Saint Anything

Saint Anything is the most recent brilliant YA concoction by Sarah Dessen, probably my favorite living author! This book was actually just released this month. Sydney is one of only two children in a well-off family, but her brother is always the one around which others revolve. When her brother is sent to jail after a drunk driving accident, Sydney feels invisible and doesn't know where to turn. No one seems to understand her point-of-view. She decides to switch from private to public school and becomes instant friends with siblings Layla and Mac, whose family accepts her as one of their own and really listens to what she has to say. This is a story of friends and family, trust and love, and ultimately, honesty.

(picture taken from Goodreads;

jacket photo: Beowulf Sheehan / Getty Images;
jacket design: Cara Petrus)

First Impression: Every time I read something by Dessen, I'm struck by how realistic her characters are. They're well-balanced and dealing with honest situations. I can relate to Sydney--not because of some infidelity with the law in her family, but because she is sometimes ignored but always depended upon--the younger sister of someone more dynamic and adventurous than herself. The Chathams instant and affectionate relationship to her is very sweet. I'm curious what the cataclysmic conflict will be in this story (because there has to be one) and who will be directly involved. Ames is creepy, but part of me still hopes he won't try anything. I'm also curious what Peyton will do when he becomes a more active part of the story. And Mac! I want Mac to talk more, but he's shy and sweet with two dynamic sisters of his own with which to contend. I loved his "Anger Management" shirt at the beginning as Dessen's little homage to Just Listen. It's so fun when she makes little references to her past books for those of us who have read them!

Conclusion: Sarah Dessen never disappoints me. Her characters are well-developed people you wish you knew, and she's always coming up with new ideas--all realistic situations in which a teenager might find herself. I keep coming back to how sweet this book is. A little less confrontational than some of Dessen's other books (ironically, given the topic). Like Sydney's relationship with Mac--simple and sweet. Dessen has a great talent for conveying the truth of a situation and how all of her characters would react in that situation. She surprised me by not bringing Peyton into a more active role, but I guess I thought his sentence would end earlier than it did. Probably for the best. If he had been introduced late in the book, it might have started a whole new storyline where Sydney is adjusting to having him home. I liked the ending. There is a good middle ground found there that seems a fitting end to the harshness of the climax.

Recommendation: If you like YA with a sprinkling of romance over a lot of family conflict and new friendships, this is the book for you. There's some discussion of alcohol and drug use, but not to a disturbing level (except where it affected characters in a legal way in the past).