Review Wednesday: Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Title: Saint Anything

Author: Sarah Dessen
1st Date of Publication: May 5, 2015

ISBN: 9780451474704

# of Pages: 417

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Age Rating: 15+ (Mild Alcohol and Violence)

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description: Peyton, Sydney's charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family, receiving the lion's share of their parents' attention and—lately—concern. When Peyton's increasingly reckless behavior culminates in an accident, a drunk driving conviction, and a jail sentence, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident?

Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlor, play bluegrass on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time.

The uber-popular Sarah Dessen explores her signature themes of family, self-discovery, and change in her twelfth novel, sure to delight her legions of fans.

Setting: Fictional Place in 21st century

Point of View: 1st Person- Sydney Stanford

Goodreads Rating: 4.05

My Rating: 4.5

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Cover

View on the Cover: I love riding carousels and it made me wonder why it was an image of a carousel rather than Dessen's typical covers of flowers and girls.
View on Title: The idea of the name Saint Anything is a little intriguing because I have never heard of a saint named Saint Anything.

Pros:

• This has become one of my new favorites written by Sarah Dessen, which she has written several. It is somewhat similar to her other novels, but it felt a lot different than the others.
• I love the main characters because they balance each other. Both Mac and Layla balance Sydney well but in different ways.
• Mac is easy on the eyes but his backstory shows his sensitivity as he gets to know Sydney better.
• Layla is the spunky friend you would always want, but you worry about some of the decisions she might make.
• Sydney's character is extremely relatable, which makes the novel become more of a coming-of-age work of literature. Sydney grows as she does what she wants rather than being told what others think is best for her.
• The book really talks about real life issues, such as:
• Feeling the weight of someone else's mistakes as your own fault. Sydney blames herself for Peyton's mistakes and why he is in jail
• Pleasing your parents and doing what they want is a real struggle as you grow older. And you have to make decisions on whether you know that your parent's commands are not the best choice in a certain situation.
• It's hard to be invisible when you have your own past or someone else's past to be your shadow.
• Peyton's growth is interesting and most of that is the result of Sydney's investment in trying to be a friend rather than trying to fix him.

Cons:

• I didn't understand Ames's role in the novel until the end, which I felt could have been expanded upon throughout the novel. It would have added a lot more depth to the tension between Sydney and Ames. His role felt continuously passive even though his role seems more active.
• Sydney's parents aggravated me a lot. They couldn't focus any of their love or attention to their daughter, the child who is doing as they ask. Her parents are determined to be with her brother, Peyton, who continues to push them all away.

Critics' Reviews:
"Taut, tightly structured with well-rounded characters, this novel is sure to please Dessen’s many fans and attract new ones." —School Library Journal
"A rich emotional landscape . . . A many-layered story told with a light touch." —Kirkus
"Another incisive and sensitive character-driven story sure to please her many, many fans." —Booklist
"Sarah Dessen is the patron saint of realistic romance. . . we think Saint Anything might be one of her best ever." —Justine Magazine
"In Saint Anything, Dessen gives readers a sensitive and touching look at how loss can affect a family and the importance of finding those who support you, no matter what." —Bookish
"Saint Anything may seem like a quiet read at first, but remember what is said about still waters. What begins as a somber story, carefully narrated by a polite young woman, builds to a gripping and unexpected climax and a satisfying conclusion." —NY Journal of Books

Sarah Dessen's Website:

http://sarahdessen.com/

Other Recommendations:

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
Easy by Tamara Webber