No Shame in Sarah Dessen

Young adult literature is one of my favorite genres (most probably because I’m part of the target demographic), and recently, I've discovered a liking for the works of Sarah Dessen.

In the past week, I've read two of Sarah Dessen’s books, namely This Lullaby and Just Listen, and found her characters flawed but likable. Her books aren't the easiest of books to read, containing a lot of sometimes heavy introspection. However, there's a lot to like about these books and are definitely worth reading.

One of the interesting quirky aspects of her books is the allusions Dessen makes between her books. For example, the main character, Remy, along with the band Truth Squad from her book This Lullaby make surprise cameo appearances in one of her later works, Just Listen. Looking back on it, both books deal with the importance of music in a female protagonist’s life, so the connection between the two is obvious and easy to make. Still, I was pleasantly surprised when I stumbled upon the scene, especially because, by pure coincidence, I’d started reading Just Listen right after finishing This Lullaby.

I’ll admit that Sarah Dessen’s works won’t tickle everyone’s fancy (honestly, I think Dessen’s books will interest girls more than boys), but, then again, what book does? For any readers out there that enjoy young adult literature), I recommend picking up any of Sarah Dessen’s books if you happen to see one on the shelf.

Judging by their covers, Dessen’s books look like chick-lit, but they contain more depth than you’d think at first glance.

To read more about Sarah Dessen and her work, click here.
--Ji