"Along for the Ride" Book Review

"It's never too late to have a childhood." Auden never got the chance to act like a child. She was forced to be mature. Auden never got to ride a bike or go to sleepovers. All she ever did was study. The summer before her first year of college she went to live with her dad, step mom, and step sister. Her summer turned out to be different than what she expected. Sarah Dessen's Along for the Ride kept me reading to the very end.

Many kids become what their parents want them to be. That is exactly what Auden did and she was not happy. The theme of this book is to be yourself and have fun because life is short.

I like Sarah Dessen's writing style because it is easy to read. She does not use formal terms, she uses common language for teenagers. The narrator in this book is Auden. Auden was unique because she was so mature.

The characters were very different from one another but most of them got along. Auden's parents claimed they spent all of their energy on her older brother Hollis, so they made her act like a grown up all her life. She never got to participate in normal activities for kids. She did not get to go to prom or hang out with her friends. When her parents were together, they would stay up all night fighting. Auden could not go to sleep when they were fighting so she got in the habit of staying up all night. Eli is a mystery to Auden. He keeps to himself and tries not to talk to many people. He also has a habit of staying up all night. Maggie is the type of girl that has many surprises. She is pretty, very smart, rides and jumps bikes, and knows a lot about fashion. Leah is a party girl. She loves to go to clubs and date older guys. Esther likes to go to coffee shops and listen to poetry. Even though they are very different they are best friends. Heidi is Auden's step mother. Auden used to think that she was shallow and dumb, but during her stay she realized Heidi is much more than that.

Auden decides to change her summer and go spend it with her dad. When she gets there she keeps to herself and studies for her classes she will be taking in the fall. One night her dad and Heidi were fighting and Auden was upset, Maggie noticed and comforted her. After that night she became friends with Maggie, Leah, and Esther and started to hang out with them at nights. Then she met Eli. They started hanging out every night, all night and doing basic childhood activities. Eli made it his mission to give Auden a childhood. Eli and Auden became involved and Auden changed. She became less mature and realized who she really is.

This book takes place in a small town on the beach. The place is a lot different than where I am from because I live no where close to the beach. Sarah Dessen makes me feel like I am in this small town on the beach.

I loved Along for the Ride and I recommend this book for any girl.

383 pages