"In Bed" with Sarah Dessen
May, 2009
Sarah Dessen
Young-adult novelist Sarah Dessen doesn't sugar-coat her fiction for her audience. Coming-of-age problems, all too familiar to high school girls, such as teenage pregnancy in Someone Like You, the death of a parent in The Truth About Forever, and abusive relationships in Dreamland, are presented in accessible prose. First published after graduating from the University of North Carolina in her hometown of Chapel Hill, Dessen has gone on to publish nine novels. Her newest book, Along for the Ride, follows a young girl's lonely journey after her parents' divorce. In honor of strong, fascinating female characters, Dessen shares her favorite books with young heroines.
Olivia by Ian Falconer
"I read a lot of books with my toddler daughter, and this is hands down my favorite. Olivia is loud, dreamy, loves art and books and wears everyone out. She may be a pig, but she's a great role model for little girls."
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
"Lee's timeless narrator, Scout, is technically a child as this book begins, but her awakening throughout the story shows the fragile line we all have to cross as we enter adolescence."
Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty
"This is actually the first of a five-book series. McCafferty's Jessica Darling is the perfect high school protagonist in the first book, and you get to grow up all over again with her."
Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man by Fannie Flagg
"A story about a girl from a small Florida beach town, surrounded by an eccentric family, who dreams of becoming Miss America. This book made me want to be a writer. Plus, it's hilarious."
Fair and Tender Ladies by Lee Smith
"Told in letters, this amazing novel follows Ivy Rowe, a tough girl growing up in a rural setting, from childhood to old age. Reading this book is like listening to an amazing oral history. The voice is that strong, the story beautifully written."
Sarah Dessen
Young-adult novelist Sarah Dessen doesn't sugar-coat her fiction for her audience. Coming-of-age problems, all too familiar to high school girls, such as teenage pregnancy in Someone Like You, the death of a parent in The Truth About Forever, and abusive relationships in Dreamland, are presented in accessible prose. First published after graduating from the University of North Carolina in her hometown of Chapel Hill, Dessen has gone on to publish nine novels. Her newest book, Along for the Ride, follows a young girl's lonely journey after her parents' divorce. In honor of strong, fascinating female characters, Dessen shares her favorite books with young heroines.
Olivia by Ian Falconer"I read a lot of books with my toddler daughter, and this is hands down my favorite. Olivia is loud, dreamy, loves art and books and wears everyone out. She may be a pig, but she's a great role model for little girls."
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee"Lee's timeless narrator, Scout, is technically a child as this book begins, but her awakening throughout the story shows the fragile line we all have to cross as we enter adolescence."
Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty"This is actually the first of a five-book series. McCafferty's Jessica Darling is the perfect high school protagonist in the first book, and you get to grow up all over again with her."
Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man by Fannie Flagg"A story about a girl from a small Florida beach town, surrounded by an eccentric family, who dreams of becoming Miss America. This book made me want to be a writer. Plus, it's hilarious."
Fair and Tender Ladies by Lee Smith"Told in letters, this amazing novel follows Ivy Rowe, a tough girl growing up in a rural setting, from childhood to old age. Reading this book is like listening to an amazing oral history. The voice is that strong, the story beautifully written."
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To Kill a Mockingbird has to be almost on everyones list (I know it's on mine). I'll have to try a few of these other titles, especially Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man. It must be incredible if it inspired Sarah Dessen (one of the greatest young adult authors) to become a writer.
It's almost funny to me that Sarah is a Jessica Darling fan because the first book I read by her (This Lullaby), I read at the same time I was reading Sloppy Firsts.
i LOVE sarah dessen. she helped me through the worst time EVER with my father, when i read along for the ride. its all i ever did was read that. i wasnt eating because i was scared to come out of my room. this went on for about four days. i love sarah dessen and how much that book helped me. i have to read these books and with Cara i will read Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man first because it MUST be a miracle book to inspire her that much.
