The novel Lock and Key, published in the year of 2008, by Sarah Dessen teaches the reader various real life lessons. In the novel the main character, Ruby, teaches the reader about forgiveness, moving on and letting go without forgetting where you came from and to accept help and your family.

In the beginning ruby is living alone in an old yellow house. Although the house has problems such as pluming trouble and a broken dryer and washer, ruby feels that she is fine managing on her own. However her plans of being independent are shattered when her landlords discover she has been living on her own; she is then sent to live with her sister Cora. Ruby has not seen nor heard from her sister ever since she left for college, Ruby assumes it is because Cora wants nothing to do with her or her mother and feels like she is going to be a burden to her sister who has started a new life full of luxury.
Along the way Ruby meets Nate, a popular boy that lives next door, who seems to understand her. Ruby later discover that she isn’t the only one with family problems and discovers Nate’s secret. Ruby is then determined to help Nate but doesn’t know how since he won’t accept her help “How do you help someone who doesn’t want your help. What do you do when you can’t do anything.” Ruby asks her older sister for advice. In the end she forgives both her sister and mother. She even accepts the help both her sister and her husband offer her and helps Nate.
This is the best novel I have read by Sarah Dessen and I recommend this to anyone who loves to read about real life situations like the ones Ruby faces. Dessen did a good job of making the reader feel like they are in the book.