Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

     Another book I chose for my blog is Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen. It is basically about a girl (Ruby) who has a mother that is abusive and is an alcoholic. One day Ruby comes home to find that her mother has left her and Ruby lives on her own until someone finds her and sends her to her sister's home. When Ruby first gets there, she acts really ungrateful and tries to run away. This makes me consider how I would react in her situation. I think I would be happy to be there and at a nice home where I wouldn't have to work in my mom's place, but then I realized that I would never be able to tell what I would do in Ruby's situation since I didn't have the same childhood as her. This book really made me realize that where and how you grow up really plays a part in how you act when you are older. It really makes me think about all of the children growing up with parents that are bad examples or that can't support themselves. 

     It was really interesting to read this book and see how Ruby changed, even if it was just fiction. It really shows how much the environment the person is in can affect a person and how a person can change. Ruby goes from taking help from no one and basically trusting no one to learning that it is not a sign of weakness to take help that people offer to you. Ruby was also finally able to let go of her past and go on with her life- like going to college. Basically, how somebody is raised and where they are raised can really affect somebody. Also, the people around you really have an effect on you. It makes me think that we really need to make our world a better place and always be nice and accepting of people because we never know what they've been through or the effect we could have on them. 

     Another example of people affecting people is when Ruby's new neighbor Nate Cross reaches out to her. Even though she was rude to him and didn't want to be his friend, he kept being nice and being there for her which had a big impact on Ruby. It really got Ruby to start trusting people. She does the same for Nate when she discovers that his dad takes his anger out on him and makes Nate work for him. At first Nate acts just like Ruby did and doesn't want to tell anyone. I think this really shows that always be understanding of people and try to help in any way you can. 

     I'm really happy I read this book just because I've been looking for another book to read and considering that I liked this book, I think I should give other Sarah Dessen books a try. That is the only thing I don't like about finishing a book- having to find a new book afterwards. There are so many and it's hard to find one that I think I would like. A lot of times I don't think I would like them but I do or the other way around. The Barnes and Noble samples he'll, but sometimes they just don't show enough. So, I like to be sure I would like it before I get a book. So, Sarah Dessen seems like a good author to start on.