Yesterday Sarah Dessen turned 39! The North Carolina native and author of the hit books, Lock and Key and Just Listen, will release her ninth book, Along for the Ride, on June 16th, 2009. Along for the Ride tells the story of a girl named Auden who impulsively leaves home for a long visit to stay with her father and stepmom in a small coastal town the summer before college begins. While there she meets a small circle of friends who work at her stepmom’s boutique and even meets a boy – Eli, a BMX competitor – in the local bike-shop. Eli and Auden – both insomniacs – explore the town during the small hours of the night and, as their relationship grows, help each other cope with traumas from their pasts while they prepare for their futures. In the process they become deep friends and quite possibly fall in love.
Celebrate Sarah Dessen’s birthday with us – place a hold on Along for the Ride or check out one of her other popular books at the Loft today!
Sarah Dessen trivia:
*She was born in Evanston, IL, but was raised in North Carolina where she currently makes her home.
*An Australian blogger who calls herself the “Sarah Dessen Diarist” has been hosting a month-long celebration of all things Sarah Dessen on her website. Each day there has been a different post about Dessen, including guest posts written by notable authors and fellow Dessen fans like Laurie Halse Anderson, Luisa Plaja, and Sarah Ockler. Check it out.
The only Sarah Dessen book I’ve read is Lock and Key, and it was kind of your typical teen book with a twist. It’s about this girl named Ruby, who after living alone in an old yellow house is forced by a social worker to move in with her older sister cora. Suddenly, Ruby’s life takes a complete 180, she has a huge house, fabulous clothes, and a top ranked private school. Only one person seems to understand Ruby, and that person may be keeping even more secrets of his own. Ruby struggles to fit into her new life, and trys to find comfort wherever she can.