Saint Anything

Starred review from February 16, 2015
Sydney Stanford and her family are devastated when her older brother, Peyton, paralyzes a local boy while driving drunk and is sent to jail. Sydney’s mother throws herself into supporting Peyton (while seeming to scarcely acknowledge his guilt), and Sydney switches schools, carrying heavy guilt on behalf of the injured boy, David, and trying to escape the damage Peyton has left in his wake. Sydney’s parents virtually ignore her as they navigate the complicated prison system on Peyton’s behalf, even inviting his older friend Ames into their home, his leering presence making Sydney uneasy. Sydney finds relief with her new friend Layla, Layla’s family and friends, and especially her handsome brother, Mac. Dessen (The Moon and More) delves deeper than ever into the complex dynamics of families suffering loss and confronting changes that upend everything. Once again, Dessen demonstrates her tremendous skill in evoking powerful emotions through careful, quiet prose, while delivering a satisfying romance. The author’s many devotees are sure to enjoy this weighty addition to her canon. Ages 12–up. Agent: Leigh Feldman, Writers House.

March 15, 2015
After her ne'er-do-well older brother, Peyton, is sent to prison, demure, obedient Sydney leaves her sheltered private school for a new start.Avoiding her family after her first day at Jackson High School, Sydney fortuitously stops for a snack at Seaside Pizza. There, she meets siblings Mac and Layla, who quickly befriend her. Sydney is drawn into the warm world of their family and the pizza business, and crisp, unusual details bring each character and set of relationships to life. At home, Sydney's mother throws herself obsessively into "supporting" Peyton and pressures Sydney to become as involved in visiting Peyton and talking to him on the phone as she has, without respect to either Sydney's or Peyton's wishes. Although Sydney's mother's character sometimes feels one-note, Sydney's frustration with her mother's willful denial and relative neglect of her is palpable and poignant. This tension shows itself most unsettlingly when Sydney's parents go out of town for a weekend and leave Sydney in the care of Peyton's friend Ames, whose sinister interest in Sydney is clear to everyone who pays attention. Overall, the story moves slowly and subtly, creating a rich emotional landscape and letting small changes-Layla finds a boyfriend; Sydney's mom and brother have a fight-ripple out gently. A many-layered story told with a light touch. (Fiction. 14-18)

April 1, 2015

Gr 7 Up-Sixteen-year-old Sydney has always felt overshadowed by her handsome, popular, and troubled older brother Peyton. Now, he is in prison for a drunk driving accident that paralyzed another teen boy, and despite his incarceration, Sydney finds her mother's only focus is Peyton and that her dad has pretty much checked out of any decision making. When Sydney decides to leave her expensive private school and go to the local public school, her parents agree to allow the change. After her first day of school, she stops by a pizza shop where she meets brother and sister Layla and Mac, whose father owns the shop. In the duo, Sydney finds much needed acceptance. In their mother, she discovers a person she can talk to who will listen and give her the advice she craves. Dessen delves deeply into family relationships and roles. Because of Peyton's actions, Sydney's family is unable to handle what has happened. Layla and Mac's family also has its problems with a wayward daughter and an ill mother, but instead of being torn apart, they have drawn closer together. The contrast between the two families-economically and in their ability to function-provides added tension. Although this work is darker than her other romances, the light and joy of first love, friendship, and self-discovery remain important aspects of the book. VERDICT Taut, tightly structured with well-rounded characters, this novel is sure to please Dessen's many fans and attract new ones.-Janet Hilbun, University of North Texas

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2015
Grades 8-11 When Sydney's brother, Peyton, was sentenced to prison after paralyzing a 15-year-old while driving drunk, it was the culmination of an escalating stream of lawless behavior. Sydney coped by closing in on herself, drawing away from her charming brother's popularitynow infamyand spending most of her time at home alone watching reality TV. After transferring to public school, she has a chance meeting with Layla, a whimsical and opinionated girl who works at her family's pizzeria with her handsome brother, Mac. Sydney finds herself inexplicably drawn to Layla, who becomes exactly the kind of fiercely supportive friend she needs as she struggles to carve out a space for herself in her mother's Peyton-centric orbit. As Sydney grows closer to Layla (and deliciously closer to Mac), her sense of agency and determination grows, too. In classic Dessen style, the book plumbs the depths of Sydney's interior life, lightening the mood with well-timed moments of witty banter, often between Layla and Sydney, whose friendship is the emotional centerpiece of the novel. Another incisive and sensitive character-driven story sure to please her many, many fans. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Dessen's hordes of fans probably already know about this novel and are lying in wait, lurking behind the corner of your circulation desk as we speak.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

August 31, 2015
In Dessen’s novel, the teenage Sydney comes to terms with the incarceration of her golden-boy brother Peyton while navigating a new high school and the vicissitudes of first love. Reader Meskimen’s excellent performance is centered on the unassuming, quiet tones of the main character, but she also offers other voices, including a delightfully whimsical narration for Sydney’s new best friend Layla and a tight intonation for Sydney’s controlling mother. Other characters include Ames, a creepy hanger-on whose constant presence as a substitute family member during Peyton’s absence is a source of much of the novel’s tension; Meskimen captures his outward charm as well as the more sinister subtext. In all, this is a very satisfying audio performance by a young narrator worth following. Ages 12–up. A Viking hardcover.