Along for the Ride (Madeline Dowd)

Along for the ride
, by Sarah Dessen, was published by Viking in early 2009 (383 pgs.). I came across this book when I noticed a friend very intrigued by it and was curious to find out what made this book so interesting. Auden, a future freshman at Defriese, led a life that consisted of school work, homework, and hard work. Dealing with a harsh divorce of her parents at a young age caused Auden to skip creating childhood memories and jumping into acting as the adult in the family. As Auden’s longing for something new grew, the mounting tension soon snapped when she received a letter consisting of an invitation. Making the decision on impulse, Auden packed her bags and planned to spend the summer visiting with her father and step mother on a beach shore away from her home. But her plans of studying for her freshman year and planning for the future were quickly interrupted when Auden finds herself submerged into a life outside of her sheltered environment. She soon discovers a life that led to excitement, love, and ever lasting friendships. One of the most interesting details of the book is how the author makes the protagonist appear to be speaking to the reader while she/he advances throughout the novel. The language and descriptive details of Auden’s emotions creates the effect that the reader themselves is in fact in the scene with the characters. Besides for the impression the author creates on the reader, the author uses up to date or ‘hip’ writing style that is used by the modern day teenager in everyday life. Using language such "Fine, don’t call it a quest. Call it chicken salad, I don’t care," (pg 177) relates the teenagers in the novel to teenagers in general who also have their own abbreviations and lingo that represent certain things in their lives. While reading this book, I found it very easy to relate to the girls who the story was about. The click of girls in the book each represented classic American teenagers which makes it very easy to understand they emotions they expressed. It was also easy to relate to their conversations throughout the novel because my friends and I have very conversations to them. I wouldn’t say that the novel really spoke to me because none of the main themes related to me personally. I do believe that the novel did speak to a majority of its readers who have ever had their heart broken or experienced the joy in trying a risk on something that terrified them.
The first passage that really stuck with me throughout the novel was when Auden discussed her childhood. "If Hollis (her brother) was a big kid, I was the little adult, the child who, at three, would sit at the table during grown-up discussions about literature and color my coloring books, not making a peep. Who learned to entertain myself at a very early ago, who was obsessive about school and grades from kindergarten…there was not a lot of time for playing with toys, although I never wanted for book, which were always in ample supply," (Dessen 8). I found this passage really intriguing because it made me sit back and think of my own childhood. The way Auden was raised caused her to lack all memory of being a kid, this concept was very hard for me to comprehend because I could never imagine not having a childhood to be a kid. A second passage that really stuck with me was a discussion between Heidi, Auden’s stepmother, and her father. "’I don’t need a nanny. I just need an hour here or there.’ ‘So ask Auden! Isn’t that why you wanted her to come visit?’ I literally felt like I’d been slapped: my reaction was that visceral, blood rushing to my face. ‘I didn’t invite Auden so she’d babysit,’ she said. ‘Then why is she here?’" (Dessen 68). This passage shocked me when I read it. The main character had mentioned that her father was a selfish man but this passage really showed how inconsiderate he was, he didn’t even care that his own daughter came to visit them. It makes me wonder what kind of things people say when other people aren’t around. The third passage that stood out while I was reading was a discussion between Auden and Eli, Auden’s future boyfriend. "‘Wow. This is a long list.’ ‘I told you. I’m very good at being bad at things.’ I glanced over at him again as we came to another sign. ‘So you never get discouraged.’ ‘Of course I do,’ he said. ‘Failing sucks. But it’s better than the alternative.’ ‘Which is?’ ‘Not even trying.’" (Dessen 261). I really liked this passage because Eli made a very good point. Life’s short and you’ll never no how good you are or what you’ll find as a passion until you try. The passage was very motivational.