I am a huge fan of fantasy and sci-fi books. I mean, I read
to escape my life, so why not go somewhere completely out-there? The idea of
reading “YA contemporary fiction” didn’t used to appeal to me. I remember going to
this secondhand bookshop when I was about 16 and asking the shop lady if she
had any young adult books. “We have some Sarah Dessen books. Those are pretty
popular with the young crowd,” she said, then proceeded to show me a stack of
contemporary fiction novels. *sigh*
Honestly, one of the reasons why I was hesitant to read YA contemporary fiction was because I had this idea that they were filled with and fueled by sex, drugs, alcohol, parties. After all, that’s what’s popular.
It wasn’t until a few years later that I read one of
Dessen’s books. My mom had picked up a few of her books at the Goodwill so I
had them on my shelves, but I didn’t read any until I joined a book club during my senior year of high school. The
first book we read for the book club was Along
for the Ride by Sarah Dessen, which was one that I owned. It didn’t sound
too horrible, so I decided to give it a go.
I loved it.
Dessen gets the struggle of being a teenager; the struggle
of being old enough, but not old enough (you know, when you’re a “big girl/boy”
who’s expected to be responsible but no one really takes you seriously?). Don’t
get me wrong, there are elements of “popular” themes (ie alcohol, parties,
etc.) in her books, but they aren’t a main focus. The characters might drink,
but they aren’t the obnoxious “Hey, let’s go out and get smashed!” kind of
characters. The characters are human beings, with flaws and strengths and
actual personalities. They are people.
I found Dessen’s latest novel, Saint Anything, during a trip
to Target. It sounded interesting, but I needed to save my money for a new
summer wardrobe (apparently my 20-year-old self does not share the same style
as my 16-year-old self), and I am always hesitant to buy books that I haven’t
read yet. So, even though it was 20% of the cover price and it was a signed
copy, I put the book down and requested it from the library.
I finished it
about a week after checking it out, and went back to Target to claim that
signed copy as mine (deciding that thrift shopping for new clothes was good
enough for me).
Sydney has always lived in the shadow of her older brother,
Peyton – a situation that becomes even worse when Peyton hits a kid when drunk
driving, sentencing the kid to a life of lower body paralysis. Rather than
dealing with the stares, whispers, and opinions of her classmates, Sydney
decides to transfer to a new school, leaving all associations with Peyton
behind her – or so she hopes (and her mother hopes not). A new school brings a
new scene – including a new after school scene. Soon, Sydney finds herself
drawn out of her Peyton-centered family and into the Chatham family, where she
finally feels like she belongs, even if they are just barely more put together
than her own family, with Layla’s knack for dating losers, Rosie’s history with
drugs, and Mrs. Chatham’s failing health. And then there’s Mac, who Sydney might
be falling for, despite Layla’s “no dating the best friend’s brother!” rule. As
the front flap says: Saint Anything
is Sarah Dessen’s deepest and most psychologically probing novel yet, telling
an engrossing story of a girl discovering friendship, love, and herself.
My description barely does it justice, and the front flap
barely does it justice. The plot is good, yes, but it’s the entire theme of the
book that pulls it together; it’s the characters themselves, and their
struggles and battles and victories and losses and journeys.
It’s not just a
book about a girl with a brother who has screwed up big time – it’s a book
about a girl who feels invisible in her brother’s shadow because everything he
does, whether good or bad, is more important than anything that she does. It’s
not just a book about a girl finding a cute guy to crush on, fantasize
about, and then, finally, go out with – it’s a book about a girl who finds a
guy who accepts her and her baggage, and shows her his own baggage, hoping that
she’ll accept him, too. It’s not just a book about finding friendship and a “niche” –
it’s a book about finding a family that accepts you, flaws and all. As New York Times bestselling novelist Jodi
Picoult says, Saint Anything is a
poignant and honest story.
Saint Anything resonated with me even though my brother never made
a mistake so huge that it landed him in prison, and I believe that it will
resonate with many others, too. After all, who hasn’t suffered at the expense
of someone else’s poor choices (no matter how big or small)? And who doesn’t
want to find that niche – that family – where they and their baggage are
welcomed with open arms? I highly recommend this book, especially to
teenagers/young adults, and adults who remember what it’s like being a
teenager.
Happy reading!
Molly
Confession: I didn't originally like the title or the cover art. Then I read the book and I think both are brilliant. Sarah Dessen's books always have a way of surprising me!
