TRUTH

Just Listen is a year in the life of a family coming to terms with the imperfections beneath its perfect facade.

Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything." This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend, no peace at home, and no one to sit with at lunch.

Until she meets Owen Armstrong, a music-obsessed boy. With his help, maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends.

This is young adult fiction at its best. - School Library Journal

Dessen weaves a sometimes funny, mostly emotional, and very satisfying story. - VOYA

A Booksense Top Ten Pick
A New York Times Bestseller
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults

Sarah Dessen

On the nightstand: A stack of magazines, a pad and paper, my iPod

Favorite drink while you write: Hot chocolate or bottled water

Favorite bookstore: Regulator Bookshop, Durham NC and Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh NC

Favorite library: Undergrad, UNC-Chapel Hill. Ah, memories!

Pet: Monkey and Coco, my dogs (can’t choose just one!)

Place to write: Anywhere quiet in my house

Inspiration: Writing should be fun. If it's not, I'm doing something wrong.

Dream book tour: A summer spent driving across the country with my husband and daughter, stopping at bookstores along the way

Writer-buddies: Meg Cabot, Sara Zarr, John Green, Lara Zeises

Cures for writer's block: Deep breaths, chocolate chip cookies, and keeping going

Favorite outfit: A-pocket Seven jeans, a tank top and Havaianas flip flops

Long-hand or laptop? Laptop. My handwriting is terrible.

High heels or Uggs? Neither. Flip flops or wedges.

Next up: Lock and Key, raising my daughter, and starting another book

Author idol: Anne Tyler

Other YA novels: That Summer, Someone Like You, Keeping the Moon, Dreamland, This Lullaby, The Truth About Forever, Just Listen, Lock and Key (April 2008)

Website: www.sarahdessen.com

Roundtable: The postergirlz discuss Just Listen

Want to discuss Just Listen with other readers?

Want to chat with Sarah Dessen herself?

Want to get your hands on her next book, Lock and Key?

Join our Sneak Peek Lock and Key Party Thursday, March 27th at 12:00 PM PST / 3:00 PM EST at the readergirlz forum.

Look forward to awesome Lock and Key swag and ARC (advance reader copies) giveaways! We'll also be giving away a copy of Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles, one of this month's suggested reads!

 

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Watch their video: You're Not Alone.

These tunes were hand-picked by the author to accompany her book.

• "What It Feels Like For a Girl," Madonna
• "Radio Song," R.E.M.
• "Road to Nowhere," The Talking Heads
• "Drop the Pilot," Mandy Moore
• "This is Radio Clash," The Clash
• "Blind Love," Tom Waits
• "Story of My Life," Social Distortion
• "The Joker," Fatboy Slim
• "Ooh Child," Beth Orton
• "Ace of Spades," Motorhead
• "Fight Test," The Flaming Lips

What did you think of Just Listen? Talk about it at the readergirlz forum, open 24/7.

Invite: Print your fave playlist + party details
Food: Waffles, bacon, and great coffee
Décor: iPods and earbuds - crank up the playlist!
Movies: Hope Floats, Bring It On, Speak

Here are some things to consider and discuss . . .

The book gets its title from Owen: "Don't think, or judge. Just listen." What does that mean to you?

Music plays such an important part of this novel. How important is music in your life?

Annabel feels like an outcast in her school. Do you ever feel this way?

Even if you attended high school after the 1970s, there is at least one Zeppelin song that will trigger a few high school memories. What is it about Led Zeppelin and high school?

Owen has a very eclectic taste in music. What kind of music do you listen to? What's your favorite song?

At 12 years old, Sarah Dessen was really influenced by Fannie Flagg's book Coming Attractions. What is the one book that has most influenced you most throughout your life?

What adjectives would you use to describe Just Listen?

The quote at the beginning of the book is "The best way out is always through," and to Sarah, that's the main theme of Just Listen. Do you back off from some things when you are nervous or scared or do you push through?

 

 

We'll be giving away a copy of Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles as well as copies of Sarah Dessen's next book, Lock and Key, at this month's chat! Join us at the readergirlz forum on Thursday, March 27th at 12:00 PM PST / 3:00 PM EST.

A Little Friendly Advice by Siobhan Vivian
Stay With Me by Garrett Freymann-Weyr
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Kissing the Bee by Kathe Koja
Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles
Red: The Next Generation of American Writers

Recommended by postergirlz, the readergirlz advisory council

 

Celebrate Women's History Month and our one year anniversary with us!

The readergirlz Make History cards offer powerful quotes from books we featured during our first year. Save the cards in PDF or JPG form, print them, stick them on your locker or bulletin board, and send them to your best friends. Be encouraged to make your own history!

Read, reflect, and reach out with girlz around the world during our second year. Download and print the readergirlz vow.

Commemorate our first year with this limited edition readergirlz pendant, created and crafted by readergirlz member and jeweler Gypsy Wings.

 

Join us in April to discuss Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham.

 

 

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