Along for the Ride

Dessen, Sarah.  2009.  Along for the Ride.  New York: Viking.  ISBN 9780670011940

The brilliant daughter of a writer and a professor of English, Auden West, has had a superior education; however, she has also become an emotionally and socially stunted insomniac as a result of her parents’ divorce. Without realizing what she’s been missing, Auden has always strived to please her selfish father and her demanding and superior mother. In the summer after graduation, realizing that she hasn’t experienced much in life other than academics, Auden decides she wants a change of scenery and goes to visit her father, step-mother and new baby step-sister in Colby, a small beach town.

The relaxing beach holiday Auden has in mind goes awry almost instantly, as the new baby keeps quiet from the house at all hours. Auden quickly finds herself the subject of local gossip after ‘hooking-up” with the wrong guy, but manages to find friends, have fun and obtain a sense of peace, and love, like she’s never had before.

Along for the Ride offers a fantastic portrayal of a sheltered girl finally discovering what it’s like to live her own life and have a childhood. The progression of Auden is tied not to mature actions, but to those more immature in this mostly innocent story. The first-person narrative offers insight into Auden’s thoughts, but her actions and discomfort say much more than even she knows about the way she feels. The balance of male and female characters and emotions will appeal to readers of any gender, and I recommend it.

"Rounding out her latest offering with richly depicted female friendships, Dessen offers up a summertime tale of self-discovery."(The Horn Book/May/June 2009)

Readers will be most absorbed by Auden and Eli's romantic friendship, the type soul mates are born of, played out in the bike shop, Colby's all-night Laundromat, and coffee shops. This summer vacation-themed story will be savored.” (School Library Journal/June 2009)

Possible Activities:
1. Include in a summer book club.
2. Ask if teens relate to any particular relationship in the book.
3. Ask and discuss relation of any teens to the events that affect the characters in the book: death, divorce, drinking, prom.