Saint Anything By Sarah Dessen: Novel Analysis

Detailed plot, likeable characters, suspense, and unpredictability. These are just some of the many characteristics that a reader will look for in a good novel. If all of these expectations are met, a reader will be satisfied with the content they have read, and will be intrigued to read more from that particular author. The book Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen is categorized as a good novel for many different reasons. Firstly, the novel contains a vast amount of character development. Secondly, teenagers can relate to the characters and the situations they encounter. Lastly, the strong message that is portrayed by the characters is something that many readers will keep in mind after finishing the novel. Firstly, this is a good novel because of the character development that takes place. In the beginning, Sydney refers …show more content…
Sydney, a teenager who attends a new school, is nervous about the change and making new friends. She denies these nerves when asked about the situation, and says to herself, “This wasn’t true: I’d already checked twice that I had my parking permit and class schedule, and yet I still kept having to make sure” (Dessen, 22). Sydney’s nerves and doubts that strive from this scene show how people can be apprehensive to change, and that a positive attitude is the key to success. Also, many parents of teenagers are overprotective and do not trust their children to do certain things, which is seen in this novel many times. For example, when Sydney asks to go out with her friends and waits for approval, her mother says, “Oh Sydney. I wished you would have asked about anything else” (Dessen, 377). Later on, her mother does not grant her the permission to go, and Sydney is left alone in her room once again. Teenagers can relate to this scene, as they do not always have trust and respect from their parents. Overall, teenagers will easily be able to relate to the novel in many different