Just Listen (#6)

This week i finished the book and things really started to come together and get better for Annabel. With all that has happened within the last year, she learns that people like Clarke and Emily, never hated her and that even after walking out on Owen at the concert, he still cares about her. When Emily has an experience with Will just like she did at another party, Emily goes to the police and makes it a case that everyone is talking about at school. Annabel realizes that she should have told someone about what happened to her and that Emily took action where she should have too. Emily comes to her during the week at school to talk to her about this, Emily finds her in the Library and gives her the card of her attorney if she will come and talk to the court about Will. Clarke is another person who comes to Annabel when she needs someone. One day when Clarke sees her in the bathroom, she asks her if she is okay and says that Owen is really worried about her. Clarke and Annabel talk for a while and Clarke says that she never hated Annabel, that she was just really mad and hurt. Clarke hands her number in case she ever needs anyone to talk to and leaves. Later Annabel sees Owen and works things out with him. When she sees him she cannot get herself to tell him everything that happened to her and why she walked out on him at the concert. On Sunday while she is listening to his radio show, she realizes how much she needs to tell him and work things out when she tells him he really listens and helps her to go to the court with the case against Will. Annabels social and family life are getting better and things look better than they have all year for her.

Just Listen (#5)

In this section of the book you learn a lot about what happened between Sophie, Annabel, and Emily and why they aren't friends. It starts with talking about the end-of-year party on the last day of school. Sophie and her boyfriend, Will were having problems and Sophie was sulking about how horrible her summer was going to be as Annabel and Emily try to cheer her up. Annabel and Emily find a couple of guys from one of their classes and when they find out that one is drunk, she goes to get a water for one of them. When Annabel gets the water she comes back upstairs and can't find Nick, there is a door to one of the bedrooms open and thinking that Nick went in there, she goes in too. The room is pitch black and when she gets in there and starts talking she realizes that it isn't Nick. The person in the room tells her to be quiet and faster than she can do anything, she is being raped and she doesn't know who it is. She is helpless when trying to get away. Until someone barely opens the door and she can see that it is Will, her best friends boyfriend. Automatically Sophie sees Annabel first and the blame goes on her before it goes to Will. Will also makes it seem like it was Annabel's fault that all of this happened, Annabel was so shocked and hurt that she couldn't get herself to say anything.

Just Listen (#4)

In this section of Just Listen, a lot has happened in the book. During this section at the beginning Annabel is listening to Owens radio show and he plays a pop song that would not usually be on there and he addresses it to her. When the show is over she calls the station and the both laugh about it and he tells her that he is leaving soon and asks her if she wants to go out to breakfast with him. The go to a little breakfast diner and when he drops her off at her house after he asks her to go a concert with her. She says yes even though it is all music that she really doesn't like. While Annabel's parents are gone, Whitney and Annabel actually spend some time together even though Whitney is so quiet. While Whitney is getting better from her eating disorder, she is getting more fun to be around they are taking small steps but they make dinner together and talk which they both really enjoy. When they have eaten and cleaned up, Annabel goes over to Owens and is surprised when Malory opens the door all dressed up with a ton of make-up on. Annabel quickly finds out that she is having a photo shoot with her friends and it looks like a really big production is going on. Malory is so excited that she is there and automatically brings her into the photo shoot and explains to her what is going on. Annabel sees all the different parts and helps them get ready to go, but none of them listen to her suggestions when she suggest less make-up or not so fancy. But when she sees Owen he is really surprised to see her. Throughout the time she is there she really gets to know Owen better and they kiss when she is leaving. Annabel and Owen are becoming better friends and hers and Whitney's relationship is improving too.

Just Listen (#3)

I almost half way done with my book and a lot has happened already. During this section, Annabel has her lakeview models calendar shoot. During this shoot Owens sister, Malory and Malory makes a big deal about seeing her there and her mom embarrasses her in front of Annabel. Emily cannot believe that her brother actually knows her and is obsessed with Annabel. After the weekend, on Monday Annabel sees Owen at school and they talk about Owens show. Annabel hated the show and does not know how to tell Owen that she didn't like it. She finally tells him that she didn't like any of the music and the style of music she didn't like either. She tells him once she tries to say it nicely and is really surprised to find that Owen doesn't care that she didn't like it. After school that day, Annabel sees Owen walking home and since he gave her a ride home, she asks him if he wants a ride home too. During their ride home, they talk a lot about how Owen is in anger management and about the kind of music they like. Owen says that anger management helps him to control and say what he really feels. During their discussion, music comes up and Owen tells her that he will give her some Cd's to listen to so that she can see if she likes anything. He gives her 10 Cd's of his favorite music. When she starts listening to them she hates all the music on them. Once the weekend comes Annabel's mom finally gives her some freedom and leaves her and Whitney home alone for the weekend. Whitney cannot wait for the freedom and Annabel is excited for her mom not to pressure her about modeling.

Just Listen (#2)

"some people think they like music but have no idea what it's really about. They're kidding themselves. Then there are people who feel strongly about music, but just aren't listening to the right stuff. They're misguided. And then there are people like me."
This quote is from Owen Wilson who is a boy that Annabel goes to school with. He says this after Annabel and her former friend Sophie get into a big fight and Annabel needs a ride home. When they are riding in the car, Owen has all this weird music that she had never heard. He asks her if she like music and she yes says and then he tells her that not everybody really likes music which is where this quote comes in. This quote relates back to the title of the book because they both have something to do with just listening to the music and really understanding if you like music or not. Owen has his own radio show where he plays music that he says most people don't appreciate if they don't really like music. He plays what he thinks is the music that everyone should listen to and what he calls "real" music. This quote really explains what Owen thinks of the music taste of the people who just think that hey like music.

Just Listen (#1)

This week i read the first section of Just Listen by Sarah Dessen and it has been really good so far. It is about a girl named Annabel Greene who is a model for Lakeside Models and so are her two older sisters. On camera she looks like she has everything but in really life there are so many things which she wishes she had. Her two sisters are Whitney and Kirsten and are both totally opposite personalities. Whitney is the quiet one and Kirsten is the really outgoing one. When a new girl moves into the neighborhood, she is really mean and thinks that she is so much better than Annabel. The new girl follows her sister Kirsten around all summer, everyday at the beach she sits right next to her and is a brat to Annabel. When Kirsten is tired of her following her around and never leaving her and her friends alone, she tells Annabel and Emily [her best friend] to go and talk to the new girl, Sophie. When Annabel tries to be nice and talk to her Sophie laughs out loud at her and tells her that she would never hang out with her. Kirsten hears this and walks over and tells her who she is and Sophie runs home and forgets her stuff. Annabel and Emily bring it to her and they become friends. Now that the school year is starting with the three of them getting into a fight over the summer and not being friends anymore, Annabel is more worried than ever. During the school day Sophie has been glaring at her all day and Annabel doesnt know what she is going to do. Other than school, Annabels grandmother just died and her mom is just finally starting to get into a better mood lately. Her mom has been taking her and her sisters to more auditions and things are getting better at home just as they are getting worse at school and between her and her former best friends.

Just Listen

I chose to read Just Listen by Sarah Dessen for my outside reading book because it looked like a really interesting book. I have other books by Sarah Dessen and really enjoyed reading them. I wanted to read this book because it looked like many other books that I have read and enjoyed and it is about a girl around my age which seemed like something entertaining to read. It also has something to do with music which I really like and thought would be interesting to read about. Overall I think that this book will be really interesting and i will really enjoy reading it.