"The Truth About Forever"

This is one of Sarah Dessens YA books which is one of my favorites. I've read alot of her books and plan to read them all. I have yet to do some insight commenting or book reviews of her other books that I've read. Her books evoke anticipation and emotions in me that I haven't even bothered to tap into in a long time. So for this and many more reasons, I really enjoy her books!

Macy- the main character, lost her father-saw him die
Wes- artist, works for Wish Catering
Delia- Wes' aunt, owner of Wish Catering
Bert-Wes' little brother, loves Sci-Fi
Kristy- Macys friend, lively young lady, does and says what she wants, works for Wish
Monica- lives with Kristy, slow paced, doesn't talk much, works for Wish Catering
Jason-Macys Ex-Boyfriend, nerd, all about academics
Macys mother
Caroline-Macys sister

Macy was with Jason for several years and he was a brainiac guy and she just followed suit with his plans, studying all the time for SAT's, doing extra homework and hanging out with noone but Jason. He prepared to go to Brain Camp and thus she is stuck at home for the whole summer by herself and fills in for Jason at the library. When he leaves Macy misses him and sends an email to him saying that she loves him; big mistake. Jason is wound up in his academics that he doesn't have time for distractions and feels that his relationship with Macy at this point in life is a distraction. So he replies to her email and tells her he thinks they should take a break from each other.

Macy's father passed away and she saw the whole thing, He was jogging that morning and before he left the house told Macy to get up and get to running, She didn't feel like running, but got up later and headed out towards their regular route. She finds her dad on the street and a stranger holding him trying to revive him back to life; he passed out and had a heart attack. She's devastated as she was very close to her father!
Then as the story progresses things happen and Macy finds a job, new friends and she finds herself opening up to Wes and enjoying her new life for the summer, outside of her comfort zone!

One of my favorite parts in the book was where Delia had her baby and Macy was there to help. The hospital was too much for Macy to handle as it brought back those memories of her in the waiting room as they waited for the doctors who were tending to her father years ago. She takes the elevator excusing herself from Delia and the others and finds an empty alcove where she began to sob tears as the memories of her father overwhelmed her. Behind her was Wes. He put his hand on her shoulder and she didn't move away as she usually would have. Instead, she gave in and let Wes pull her against him and pressed her head against his chest where she felt his heartbeat steady and true. What a moment! When you're down and out and not at your best, who comes to your aid, WES a true hunk and comforter! He also lost his mother to illness so he has compassion and understands what Macy is going thru.

Throughout the book when Macy meets Wes while working for Wish Catering, she and Wes play the "Truth Game" and this is the way they get to know each other so well. Their likes and dislikes, what their thinking and so forth, The catch is, you have to tell the Truth. I like that game, no long story telling just right to the point..Thus motivated by this, I'm playing the Truth Game with my friend and its going pretty good. No judging of one another, just Truth!

Another part in the book that just got me thinking and I really enjoyed was when Macy runs to look for Wes as he left her house. They had a previous conversation where Macy was telling Wes that I guess things a re back to normal she would be with Jason and wes would be with Becky. Macy is out of breath when she reaches him and told him that there has been a change in the "Truth Game." He didn't understand, she told him that he has to ask her the question he passed and then the game would be over. He didn't know where she was going with this. Macy thought to herself, " I knew, in the silence that followed, that anything could happen here. It might be too late: again, I might have missed my chance. But I would at least know I tried, that I took my heart and extended my hand, whatever the outcome." This paragraph had so much meaning for me. Isn't that the way its suppose to be, to take that chance and if you really have a good feeling about the situation, take that step and go for it..

I'm so glad Macy took that step because when Wes asked her the question, "What would you do if you could do anything?" Macy closed the gap between her and Wes and kissed him right there in the street for anyone to see. She then says, " As for me, I was just trying to get it right, whatever that meant. But now I finally felt I was on my way. Everyone had a forever, but given a choice, this would be mine, The one that began in this moment, with Wes, in a kiss that took my breath away, then gave it back-leaving me astounded, amazed and most of all, alive." Was that deep or what. I love that part in the book.

Macys father before passing away bought her a gift and she wasn't suppose to open it until he told her. When he passed she just pushed the gift aside in her closet. As time goes on and she's friends with Wes, she decides to open the gift and to her surprise it was a sculpture of the angel that Wes made. Her father told her it was gonna be a great surprise and indeed it was!

It's hard when a parent passes away, leaving you with only the memories to reflect on. My father recently passed away last year due to illness. So I could sympathize with Macy as she had flashbacks of her father. Unlike Macy, where she saw her father pass away, noone was in my fathers hospital room when he passed. It was like, he didn't want anyone around when he took his last breath of life! I think he wanted it that way. He wasn't in pain when he passed nor was he conscious according to the doctors, but I believe he could hear us all when we spoke to him. The last night I was with him, it was my watch and I did the night shift. We never left him alone. For some reason in the morning, I looked at my dad as he lay there still and I don't know it was like I was prompted to whisper in his ear, "Dad, if you're too tired and you're body wants to rest and you want to be at peace, its OK.. go ahead, we will be fine! The next day, sure enough he passed away! I was devastated, I didn't know what to say, I regretted saying what I said to him for a moment, but I knew it was his time to go. His body has been thru so much and it was too much physically to try and stay alive to be with your loved ones. I know he gave it his best, but what matters is that he's at Rest with the one on high who brought us all down to earth! Sorry, kind of went off from the book, but what is a book if you can't relate it to real life! Fictional or Non-Fictional it is the Circle of Life!


Delia and Kristy were two characters that made the book come alive and have some real life incidents and attitudes. Delia the owner of WISH, somehow always has mishaps during her catering and its like without them she doesn't really feel normal. In any case, she always handles everything in a fast pace and gets the job done!

Kristy is such a vibrant girl, living life, adventurous and pretty much spills the beans about Wes and Macy and how they both know they want to be with each other but because of their different personalities just can't seem to get it right. She compares Wes and Macy to a novel she read and explains everything to Macys mom and the whole Wish Crew at Macys house while they are at work. Kristy is a kind of friend I wouldn't mind having, Speaks the truth and just tells it like it is, and she also has your back!

Bret is a Sci-Fi junky. He plays the Gotcha game with his brother Wes and always loses. Wes pretty much looks after Bret. He makes me laugh when he pulls up in his new car, what once was an ambulance, too funny

Monica- quiet and sticks to her words of Mmm Hmm for everything

Caroline- Macys sister, she renovates their old beach house, where they have plenty of memories with their father. She was the outspoken and older sister. It was her idea to re-do the house and have her mom and Macy come to take vacation. She was tired of not talking about the good memories they had with thei dad and it was time to move on and remember him and everything he's done for them

Well, this has got to be one of my longest reviews and sharing of my feelings. To all who read it, thanks and enjoy! Sometimes, well most of the time, I can't stop and just type away.

"Keeping the Moon"

This is one of Sarah Dessens books that I found very in tune with my theme in 2010 of Happy Endings! This book is a nice caption of a girl who has found friends who help her to seek her inner and outter beauty and at the same time finds LOVE!

Characters are:

Colie-15 year old girl, low self esteem, lost weight
Kiki Sparks-Colies mom
MIra- Colie's aunt/artist, writes cards like hallmarks
Morgan- Waitress #1 at Last Chance Diner, Isabels BFF
Isabel-Waitress #2 at Last Chance Diner, Morgans BFF
Norman-17 year old boy, rents room at Mira's, Artist and cook at Last Chance Diner

The book starts off by introducing Colie as a young girl with her mother who travel in different cities and states looking for employment and a place where they fit in. Colie and her mother Kiki are both overweight in the beginning. Kiki soon after gets inspired and loses weight. She then helps her daughter Colie to shed some pounds as well. Colie doesn't have much self esteem always being teased in school as the fat girl and rumors about her sleeping with a boy, which was not true! Rumors spread by Caroline whom she hated ugh! I just hate girls like that. Colies mother is now doing infomercials and selling her weight loss programs and inspiring other ladies around the world to get up and lose weight! Kiki has to go on a tour to Europe to sell her products and make appearances on TV Shows. So Colie goes to stay with her aunt in Colby, NC for 2 months while her mother is on tour.

The part in the book that I found to my liking was when Morgan and Isabel (BFF's) were total opposites but you can tell they had each others back. Morgan was a well structured young woman, neat, structured had plans for her futre, while Isabel was an outspoken, cigarette smoking, blonde who loved CD's. Their friendship was so cute. Everytime Morgan would leave the diner and say she was quitting Isabel knew the routine, she would come right back in the diner. When Morgan was cheated on by her fiance, well he was actually married and the wife pregnant while all along Isabel told Morgan what was going to happen, Morgan didn't want to believe Isabel. When the truth came out,Morgan was distraught but Isabel was rigt there to console her as any good BFF would do! They would turn up their disco music and just dance their problems away, dancing to one of my faves, " I will survive." Singing, "First I was afraid I was petrified" haha love that song and the message is SWEET, yes us women "WILL SURVIVE"..Their relationship was a lasting one indeed.

I enjoyed Colie's character as it unfolds and she finds friendship which is something she never had movng from state to state with her mom and being that she was fat, not easy to make friends. Colie works at the Last Chance Diner and Morgan and Isabel befriend her. Morgan teachers her the ins and outs of working, and that having a good attitude as a waittess is crucial! It took a while longer for Isabel to warm up to Colie. Isabel dyed Colie's hair, plucked her eyebrows and told her the rules of walking up right, straight back, smile with confidence and always believe in yourself, don't let anyone disrespect you, don't give them that satisfaction that they made you feel inferior to them. Morgan was a nice girl, always telling Colie that she would be okay and would invite her for a girls night out and let her hang out with them at their place down the road from her aunt Mira's house where Colie stayed. Morgan and Isabel helpd Colie believe in herself and have respect for the person she is!

Another character I enjoyed was Norman. A young slow pace moving, artist, who moved out of his house when he told his dad he didn't want to become a salesman like all his other brothers and his father. He moved out and rented a room from Mira and worked as a cook as The Last Chance Diner.He picks up Colie from the train station when she arrives in Colby. He's a good artist and saves money to go to ARt School. He was always nice to Colie. She never thought of Norman as a boy she would ever date, just as Norman. But, as time progresses he asks Colie if he could do a painting of her and she says YES! The BFF's notice that Norman likes Colie and when they asked Colie, this of course is after her whole make-over, she says, I never thought of Norman like that, I mean he's an artist and collects weird things. Upon hearing this, Isabel gets heated and tells Colie, Norman is a nice guy anyone should be happy to date him, had I known you would act like this I would have never helped you look different. Colie was ashamed of herself and inside she knew she appreciated Norman for being the first to be nice to her and small talking with her when she was new in town. Colie with her new make over was gaining a little confidence and hurting the wrong people.
When the painting is done, which took 2 months of sitting and posing and in those 2 months, Colie and Norman become good friends and enjoy each others company. Norman told Colie the painting is done, and she was kind of sad that it was over as she spent every nite in his room posing and talking with him, enjoying their friendship. Norman told Colie I'll show you the painting tonite after I cook you dinner. So she was very excited. So he makes her dinner, and then after dessert, he receals the painting and she can't believe her eyes, its a painting of a beautiful girl, its her. She asks Norman is this how you see me, and he says this is how you are! She was so happy and as they sat on the floor on his blanket with candles, he leaned over and gave her a kiss and she was ecstatic and felt so comfortable with Norman and she knew he was right for her. They went outside to see the Moon Eclipse and Morgan and Isable saw them holding hands and her aunt Mira as well. It was a nice site for everyone to be there watching the moon that night.

I enjoyed this book, the BFF's and their relationship. Norman and Colie and how they ended up together. Mira, Colies aunt was an artist, who was fat and she dressed in loud colors and rode her bike around town; her only means of transportation. But she didn't care what the town was saying about her, she wan an eccentric artist and was fine the way she led her life. Also, Isabel understood what Colie was going thru being fat because before she was this blonde, thin, beautiful girl, Isabel was a fat girl all thru high school, so she could sympathize for Colie, but never told her. Morgan was arguing with Isabel and told her at least she didn't wear a necklace with a frog on it, and Colie realized the picture of the fat girl was Isabel.

Would definitely recommend this book..Thank you Ms. Dessen for another wonderful novel..

"DREAMLAND"

Dreamland one of Sarah Dessen's book, was not what I expected. The title kind of threw me for a loop. I"m thinking Dreamland, hmm a place where we can all pretend who we want to be with and live happily ever after. Not at all the case.

Caitlin's older sister Cassandra was the perfect girl, was in every club, prom queen, debate team, dated all the jocks, good grades in school, accepted to Yale University, but when she graduated from school, she ran away and did the total opposite of what was expexted of her. Her mother was devastated that she decided to throw everything that she's worked so hard for in high school out the door to be with her boyfriend and move to New York with him on her sister Caitlin's birthday. Cass's mother did everything and planned everything out for Cassandra in high school, from baking goods, to organizing meetings for different clubs, supporting PTA, telling her daughter what she thought was best for her to do and her father was encouraging her to go to College and make sure she does everything right and on and on...

In the meantim, everyone forgets about Caitlin who just goes with the flow. Her parents are dealing with the loss of their prize daughter Cassandra and Caitlin just does her own thing and goes to school just going on with the day to day routine as usual. Caitlin's best friend Rina convinces her to try out for the cheerleading squad, so she makes the team. Caitlin goes home to tell her mom and she was ecstatic. The only reason Caitlin agreed to try out for the squad was because it was something Cassandra hasn't done. So she makes the team and her mother is already, planning the meetings, making baked goods for the squad for away games and getting involved in Caitlins cheerleadng life..Caitlin couldn't help but think, is this one of the reaons Cassandra decided to leave? Caitlin began to realize that Cass had alot of expectations to live up to with her mom highly involved in her high school life and her dad expecting her to be happy about YALE which is the school her parents chose for her. And thats how the story begins..

Some of the parts that stuck in my mind were when Caitlin met Rogerson Biscoe, a high school student from Perkins Day who was quite smart, drove a BMW, sold pot, was in out and out of correctional facilities and had dreadlocks. He was not the type of guy her parents would see their daughter with and maybe thats one of the reasons Caitlin was so interested in him because he was different. They get together and she goes to his house and was in the restroom when Rogerson's father enters the room and yells at Rogerson for being late to their party and slaps him across his face and you can already tell the father hits Rogerson frequently. Caitlin sees from the restroom and hides until his father leaves the room. Caitlin sees what happens sits down on the bed to comfort Rogerson and he pulls away and tells her in a soft voice to leave him alone, again she gets closer to him and the same thing he pulls away and asks her to leave him alone. She doesn't listen and she rubs his face where he was hit and he slowly puts his head on her shoulder and lets her comfort him. I enjoyed that nice part. It shows that Rogerson is letting Caitlin into his little private world.

Another part that I didn't like but was one of the crucial parts in the book is where Rogerson was upset that Caitlin was late to meet him for their mall date. Her BFF was having guy issues and she had to be with her and let her know everything would be alrite. She leaves her BFF and goes to meet Rogerson who has been waiting for a long time for Caitlin and by this time in the book, Rogerson and Caitlin are dating and he picks her up from school, lunch and they go out like every night and he is never late, always prompt! She jumps into his BMW with dark tinted windows, he asks her, where she was and as she was trying to explain, out of nowhere, with no time to react, he slaps her across the face..She's shocked and doesn't say anthing, she couldn't believe it. Where one time, she was in his room comforting him from the slap he received from his dad and now she's getting the exact same slap from her boyfriend, so not the business. So she just sits there speechless and he looks at her and says, I love you Caitlin and you should have been here on time. Their relationship is a weird one, he doesn't officially ask her to be his girlfriend, and he's never really said he loved her, just puts his hand on her knee when he drives or orders a chocolate milkshake for her from McD's without asking if she wants one little acts like that which shows her he cares for her, but that night he slapped her across the face was the first time he said he loved her and that wasn't exactly the way she pictured him saying he loved her, not like that anyways. So began the history of the abused girlfriend.

She began to wear long sleeve shirts, pants all the time to try and hide the beatings she would get from Rogerson. Her parents didn't pay any attention to her clothes and just thought she was being a normal teenager. She started getting high everyday with Rogerson and hated cheerleading, always late to practice and was finally voted out of the squad later in the book.

The clencher in the end was when her BFF Rina convinces her to go to the beach before the big dinner for school and the whole time they are at the beach she is on the phone trying to get a hold of Rogerson who of course does not have voicemail. She is a nervous wreck knowing that if she's late to meet Rogerson she will be in for another beating. Everytime she jumped into his car she didn't know what was coming her way, if he were in a good mood or just wanted to blame her for something and then the hitting began. So she tells Rina please take me back home now Rogerson will be waiting for me, her friend was a but tipsy and couldn't drive her back just yet so Caitlin decides to walk. Rina's boyfriend decided to take the car and look for Caitlin, he finds her and drives her home. She arrives home and sees Rogersons car parked by the mailbox as usual. She was so nervous, but she climbed in the car and he asked her where she was, she tells him and tries to explain herself, he says he's been waiting for an hour and again out of no where he socks her in her jaw and she flies to the window hitting her back. He slaps her again and again and this time she reached for the car handle and falls back hitting the grass in front of her house all the while her family and neighbors are in the backyard at the "April Fools Party." She crawls on the grass in the fetal position covering her eyes and trying to protect herself. Rogerson yells, get up, come on, get up..She's surprised because he never yells at her in public, nor tries to hit her in public. She says, No, and still covers her eyes, she feels him litely tapping her with his foot, yelling at her, get up right now, she doesn't move, she can't her body is hurt and she's going numb, she feels that he is getting ready to swing his foot back and is preparing to kick her really hard on her back which is already bruised from previous beatings and all of a sudden she hears a voice, yelling, screaming.."Get away from her you bastard" and she recognizes the voice, its her mother, running and coming towards her. Rogerson pulls away and tries to explain, but its too late, Caitlin hears sirens and looks up to see two police men handcuffing Rogerson and putting him in the police car. Apparently, the neighbor across the street saw the whole thing and quickly called Caitlins mother and then called the police right away. This is where I can appreciate good neighbors when they call the police right away to help out!

I think because Rogerson was getting hit by his dad all his life, that's the only way he probably knew to release that anger and instill it on someone else who was not listening to his directions.
Totatlly sad, but true in real life as well. These types of people, need HELP- ASAP!

The next morning Caitlin is at home, but her mother checks her into Evergreen Estates a Rehabilitation for her to recooperate from the beating and because her mother found some pot in her jacket. Caitlin does good in the Rehab and gets visits from her parents, her good neigbors and her BFF. She still thinks of Rogerson and she loves him but she knows that they cannot be together. She opens up to the Therapist and makes progress. During her visits, she was able to get closer to her mother and father and goes home safely.

When Caitlin and her sister were young, her mother would always kiss them before they went to sleep and as she closed the door she would tell her daughters, Good nite, See you in Dreamland. Cassandra gave Caitlin a Journal type book for her birthday when she ran away from home. Caitlin used the book to write down what was happening to her and writing down the things she wanted to say to her parents and to Caitlin. She did write down that she loved Rogerson and she knew that he loved her but every time she was with him, she didn't know what to expect, a hug, a kiss, a hit..she just never knew and still yet continued to be with him. At the time, she felt like he was the only one who understood her, but through the beatings you would think she would dump the guy.

I think this book was so disturbing to me because it happens in real life and is not a happy ending. Sad to say, there are many young girls who are being abused by their boyfriends as we speak or as I blog. Alot of them have low self esteem, hope that their boyfriends will change, say that their boyfriends had a rough life, say that they know he loves me and just needs my help..regardless whatever the case may be, it is WRONG! There is no justification for laying hands on your girlfriend or boyfriend. I think one hit leads to another. Any man who tries to hit me better be ready for retaliation. That is not LOVE! It is not worth the pain, and there is no saying which states, to love is to hit..I don't think so.. Anyone who stays in that type of relationship needs help to get out of it right away!

I enjoy Sarah Dessen's book very much, I must say that this particular book was NOT one of my favorites but did invoke different feelings as I read it. It's always good to try and find out alot about a person before getting heavily involved with him. Although I still believe in leaving the past in the past, its always good to know what was in the past just in case. Live in the present and take it from there. But I still love Sarah Dessen's other books. "Lock and Key", "Along for the Ride", "Just Listen" and "This Lullably" are my preferred favorite books of hers thus far. I highly recommend them for nice happy ending stories. I plan on blogging what I thought about her other books as well so keep in tune readers, where ever you are..