Embedded Files
STORY LINE
Writing Lessons From Sarah Dessen by Laurel Garver
Mrs. Dessen focuses on creating stories that are a great read for teens. When writing her stories she creates each one with unique, real-life dilemmas. Within these dilemmas she embodies the struggles of navigating through various types of friendships and the dating life. Real life teenagers endure family, friend, and dating relationships. Mrs. Dessen does an outstanding job diving into and embracing these struggles, making Dessen’s writing relatable to teenagers. Dessen also creates an engaging plot and drama for her stories. Her writing maintains surface level problems in order to maintain engagement throughout the story. Additionally, the drama is also extremely engaging for the readers. The drama is never ending from young characters lying to adults to the “good girl” being thrown curveballs to overcome. No matter what, I am wanting to flip the page and see what is going to happen next. Her stories also openly discuss various controversies such as socioeconomic status, sins affecting families, and coping mechanisms. I love how she is not afraid to embrace these touchy topics. One of Dessen’s primary focuses in her writing is outlining the struggles of coping teenagers. In all of her stories there is some sort of issue that the primary character endures, and he/she must overcome it. I find this aspect to her writing beautiful as it is not something many authors shine light on. Another thing I love about Sarah Dessen’s writings is the way she incorporates family conflicts. She shows the ways families influence teenagers and I find this to be a valuable detail to her writing. Overall, Dessen uses symbolism throughout her stories using everyday objects to signify important themes and meanings. She creates an extremely relatable and realistic environment within her writing and I love it, as well as many others.
https://laurelgarver.blogspot.com/2017/01/writing-lessons-from-sarah-dessen.html
CHARACTERS
Writing Lessons from Sarah Dessen by Laurel Garver .
Many critics of Sarah Dessen will knock her for her “passive protagonist” characters however I believe this makes her stories much more enticing to read. Dessen keeps her young characters polite and mannerly. They don't go out of their way to be disrespectful and seek out trouble. With this detail it makes her stories much more realistic as it resembles a typical real life teenager. I love to see authors writing fictional books that still hold non-fictional attributes. Her characters are what really ties this book together. Additionally, Dessen adds a very unique aspect to her characters. She writes these characters as not just “perfect kid” “bad kid”, but writes them as one. She makes these characters endure both of these attributes as the same person will experience both characteristics. Mrs. Dessen makes a strong effort to make her characters strengths and weaknesses very prominent within the story. I feel that this makes her characters very relatable, and makes readers really connect with the characters in the book. For example, Dessen will create a character who oftentimes is a very agreeable character that the audience will love, but throughout the book there will be times that this same character will experience times of being more cowardly in conflict. This detail shows the humanity in her characters that they will not always represent one characteristic. They are human and will still embody some negative traits. Finally, not only does Dessen make amazing primary characters, she also makes very memorable secondary characters by giving them unique, memorable quirks.
https://laurelgarver.blogspot.com/2017/01/writing-lessons-from-sarah-dessen.html
Sarah Dessen: Writing the Real Girl by Shannon Rigney Keane
I specifically love Sarah Dessen’s books because of the way she develops and writes her characters. In all of Dessen's books she creates extremely well-developed characters that allow readers to really understand them. Her characters hold so many characteristics such as being smart and funny that just make them so entertaining to read about. These characters are filled with life and activity that just make them so realistic and developed. I love how kind and knowledgeable they are and it just makes her books great reads.
https://girlsleadership.org/blog/sarah-dessen-writing-the-real-girl/
Type of Author
The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen by Rebecca Reddell
I believe Sarah Dessen is a very unique author, and that is why I love her. Dessen is the type of author that wants her books to make an impact on the reader, and she truly succeeds at that with the life lessons she displays in her book. Whether it's not taking your family for granted or loving the people who love you it creates an outlook on reality and truly leaves a positive influence on her readers. Throughout Dessen's books she keeps a sincere voice that truly speaks to the audience and makes a nurturing, safe environment. Additionally she has these realistic characters that make the readers feel understood and connect to the story. Lastly, the plot. I absolutely love the plots that Sarah Dessen creates. Everyone of her stories has a character driven plot that's influenced by the characters actions, family, and inner turmoil. You will not find another author like Sarah Dessen that creates such a comforting and entertaining environment by reading their stories.
https://rebeccaswriteinspirations.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-rest-of-story-by-sarah-dessen.html
Influence on Readers
The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen by Rebecca Reddell
I think Sarah Dessen is one of the best authors I have ever come across because of the way her stories influence the readers. Dessen writes her stories in great details that truly allows the readers to imagine what is happening in the book. Dessen also writes her characters in such a realistic manner that it brings these characters to life, and I feel that this really allows the readers to feel safe and heard within reading Dessen’s books. Since Dessen writes her books around a primary teenage character, the teenage audience can connect themselves to these characters. Dessen's books also have such a significant influence on the audience because of the life lessons she reflects through her stories. Readers can really learn and reflect from her books and I feel that this is such a significant detail to Sarah Dessen's writings that make her such a strong, influential author.
https://rebeccaswriteinspirations.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-rest-of-story-by-sarah-dessen.html
Writing Style
Sarah Dessen From Burritos to Box Office by Wendy J. Glenn
Sarah Dessen’s relaxed writing style makes her books a great wind down and relaxed read. Anytime I want to cozy up with a book and a hot drink Sarah Dessen is the first author I reach for. The characters in her books are so engaging that It makes me want to read more and more. I almost get upset when I have to put the book down. Dessen writes with so much elegance, yet still keeps it simple and easy to read. Another aspect to Sarah Dessen's writing style that I find so impressive is the way she makes her books engaging to both an adolescent and adult audience. Oftentimes fictional books have a directed audience, but not Sarah Dessen. For the adult audience her books have the good grace and humor that keeps the book engaging for them. For teens and the more youthful readers, the book has a lot of honesty and sensitivity that really connects to the adolescent audience. Overall, Dessen writes in a way that gives every word value and makes the story rich in meaning and symbolism.
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