Just Listen - Sarah Dessen

This is a fiction book written by Sarah Dessen, the author of several other books that I've read before and really enjoyed. I chose this book mainly because I've read a few other books by this author including Someone Like You, and The Truth About Forever, and I've really liked both of them. After talking to some of my friends about these books, they recommended that I read Just Listen, as it is by the same author and has a similar tone.


Just Listen is a story about a high school girl named Annabel Greene. Annabel is known by her classmates as the girl who has everything. Or at least that's what it seems like through her modeling shoots for Kopf's, a local department store. But from what she sees, Annabel's life is nothing close to perfect. She no longer has any friends or anyone to turn to, her older sister's anorexia takes a toll on her whole family, and no one seems to understand what she's going through. Eventually, she learns to accept things the way they are and lives silently on her own. It isn't until Annabel meets Owen, a tough, tall, dark, music-obsessed boy who is committed to telling the truth, that she learns so much about herself. With Owen by her side, she learns to listen to herself and gains the confidence to speak the truth. But, there's one thing that's weighing her down, that she doesn't know if she'll ever be able to tell the truth about. And that one thing is the reason her friendship with Sophia ended bitterly. The story is about Annabel's year and the struggles she goes through with Owen as she learns to "just listen".


The title, Just Listen, is somewhat significant in the deeper meaning of the book. Throughout Annabel and Owen's journey together, Annabel learns to "just listen" to herself and be honest with the people she faces, even though it may be the hardes thing for her to do. One of the main topics that comes up between the pair is music. They don't have nearly the same taste in music, but that one subject always seems to strike up deep and meaningful conversations between the two. Eventually, Owen makes Annabel several cd's that he wants her to listen to, but they are all in a specific order. Each of them have different labels on the cd, and the last one that Annabel is eager to listen to is labeled, Just Listen. Owen does this on purpose, as throughout the entire story, he is trying to encourage Annabel to listen to herself and all of the important things she has to say.


If i were to get the chance to ask Sarah Dessen three questions, they would be:

1. Why doesn't Annabel ever give up modeling, as she has a pretty good relationship with her mother and isn't enjoying it anymore?

I would ask this question because throughout the whole book, Annabel explains how she really doesn't enjoy modeling anymore, but she never tells her mother that she isn't interested in it anymore. I'm wondering why she never tells her mom, as they are fairly close and it wouldn't hurt their relationship at all.


2. What inspired you to write a book about Annabel's such difficult times in high school?

I've wondered this as I read the book, because I think it's interesting how an author can come up with such an interesting plot and create a character who's so sevretive and isolated. I'd like to know how the circumstances in Annabel's life were thought up and put into the writing of a such interesting and relatable book.


3. Does Annabel's character relate to the main character in any of her other books?

I've already read Someone Like You, and The Truth About Forever, and the tones of all three books seem to be somewhat similar. I'd like to find out if the main character in any of her other books purposely relate to Annabel, or if it's just a coinsidence that they all seem to be similar.

-Adrienne Engel