Lock and Key (by Sarah Dessen)
common sense media says
Angsty novel tackles mature themes in thoughtful way.
parents & educators say
- 33% say there are positive role models
- 33% say there are positive messages
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that teen characters in the book deal with physical and mental abuse by their parents, but it's not sensationalized and the focus is on the psychological after-effects. Teens' coping strategies include drug and alcohol use and running away. The importance of family and friends is strongly emphasized. Inspired parents and teachers can use this book to talk about a wide
variety of issues, such as abuse, teen sexual relationships, and
drinking -- and who they count in their own "family."
Educational value:
Inspired parents and teachers can use this book to talk about a wide variety of issues, such as abuse, teen sexual relationships, and drinking -- and who they count in their own "family."
Positive role models:
Teens will respond to Ruby's first-person voice as she struggles with all the changes in her life. Ruby applies herself in school, hires a calculus tutor, and gets accepted to college.
Violence:
Mentions of children/teens slapped, hit, and shoved by their parents; the psychological after-effects are described in detail.
Sex:
Ruby has sex with her casual boyfriend; it is not explicit but they are not in a committed relationship. She catches her friend having sex with the same guy.
Language:
"S--t," "pissed," "bitch," "skank."
Consumerism:
A character is CEO of a fictional MySpace-like social-networking company called UMe.com; a few product references (Diet Coke, BMW, Visine).
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Ruby buys and smokes pot and drinks alcohol; she drinks excessively (to the point of passing out) to escape from her problems, but is punished for it. Ruby's mom is a smoker and alcoholic who lands in rehab after she is found unconscious in a hotel room.
More on Lock and Key
Review It
Based on 3 parent & educator reviews:
- 33% say there are positive role models
- 33% say there are positive messages
- 33% say language is an issue
- 33% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking
Most useful reviews by all members
Trueblood
teen, 18 years old
teen, 18 years old
I personally love this book because of what it teaches you. Its about true life for some people, and even though its hard to believe there is a true message. I mean look at Ruby from this book she has been through a lot, yet she finds a second chance and rebuilds her life. Even though you may have concerns so the language, sex scenes, or violence it teaches what some people go through all the time.
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NinjaSquadxP
teen, 13 years old
teen, 13 years old
PERFECT BOOK
I LOVE THIS BOOK. this was the first book i read by Sarah Dessenand she is my FAVORITE author of ALL TIME!!!!!!! she is awesome. i've read almost all her books and reccommend her books all the time to my friends.
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meli8lovee
teen, 18 years old
teen, 18 years old
Read this book:) 13 and up..
This book was exceptional , i think kids 13 and up would be able to read it. It does talk about some intense things so parents be ware. I do actually recommend this book.
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moviemadness
adult
adult
Not her best...
Lock and Key is not Sarah Dessen's best work. The plot is a bit weak and strange. There is some discussion of drugs and alcohol, but little sex.
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lilpil98
kid, 13 years old
kid, 13 years old
Love, Life and Laughs. Good book for tween girls.
I am 12 years old and at first did not like this book mostly because I didn't understand it. Once i read it through several more times, I grew to LOVE it, it also encouraged me to read some of the other books by Sarah Dessen.
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writergirl14
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
Perfect for Older Teens but not for Tweens!
The girl (Ruby)'s friends are smoking cigarettes in the book and the girl is having sexual intercourse with her boyfriend and her had sexual intercourse with the same guy. I don't think girls under 13 should read this book.
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tweeni
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
Not for kids, OK for tweens, Great for teens!!!
I love it! Although not all Sarah Dessen novels are appropriate for tweens, this one is all right. Ruby is a troubled teen and uses drugs and alcahol to escape from her disturbing world. She has sex with her boyfriend because she's so distressed (not explicit), but later cuts ties with him. She turns her life around, into something worth living in. She has a supporting sister and brother in law. Not only does she change through the course of the book, but she helps her neighbor, who is being hit by his own father. A great book, but only read if you are mature.
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itz_Me
teen, 14 years old
teen, 14 years old
Love this book!!
Love this book it's on of her best work!It has everything i love in a book! not the rude bits like but!
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Katie-Kakes
teen, 17 years old
teen, 17 years old
Love the way she Writes her books
I love Shara Dessens books. She writes them like the main character would be telling them and i find them very down to earth. Lock and Key is a great story and tells how someone might cope with their mother leaving them. I think Ruby relates to Nate and Find them a great match. I absolutely love this book.
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nishabratt23
adult
adult
good book for people over 13
I loved this book. Actually, Sarah Dessen was my favorite author. I love the books that she writes and mostly i can relate. Either they somehow relate to me or they relate to people i know.
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LissaNicky
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
A must read!!!
This is one of my favorite books! Ruby starts out as an agry, messed up teen but when she is forced to live with her long lost sister , things start to change. When Ruby meets her new neighbor, he tries so hard to get to know her and she ends up falling head over heals for him too. Wonderful!
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sarah_soda
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
Okay for mature readers
Not a favourite, but I enjoyed reading it, a little mature so I suggest mature readers.
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lexieloo2
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
I love sarah dessens books
I absolutly loved this book. Its a definite must-read!
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earthgurl
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
Great for teens!
I loved this book! The main character, Ruby, goes through a lot of hardships and problems. It might be kind of upsetting to younger kids that Ruby was abandoned by her mother when she was underage. Very inspiring.
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explosivetoaster
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
Amazing!
It gives kids a dose of the "real world". Truth be told, most kids, at fourteen, already know about the "bad words" and the explicit content -- they just don't show off their knowledge to their parents.
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Tashaa_CG
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
Great Read recommend 14+
I really enjoyed this book, Sarah Dessen is a very inspirational writer. I think that kids under 14 won't really understand what some of it means though, because it's got things in it that older teens relate too not younger teens.
Basically at the end of the book all the characters contribute too each other in some way.
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book_worm_
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
I'm 12, and I really loved the book. Although some parts may be iffy for some kids, and it is definitely not appropriate for immature preteens, and kids younger than that. But I LOVED it!! but, there are: sex related subjects, drugs, and language.
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lilybelle
kid, 11 years old
kid, 11 years old
Lock and Maybe
I loved this book. It had some bad language though, and in one scene to make herself feel better, she gets drunk. There is also a few flirts that may not be good for children, but overall, a GREAT novel.
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