded the most popular networking Web site around.
A luxurious house, fancy private school, a new wardrobe, the promise of
college and a future—it’s a dream come true. So why is Ruby such a
reluctant Cinderella, wary and defensive? And why is Nate, the genial boy
next door with some secrets of his own, unable to accept the help that
Ruby is just learning to give? Best-selling author Sarah Dessen explores
the heart of a gutsy, complex girl dealing with unforeseen circumstances
and learning to trust again.
Personal Review: Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

Ruby thinks she'll be fine when her mother walks out on her, especially
since it's only a few months until she turns 18 anyway. Her plans to fend
for herself and live in the small yellow house are foiled though when the
dryer breaks down and the landlord find a clothesline in the middle of the
kitchen.
Life as she knew it changes that day, when it is decided that custody of
Ruby goes to Cora, her sister who left Ruby and her mother when Ruby
was eight. Not only is it a shock to see Cora, but to also have to move into
Cora's upper class lifestyle. Unlike the small yellow house that Ruby was
living in, Cora and her husband Jamie live in a prestigious gated
neighborhood and have a lifestyle that is completely foreign to everything
Ruby knows.
Not really trusting this new life, Ruby plots an escape her first night at Cora
and Jamie's. Her plans are once again foiled when she tries to hop over
the fence by the rambunctious barking of Roscoe, Jamie's dog. The
barking prompts not only Jamie to come and look over by the fence, but
also a "Hello" from the other side of the fence. The voice belongs to Nate,
a very cute guy who just happens to be Ruby's age. Needless to say
Ruby's escape doesn't happen and she is forced to continue life with Cora
and Jamie.
Despite the new lifestyle, new school, and new problems, Ruby's life starts
to look up. With Nate's infectious optimistic attitude and the truth about her
and Cora's relationship, Ruby starts to uncover the true person she is and
the person she wants to be.
First of all I have to ask myself why I let this book sit on my shelf for so
long! Sarah Dessen has truly done it again and created one heck of a
book. I loved the whole premise of the book, where Ruby really had to
discover her true self in an environment that was so foreign to her.
The character development was absolutely brilliant. I came to know Ruby
better and better as each page turned, and by the end of the book I felt like
she was a great friend of mine. Not only was Ruby fully developed, all the
supporting characters were as well. Whether it was Nate, Cora, Jamie, or
even Gervais, the annoying kid who was part of Ruby's carpool, each
character had a story that was shared. It was also really neat how
elements and characters from other Dessen books popped up throughout
the story!
Overall I completely loved this book and it has definitely become one of my
favorite books. Ruby's sarcastic attitude, the emotion built into the story,
and just the effect the book had on the reader, makes this book easily one
of the best I've read this year.
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