“You only really fall apart in front of the people you know can piece you back together.” – p. 387
Hello Readers!
What is it like to be invisible? What is it like to live in the shadow of someone else? What is it like to be held to higher standard because of the shortcomings of a sibling? In Sarah Dessen’s Saint Anything (one of our May picks), she explores the complexity of invisibility.
Sydney, the heroine of the story, is an average teenager who does well in school, respects authority, and doesn’t get into any serious trouble. However, her admirable character and interesting personality are lost on her parents. Her older brother is in jail for striking a pedestrian when he was driving while intoxicated and he consumes all of her parents’ time. She is invisible, barely a blip on their radar.
When Sydney decides to transfer schools, she meets a group of friends who are eager to get to know her and invest in a friendship. Sydney learns what it’s like to be noticed, to have people care.
Relationships are at the heart of this novel. Dessen addresses the parent-child relationship, the sibling relationship, the girlfriend relationship, and the romantic relationship. Narrated by Sydney, we get to experience her growth in all of these relationships. Sydney is a lovable character and I enjoyed getting to know her for 400 pages.
This was my first experience with Dessen and I enjoyed it even more than I anticipated. A piece of young adult fiction, Saint Anything is sure to be enjoyed by teens and adults alike.
Did you get a chance to read it? What is your reaction? Leave a comment below with your thoughts and be sure to tag your copy of the book on instagram with #TWTBookshelf.
Live, Love, Learn,
Candice & The Write Teacher(s)