Colie expects the worst when she’s sent to spend the summer with her eccentric aunt Mira while her mother, queen of the television infomercial, tours Europe. Always an outcast — first for being fat and then for being “easy” — Colie has no friends at home and doesn’t expect to find any in Colby, North Carolina. But then she lands a job at the Last Chance Cafe and meets fellow waitresses Morgan and Isabel, best friends with a loving yet volatile relationship. Wacky yet wise, Morgan and Isabel help Colie see herself in a new way and realize the potential that has been there all along.
This was the first Sarah Dessen book I ever read, and it was the one that I actually did like when I read it the first time. And I still enjoy it now. The lesson that this book teaches, like most of Dessen’s earlier books, trumps the romance theme a little bit, and that may be why I liked it so much when I first read it. This book meant a lot to me, and the ideas of how other people can help you and how much more you are than what you think was really important for me.
Personally, I loved Colie. I didn’t appreciate Norman as much in the beginning, but he grew on me as the story went on. Honestly, I hate the term, “accurately captures the teenage voice”. What does an adult know about the “teenage voice”? Kids will be kids, but not every kid is the stereotypical teen. I have to admit though, there are some adults that understand kids better than others, and I’ve had my doubts throughout the years of reading her more recent stories–but in this book, Dessen formed characters that were special and real and relatable for me. In KEEPING THE MOON, she showed me how well she understands the teenage voice.
All in all, this story doesn’t have that certain something special that WHAT HAPPENED TO GOODBYE does. Maybe it’s the fact that this book is so old to me, considering the fact that I’ve reread it the most out of all of Dessen’s stories. I don’t know why exactly it’s not my favorite book that Dessen has written, but despite the fact that it isn’t, it still holds a special place as the first Dessen story I ever read.
I hope you guys have a great Thanksgiving! There’s a lot of things I’m thankful for, but I just want to say here and now that I’m really thankful for all of my amazing followers and the people who visit RealityLapse! Just to know that you all take the time to read what I have to say, follow, comment or email, that means a lot to me. Thank you guys, and thanks to all the amazing authors out there for continuing to do what they do! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
pg count for the paperback: 228
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