Lock and Key

By: Sarah Dessen

Narrated by: Rebecca Soler

From the award-winning and New York Times bestseller Once and for All

Unlock your heart and the rest will follow.

Ruby is used to taking care of herself.

But now that she’s living with her sister, she’s got her own room, she’s going to a good school, and her future looks bright.

Plus there’s the adorable boy next door.

Can Ruby learn to open her heart and let him in?

“All the Dessen trademarks here” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

Sarah Dessen is the winner of the Margaret A. Edwards Award for her contributions to YA literature, as well as the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award.

Books by Sarah Dessen:
That Summer
Someone Like You
Keeping the Moon
Dreamland
This Lullaby
The Truth About Forever
Just Listen
Lock and Key
Along for the Ride
What Happened to Goodbye
The Moon and More
Saint Anything
Once and for All©2008 Sarah Dessen; (P)2008 Penguin

Critic reviews

*"A must for Dessen fans, this will win her new readers, too."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

great

love every Sarah Dessen novel I've read and all of the audiobooks I have listened to so far

Do Not Miss This Book!

I never had the pleasure of reading a Sarah Dessen book when I was a teenager. I’m now 60 and after reading this book (my first Sarah Dessen book), I found myself wondering how on earth it’s possible that being the voracious reader I was even as a teenager, I somehow missed this author! Given the fact that I came from a family who put the “fun” in being dysfunctional, I completely related to the main character Ruby and her need to protect herself by keeping the world and everyone in it at arm’s length.

Rebecca Soler was the PERFECT choice as the narrator. In the beginning of the book, when Ruby was so disconnected, her voice was dull and lifeless. As Ruby began to trust a little, make a friend or two and started to mature and see things from the point of view of others, her voice began to very subtly change too.

Ironically Ruby is stuck with an assignment in English class in which she has to define and write a paper on the definition of the word “family;” not just her OWN definition, but the definitions of others. These definitions give Ruby plenty to think about.

I highly recommend this book — I can’t wait to start reading all the rest of Ms. Dessen’s books!

My one and ONLY complaint is that Ms. Dessen needs to drop the word “clearly” from her vocabulary — it is overused throughout the book.

love this!!

it's a very long book but worth it! it is also 17 AR points! there's about 20 chapters... Hope you enjoy it to.

Fabulous!

If you could sum up Lock and Key in three words, what would they be?

I'm making myself read different genres this summer. Normally, I only read science fiction or fantasy. However, I love this book about this dysfunctional family. I so related! Once I started, I couldn't put it down.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Lock and Key?

Nate rescuing Ruby from the forest.

Have you listened to any of Rebecca Soler’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

First time listener

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

YES!

Classic Sarah Dessen

Relatable, engaging, and true to the human experience. Thank you, Sarah! Keep writing! Can’t wait to read more.