Sarah Dessen‘s book Just Listen is about a girl named Annabel Greene. For years Annabel was known as “the girl who has everything.” She was a model, had cool friends, and a perfect family. Then she went to a party that changed everything. At the party Annabel’s best friend Sophie’s boyfriend tries to rape her, but Sophie turns the story around and says that Annabel was sleeping with her boyfriend. The next fall at school everyone around her begins to hate her. Annabel often finds herself completely alone at school. She tries to tell her parents about it, but she does not know how to do it. Then, just when she thinks things can’t get any worse, her sister is diagnosed with anorexia. Annabel then thinks, that with her sister’s anorexia, her parents have enough on their mind, and she decides that she is not going to tell them anything. Then she meets a boy named Owen. Owen is an outcast who loves music and is completely honest with everyone and everything. He convinces her that it is okay to get help and that sometimes holding things in is harder than letting them out. Annabel begins to question if she should get help. In this novel you can find out more about Annabel’s story, whether she gets help, if she gets it on time, or if it is too late.
I chose this book because I have heard that Sarah Dessen is an amazing author and I finished reading it to find out if she learns to ask for help.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good book that touches some subjects that most authors don’t.
I give this book 5 stars! *****
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Review by Kaitlin, 12th grade