The Truth About ForeverClassic (dare I say?) Sarah Dessen. I'll probably stop reading her older books now but stay hopeful for a new one. I've read What Happened to Goodbye?, Just Listen and Saint Anything. Of the four, I'd be most likely to recommend the last one, although I only gave it three stars at the time of reading. I was probably still mad at the creepy guy.
She excels in "family", especially the parts of family that must make you want to scream. There always seems to be at least one clueless adult who never takes the time to really see what his/her kid is going through. The resolution of this--the point where the parent wakes up and sees what they're missing--isn't simple and seldom involves an apology, parent to child. The best you can hope for is that they sort-of get it, in their small-minded, grown-up way. In fact, that may be what Ms. Dessen is trying to say--don't expect your adults to ever understand, just be sure that they hear what you're able to say. And get on with your life.
I appreciate that about Ms. Dessen--she doesn't take the easy way out and create the fairy tale happy ending. Her endings are, at best, a compromise. But somehow you never feel robbed.
Another thing I appreciate is her ability to write a sweet romance that complements the heroine's development but doesn't complete it. Yeah, it's great to be liked for yourself. (She steers well clear of any suggestion that a guy might like a girl for her...uh...developments, missing a chance to help girls grow into their sexuality as well as their self-determination. Too bad.) But being liked for yourself, that way isn't the major impetus that helps her heroines move from childhood to adulthood, from helplessness to self-determination. It helps, friendship and sometimes family helps. But eventually, her young women have to grow a backbone all by themselves.
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