Title: Just Listen Author: Sarah Dessen
ISBN: 9780142410974 Pages: 371
Publisher: Speak, New York, 2006
Readers Annotation:
Annabel Greene used to be friends with the most popular girl in school. However, something happened to end that relationship, and after spending the summer alone, Annabel must face her classmates on a whole new level.
Annabel Greene used to be friends with the most popular girl in school. However, something happened to end that relationship, and after spending the summer alone, Annabel must face her classmates on a whole new level.
Author Information:
Sarah Dessen attended the University of North Carolina, and graduated with high honors in Creative Writing. Sarah wrote her first novel, This Summer, three years after college. Since then, she's published eight more young adult novels, all of them critically acclaimed. The motion picture How to Deal was based on her first two novels. Dessen's tenth book, What Happened to Goodbye, is set to be released in May of 2011.
Sarah was born in 1970 in Illinois and grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She enjoys gardening and shopping. Presently, Sarah lives in the country in North Carolina, with her husband, her daughter, and two dogs.
http://sarahdessen.com/press-kit/
Sarah Dessen attended the University of North Carolina, and graduated with high honors in Creative Writing. Sarah wrote her first novel, This Summer, three years after college. Since then, she's published eight more young adult novels, all of them critically acclaimed. The motion picture How to Deal was based on her first two novels. Dessen's tenth book, What Happened to Goodbye, is set to be released in May of 2011.
Sarah was born in 1970 in Illinois and grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She enjoys gardening and shopping. Presently, Sarah lives in the country in North Carolina, with her husband, her daughter, and two dogs.
http://sarahdessen.com/press-kit/
Plot Summary:
Annabel Greene used to lead a relatively simple life. She was best friends with the most popular girl in school. She was a model and was hired constantly for shoots. She even had a very stable family life. But, right before the summer, something terrible happened to her that changed her life irrevocably. Annabel also has trouble dealing with her dark secret, and hasn't told anyone what happened to her the night she and her best friend broke up. Suddenly, Annabel's sisters are constantly fighting, her middle sister nearly killed herself because of an eating disorder, and Annabel wants to stop modeling.
When Annabel starts her next year in high school, she finds herself in unfamiliar territory. Since she no longer has any friends, she finds a spot at a lunch table with a boy named Owen Armstrong. Owen turns out to be a music junkie with an honest streak, and they develop an unlikely friendship which leads Annabel on a path of self discovery and new found strength.
Annabel Greene used to lead a relatively simple life. She was best friends with the most popular girl in school. She was a model and was hired constantly for shoots. She even had a very stable family life. But, right before the summer, something terrible happened to her that changed her life irrevocably. Annabel also has trouble dealing with her dark secret, and hasn't told anyone what happened to her the night she and her best friend broke up. Suddenly, Annabel's sisters are constantly fighting, her middle sister nearly killed herself because of an eating disorder, and Annabel wants to stop modeling.
When Annabel starts her next year in high school, she finds herself in unfamiliar territory. Since she no longer has any friends, she finds a spot at a lunch table with a boy named Owen Armstrong. Owen turns out to be a music junkie with an honest streak, and they develop an unlikely friendship which leads Annabel on a path of self discovery and new found strength.
Critical Evaluation:
This beautifully written book is both captivating and heartfelt, addressing real life topics and heavy issues. The author honestly portrays the complexity of family relationships, along with its positive and negative aspects. As the book is written from a first person narrative, the reader can feel the pain Annabel has endured from her rape and the struggle to keep it hidden from the world. Annabel's wounds from the sudden loss of friends is also apparent. These emotions are easily identifiable for adolescents and adults alike. At times, fun concepts are brought into the plot which provide an element of comic relief from the intensity of the main story line. Sweet moments in the relationship between Annabel and Owen also assist in keeping a lighthearted flavor to the book. The audience watches the growth and healing process of the main character, as she learns to cope with the many ups and downs of her life.
This beautifully written book is both captivating and heartfelt, addressing real life topics and heavy issues. The author honestly portrays the complexity of family relationships, along with its positive and negative aspects. As the book is written from a first person narrative, the reader can feel the pain Annabel has endured from her rape and the struggle to keep it hidden from the world. Annabel's wounds from the sudden loss of friends is also apparent. These emotions are easily identifiable for adolescents and adults alike. At times, fun concepts are brought into the plot which provide an element of comic relief from the intensity of the main story line. Sweet moments in the relationship between Annabel and Owen also assist in keeping a lighthearted flavor to the book. The audience watches the growth and healing process of the main character, as she learns to cope with the many ups and downs of her life.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Curriculum Ties: Psychology - Eating Disorders
Booktalking Ideas:
1. Every Sunday morning Owen hosts his own radio show, utilizing his creativity in music to present a unique arrangement for the hour. Have you ever hosted something that's been broadcast to a large audience?
2. Annabel harbors a deep, dark secret that eats away at her. Has a secret you've kept ever eaten away at you so much that you feel like a different person?
1. Every Sunday morning Owen hosts his own radio show, utilizing his creativity in music to present a unique arrangement for the hour. Have you ever hosted something that's been broadcast to a large audience?
2. Annabel harbors a deep, dark secret that eats away at her. Has a secret you've kept ever eaten away at you so much that you feel like a different person?
Reading Level/Interest Age: 15+
Challenge Issue: Eating disorders, Sexual molestation, Foul language
- Book was chosen as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults
- Compilation of teen reviews and the average reader reviews on Amazon.com and Goodreads.com
- Library policy
- Book was chosen as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults
- Compilation of teen reviews and the average reader reviews on Amazon.com and Goodreads.com
- Library policy
Why I chose this item: Sarah Dessen is a popular author among young adults, and her books address very relevant themes for that age group.
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