Sarah Dessen is one of my favorite authors.  Her books come up with a new meaning of life, and each time you read one you get a some what different message.  In her book Lock and Key, she does an awesome job of showing two stories that are some how related

Ruby and her mother, Ruby, lived together after her parents split.  Her sister, Cora, left for college- there’s a ten year age gap between Ruby and her sister- and Ruby believes started her own life and wants nothing to do with her.  While living with her mother, Ruby learns many different things.  Like, to be just like her mother, who is a drunk and doesn’t care about anyone. 

Ruby’s mother leaves her to go, no one knows where.  She up and leaves Ruby while she is at school.  You see, Ruby is almost 18, so she thinks she can live in the yellow house her and her mom lived in and no one will notice.  Eventually someone figures it out and Ruby is left to live with Cora and Cora’s husband Jamie.

Ruby is messed up.  So, when she meets the neighbor- trying to escape her sister- she just believes him to be a nice guy.  So, when she starts a new school she is appalled by the idea of having her neighbor, Nate, drive her to school.  Jamie and Cora won’t let her have her own car.  So, Ruby starts her new school and Nate drives her and they get close. 

Nate even drives to the middle of no where- well, that’s what I perceived from reading that part- picks her up from unconsciousness, and drives her home.  Ruby, refuses friendship, but her and Nate have something deeper. 

Nate is the nice guy.  Unless his dad has a temper and starts yelling and beating him up.  And Nate refuses help from anybody. 

Can Nate accept help from Ruby?  Or will he refuse it until something bad happens?  I guess, as always, you will have to read and find out.  This book is one of my favorites from Sarah Dessen.  I mean, you get two people’s lives in one and how things can change.  Only if you want the change though. 

This book is set in modern times (2000- 2006ish) in anywhere in the United States where it snows.  It doesn’t give a good setting.