4.5 stars
“Saint Anything,” the 12th book of Chapel Hill author and UNC 1993 graduate Sarah Dessen, is dedicated: “to all the invisible girls and for my readers, for seeing me.”
With about 130 people, primarily women ranging from 14-years-old to early 60s, attending her book reading at Flyleaf Books May 11 and with “Saint Anything” listed on the New York Times Young Adult Bestseller list in its fourth week, certainly plenty of readers see Dessen.
The reason lies in the way that she tackles universal themes — loneliness, friendship, love, and invisibility become personal and fiercely relatable, especially in a novel which manages to cover so many of these.
When Sydney’s brother Peyton starts getting into trouble at school, their parents spend their time trying to fix the mistakes he’s made, making Sydney feel invisible. All of their lives are changed, however, when Peyton paralyzes a a 10-year-old boy after driving drunk. Switching schools to escape the legacy her brother left behind, Sydney finds solace in the Chatham family — the exuberant Layla and her quiet but present brother Mac. Struggling to make sense of her brother’s mistake and her place within her family, Sydney learns what it means to rely on her friends and, ultimately, herself.
As the cover suggests, “Saint Anything” is darker and more introspective than Dessen’s previous books, save for “Dreamland,” which details the course of an abusive relationship. Sydney’s voice is honest in her emotions, allowing the reader to feel the entirety of the guilt and loss that she feels. Noticeably, her internal struggle was felt and solved piece by piece — often helped by Mrs. Chatham — throughout the entire book instead of resolved all at once after the climax, a refreshing and more life-like change from many other of Dessen’s books.
The secondary characters were welcoming and enticing, another staple in Dessen’s novels that work so well. Layla is a clear standout, and is meant to be — with a personality so vibrant, she steals many of the scenes she’s in and brings out the life in Sydney as well. As longtime readers of Dessen will know, Mac is, of course, perfect in his flaws and provided an excellent contrast to his sister. The romantic plot was natural and had you rooting for the characters, another staple in Dessen’s novels, who writes realistic romance so well.
Moments with new friends Eric and Irv often provide much needed moments of comic relief while scenes with Rosie Chatham offer a different perspective on the mistakes of older siblings. The warmth felt by the secondary characters often keep the novel lighter, creating a well-rounded perspective and a feeling of reality within this fictional world.
For Chapel Hillians, Sarah Dessen novels will hold a special place in your heart. During the course of her twelve novels, Dessen has recreated Chapel Hill in Lakeview, where many of her novels are set and often overlap. Luna Blue, where Peyton celebrated his graduation from Lakeview Tech, is based on 411 West and is a major plot point in her previous book, “What Happened to Goodbye”; Mac wore a tshirt supporting a Carrboro-based WCOM radio program, one which a character in “Just Listen” runs; mentions of Jackson High School, Perkins Day and Kiffney-Brown, based on the North Carolina School of Math and Science, connect “Saint Anything” to characters in many other books, a signature Sarah Dessen move. While cameos from previous characters were not as apparent or as numerous as in other Dessen novels, the choice felt right — a nod to the idea that this is not just another of her novels, but one that stands apart from the rest in its more mature tone.
The bittersweet and hopeful novel will capture you and, if this is your first Dessen novel, make you understand why she is one of the foremost young authors in the nation. While Dessen thanked her readers for seeing her, the reason that she’s so popular is that she’s the one who sees her readers.
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