About this title: The "New York Times"-bestselling author of "Just Listen" explores the heart of a gutsy, complex girl dealing with unforeseen circumstances and learning to trust again.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Viking Children's Books
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780670010882ISBN:067001088X
Description: Good. Glued binding. Paper over boards. With dust jacket. 422 p. Intended for a juvenile audience. Intended for a young adult/teenage audience. read more
Description: Fine. 067001088X Perfect condition with Remainder mark. Free bookmarks with all orders and all orders ship same or next business day! 120-250. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Speak
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780142414729ISBN:0142414727
Description: Good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 422 p. Intended for a juvenile audience. Intended for a young adult/teenage audience. read more
Description: New. AUDIOBOOK. NOT A BOOK! Please order accordingly! All Audiobooks are in the original factory sealed shrinkwrap box! Box may show signs of dents, etc. All CD's Are guaranteed to play! Audio CD, New, 2008, read more
Description: New. 0143143050 New from the publisher-has remainder mark. Ships within 1 business day. Your 100% satisfaction is our guarantee! read more
Description: Good. 0143143050 Book could have shelf wear, or a bump, or sunfade to edges. These are new unread books from the publisher with one of these conditions. See are feedback as customers are satisfied in how we grade our books. Has remainder mark. Fast shipping and customer service is our number 1 priority! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Puffin
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780142414729ISBN:0142414727
Description: New. Brand New! Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Speak
Date Published: 2009-05-14
ISBN-13:9780142414729ISBN:0142414727
Description: NEW. Softcover. From an inventory that is 100% brand-new, 100% direct from the publishers' distribution channel. We carry NO pre-owned, NO remaindered. We pack in CARDBOARD to ensure the pristine quality is maintained. (Bubble-wrap alone is NOT sufficient to protect from USPS equipment. ) Guaranteed brand-NEW, protected with CARDBOARD, your satisfaction is guaranteed. BKLUVID: 9780142414729. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Viking Children's Books
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780670010882ISBN:067001088X
Description: Good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Puffin
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780141324937ISBN:0141324937
Description: Good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Viking Children's Books
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780670010882ISBN:067001088X
Description: New. Glued binding. Paper over boards. With dust jacket. 422 p. Intended for a juvenile audience. Intended for a young adult/teenage audience. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Viking Childrens Books
Date Published: 2008-04-22
ISBN-13:9780670010882ISBN:067001088X
Description: NEW. Hardcover. From an inventory that is 100% brand-new, 100% direct from the publishers' distribution channel. We carry NO pre-owned, NO remaindered. We pack in CARDBOARD to ensure the pristine quality is maintained. (Bubble-wrap alone is NOT sufficient to protect from USPS equipment. ) Guaranteed brand-NEW, protected with CARDBOARD, your satisfaction is guaranteed. BKLUVID: 9780670010882. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: PENGUIN BOOKS LTD Country = UNITED KINGDOM
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780141324937ISBN:0141324937
Description: BRAND NEW PAPERBACK. 384 pages. Ruby cooper likes to expect the worst. that way, she's never disappointed. abandoned by her mother and forced to leave the house she calls home, ruby is facing too many changes. her lonely world has been transformed into a life of luxury by her long lost sister, but all ruby wants to do is leave-she can make it on her own. (Paperback) read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780670010882ISBN:067001088X
Description: New. Brand New! Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
Description: Very good. Box is slightly smooshed, otherwise A Brand New Copy. Never Opened. Still Factory Sealed in the Publisher's Original Shrinkwrap. Book-on-CD. read more
Edition: First Edition (ARC)
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Date Published: 2008-04-22
ISBN-13:9780670010882ISBN:067001088X
Description: VG. PAPERBACK ADVANCE COPY (ARC/GALLEY/PROOF). Page ends just a touch sunned (yellowed). Very minor wear; crisp corners; uncreased spine. read more
"Sarah Dessen is a talented author. The more books of hers I read, the more I find myself enjoying her writing style. Lock and Key is another reason why Ms. Dessen is a popular author.
Ruby is a young girl who has to grow up fast. Her dad left the family when she was young and now it's just Ruby and her mother. When her mother abandons Ruby, she didn't think anything was wrong. Her mother is known for leaving for days at a time and returns as though she never left. But her latest absence is different. Ruby is discovered living alone and is sent to live with her sister Cora and brother-in-law Jamie.
Lock and Key is about the influence relationships have on us. Ruby's dysfunctional relationship with her mother caused her to have an inability to accept others' help. She's very self-sufficient and questions others' motives for wanting to assist her. When she first moves in with her estranged sister, Ruby immediately plans her exit. She's guarded with Cora and Jamie believes she will never fit into their world.
As she begins her new school, she meets Olivia and Nate. Olivia is also a former student at her previous school, although the two never talked while there, and appears to be aloof. As the story unfolds, Olivia and Ruby form a friendship and realize they have a lot in common.
I enjoyed reading Ruby's friendship with Nate. Although I immediately guessed his secret, it didn't take away from the depth of their relationship. Ruby sees a lot of herself in Nate. When he begs her not to disclose his secret, she struggles with what to do. She's knows what it is like to pretend everything is fine. But for the first time, she realizes that these false pretenses will have severe consequences if the truth is not told upfront.
Through her relationship with Jamie, Ruby discovers herself. He encourages her to move out of her comfort zone which leads to Ruby feeling more confident. Their relationship is the catalyst for her to rebuild her relationship with Cora.
Lock and Key is a good read. I'm looking forward to reading more of Ms. Dessen's novels."
"This was my second Sarah Dessen book and I couldn't put it down till I had finished it. Its the ease with which she writes, that draws you in and makes you get totally involved with her characters. Ruby is a very independent sort of a girl who has never had a normal childhood given the fact that she and her alcoholic non dependable mother keep changing houses and jobs. Only time she depended on someone was when her elder sister Cora lived with them. That was a long time back. Even as a 17 yr old she has learnt to live alone and fend for herself when her mother takes off for days on end without bothering to inform her. This time when her mom leaves her alone, Ruby finds herself in front of a social worker who hands her over to her elder sister Cora and her husband Jamie as she is still not 18yrs to live on her own. All of a sudden she is brought in to a world she feels she doesn't belong to and neither does she want to belong.
The book traces the journey of Ruby's acceptance of the new family and friends and most importantly journey of self discovery and love. It takes a close look at the relationship that Cora and Ruby share earlier and now, when she comes to live with her . It talks of the difficulties faced when put in unexpected situations and how everything can be sorted out if we trust the people who care for us and love us and take a positive approach to life.
It also brings in to focus the abuse faced by kids at the hands of their parents and how reluctant they are in revealing it , even though they know there are people who can set things right for them.
Book gives a very positive message and makes you feel really good when you have reached the last page.I would recommend this book to all who love good YA reading."
The teenager in this story named Ruby Cooper really touched my heart. I sympathized with her, rooted for her, wanted to hold her hand and point her in the right direction, and then I was amazed by her strength of spirit.
Ruby's mother was a messed up person who was totally unfit to be a mother. Ruby's sister Cora, who was ten years older than her, left home for college and Ruby didn't see or hear from her again for ten years. Ruby's mother finally cracked up completely and took off. Ruby was left in a dirty, rundown, rental house with no money or support. She was discovered by the landlady and was sent to live with her estranged sister, who by this time had graduated from college, was financially well off, and married to a very successful businessman named Jamie. From the first introduction to Ruby's sister, it was easy to dislike her. I found myself wondering how an older sister could just leave Ruby behind with their insane mother, but all was not as it seemed! Cora finally told Ruby that she had tried through the years to remain in contact and help, but their mother resorted to moving all the time and renting homes under fake names so that they couldn't be found. All the while her mother lied about it and told her that Cora didn't care about them, "It's just you and me", which only reinforced her hold on Ruby. When Ruby found out the truth it was very difficult for her to believe that Cora had never abandoned her and that their mother had lied all those years. Ruby skipped school, found her old friends, got drunk and high, passed out in the woods and was rescued by Nate, her hunky next door neighbor who had problems of his own.
This book was packed full of lessons on serious issues including financial problems, addiction problems, child abuse, and the true definition of family. The ways in which the characters in this book worked through all of the issues made me anxious to continue reading. I originally purchased this book for my 13 year old cousin, but I'm so glad I read it first. I'm not sure that I consider it suitable for a 13 year old merely because of some of the questionable activities that took place in the beginning of the book. However, Ruby and the other characters ultimately worked through all the issues presented.
I am giving this book 4 stars and will be watching for other books by this accomplished and talented author!"
"This is a young adult book - though it is another one of those books that almost only seems like a YA book because its written about a teenager (maybe not quite - it is a little simple, perhaps). It is the story of Ruby, who was living on her own, once her mother disappeared, just trying to make until she turns 18 and can be free. But she gets found out and they force her to go live with the sister she hasn't seen in years. And, surprise, her sister is ok - more than ok (she has gone to law school and married a millionaire/inventor of Facebook type*), and she and her husband (especially the husband, who unlike Ruby and her sister grew up in a Norman Rockwell type family and thinks that is the norm) try help Ruby make a new life. But Ruby is used to just relying on herself - will she be able to learn to rely on others?
I liked that this story was about more than just a romance (though there is a romance, it really ties more into the "only connect" aspect of plot than driving the story itself). It's nice to read a book for teenage girls that is about more than boys, and the trope of a character who thinks she can make it alone learning that she needs other people is, if not earth-shattering, extremely well executed here. I enjoyed reading this quite a bit - and would recommend it as an alternative to brainless chick lit to anyone looking for a light read. The YA aspect means that it flies on the page, but the story offers a bit more substance than, say, Confessions of a Shopaholic.**
*Which is sort of unrealistic, given the way their upbringing was, although Dessen does try to portray the sister as this total type-A achiever type, which certainly helps.
** Though I have never read that book, so I am totally just picking that one out of thin air and using it as short hand for those sorts of books with women's crossed feet on the cover, where all life's problems are solved by Prada."
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