Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

Dessen has done it yet again with such a beautifully written and amazing book. This one, like the others, is really focused on teen problems. After being abandoned by a drug and alcohol using mother, Ruby Cooper is forced to live with her quite and "much more normal" sister. But after living with her mother for so long, can she adapt to a perfect society?

Ruby is not your average 17-year old. Her mother, also named Ruby, had taught her many bad habits, that soon destroy her life. Not only would (mother) Ruby drink and get high, but some nights, she would force her own daughter out of the only bed in the house for disgusting reasons. Not only that, but they've been living in a little yellow house alone, when (mother) Ruby goes missing. She leaves her daughter in the yellow house alone, to pay the overdue rent, and feed herself on her own.

Now, Ruby doesn't mind. She feels like she only has one year to be of legal age, and so she could just stay there. Child services is having none of it though, and they make (daughter) Ruby live with her sister, Cora. At first you learn that Ruby thinks that Cora has been avoiding her, but as times go by, you see that she has been trying to protect her and take her from her unstable mother.

Ruby meets a boy (of course) named Nate, and they start dating. One night, Ruby gets high and drunk and finds herself in Nate's car going back home. When she arrives, Cora's husband is furious with her and says that she is abusing his and Cora's love and care. Determined to not be like her mother, she tries flipping her life around, but will it be easy?

There are so much things to discuss. I didn't mention this above, but even though Ruby didn't live at the yellow house anymore, she still kept the key to it around her neck. This just shows how loyal someone can be to family members, and how hard it is to move on. Throughout the book, yes, her opinions change about her mother, but in general, there is just this sad mood and you know she misses her. She talks about going back to the yellow house a lot, too.

Okay, now for MY opinion. I LOVED Lock and Key. It is beautifully written, and so well written that it makes you feel Ruby's pain. Do I think that this is the best she's ever written? Yes. But was it boring at times? Well, obviously. No book can be front to back amazing and filled with excitement. This book is kind of a slow read, but hey, it's about rehabilitation; what do you expect?

Overall, it brought tears in my eyes and really showed me the truth; even though someone looks happy, it doesn't necessarily mean they are. I lived what Ruby lived, and I felt what she felt. Cheesy? Yes. Should you read this book? Yes (unless you're a male, I don't think you'll like it).

Rating: PG-13

Score: A- (kinda slow at times).