Bibliography
Dessen, Sarah. Along for the Ride. 2009. New York, NY: Penguin Group ISBN 978-0-670-01194-0
Critical Analysis
Along for the Ride is filled with stories of journeys. Main character Auden learns that there is more to life than studying and being just like her mother when she goes to stay at the beach with her self-absorbed father, excessively girly stepmother and her fussy, newborn stepsister. Through her narrative the reader sees the journeys that all the other characters going through as well. Her stepmother, Heidi, learns to be more assertive, while her father learns to compromise and put the needs of his wife and daughters before his own. Auden's new friend and crush Eli learns to cope with the death of his best friend and Auden's first real girl friend, Maggie, spends the summer getting over her ex. With all of these characters facing different types of journeys, there is an experience for every reader to relate to.
While staying up all night, every night, Auden meets Eli, a fellow night owl who shows her the underground nightlife of small town Colby- a coffee shop in the back of a laundromat, an all night supermarket 15 miles away. During their late night rendezvous, Auden reveals there are several childhood norms she missed out on because she was too busy trying to put back the pieces of her life after her parents got divorced. After Eli convinces her that "it's never too late to have a happy childhood," they begin their "quest" to do all of the things Auden missed out on. The feelings that come up during Auden's quest are well described, helping young adult readers that have experienced the same anger or guilt because of divorce understand that they are normal emotions to have. Dessen discusses events that are often not talked about in YA literature, such as the events that actually led up to the divorce and how most divorces don't end amicably. She also shows how history has a tendency to repeat itself when Auden's father and stepmother separate for a period.
Dessen also provides a character for every type of reader to relate to. Auden's stepmother Heidi and all of the girls who work at her store, Clementine, are very girly and are interested in boys, parties and fun. Hollis, Auden's older brother, is carefree and hops from country to country looking for an adventure. Auden's crush Eli is friendly, yet quiet and distant. Auden's character has the most dimension at readers will be able to relate to her at some point in her quest. She starts out as studious and reclusive, and slowly blossoms as she understands that she can be smart and have some fun at the same time as she journeys through her quest to make up for lost time.
Book Discusion Ideas
Have readers think about things they feel like they might have missed out on, but still have the opportunity to do. Have them write these items down to create their own personal "quest." Have them write about their experiences as they finish each item on their quest. Once the list is complete, have them write about any changes they experienced or if any of the items they thought the missed out on weren't really all that great.
External Assessment
"Dessen has built a well-deserved reputation for delicately depicting teen girls in turmoil. Her latest title showcases a socially awkward young woman who seeks solace in the comforting rigidity of academic success. Auden is about to start college in the fall, and decides to escape her control-freak professor mom to spend the summer with her novelist father, his new young wife, and their brand-new baby daughter, Thisbe. Over the course of the summer, Auden tackles many new projects: learning to ride a bike, making real connections with peers, facing the emotional fallout of her parents’ divorce, distancing herself from her mother, and falling in love with Eli, a fellow insomniac bicyclist recovering from his own traumas. The cover may mislead readers, as despite the body language of the girl in pink and the hunky blue-jeaned boy balanced on a bike, this is no slight romance: there’s real substance here. Dessen’s many fans will not be deterred by the length or that cover; they expect nuanced, subtle writing, and they won’t be disappointed." -Debbie Carton, Booklist
No comments:
Post a Comment