Tiffany



//**S****omeone Like You By: Sarah Dessen ** //



**Author's Background**
 * Sarah Dessen lives in North Carolina.
 * Teaches creative writing at the University of Carolina.
 * Always wrote stories when she was young.
 * Started pursuing writing when she got to college.
 * Writing is now a part of her being.

Halley and Scarlett have been best friends since they were eleven years old when Scarlett and her mother moved in across the street. Scarlett was more mature than she should have been for her age, she was practically raising her mother, Marion. Ever since they met, they have been inseparable. Halley and Scarlett are now about to start their junior year in high school, they have one week before school begins. Halley is spending the remaining week of summer at Sisterhood Camp, only because her mother forced her to go. They don't see eye to eye on most things. They weren't always so distant but ever since Halley started high school, they've drifted apart. While Halley is at camp, she gets a phone call from Scarlett, she had been crying. Scarlett informs her that Michael Sherwood had died in a motorcycle accident, he was Scarlett's boyfriend. Halley calls her mom to pick her up so that she can go comfort her best friend, that until this point has never needed someone to help her. She's always been independent and strong. Scarlett has always been for Halley when she broke down over something little. Now it's Halley's turn to be there for her best friend.
 * Chapter One Summary **


 * Character Summary**

1. Halley has brown hair that rests on her shoulders, she has tan white skin.

2. Halley says that she's not as popular or important as everyone else. She talks down to herself a lot.

3. Halley is dating Macon and is now starting to disrespect her parents, she lies, sneaks out, and skips school. She is drifting from her parents and becoming more defiant.

4. Halley thinks that the way that she is changing is a good thing. She doesn't want to be spineless anymore. She thinks that she is becoming more popular, but she still thinks that she isn't good enough for Macon.

5. Others say that Halley is beautiful, kind, and unique. She's not as shallow and fake as the other girls, she has substance. Any guy would be lucky to be with her.

6. Her mom treats her like a baby and her dad tries to mend the problems. Scarlett looks out for and depends on Halley's help. Macon loves Scarlett and does little gestures to show that she cares. The preppy girls say that they are looking out for her, but they are really trying to ruin Halley and Macon's relationship.

7. Halley is found most not in the same setting. She is all over town, driving around with Macon. Another setting is being in her house grounded, trying to figure out how to get out. Also she is at Scarlett's house a lot it is like her second home.

8. Halley is not confident and she doesn't know her self worth. She is starting to change as the book goes on, she's more rebellious trying to find who she is. Finally finding her voice.

Michael Sherwood's funeral was Friday. When Halley and Scarlett pull up to the funeral, scarlett was hesitant to go in. Once they went in everyone was crying, Heather was Michael's ex girlfriend she just kept saying that he still loved her. No one knew that Scarlett and Michael were together because he didn't want the drama. A few weeks after the funeral school began and Scarlett was keeping to herself more. When they arrived at school halley's schedule was wrong so she had to go see her counselor, there for the first time, but certainly not the last time that she talked to Macon. He was in trouble on the first day of school. After talking they realized that they had gym together. Gym was the best part of school for Halley she looked forward to seeing Macon everyday. One day, Macon showed up at her house and was throwing pebbles at her window. She was already outside and that was the first time that they kissed. The next day Halley was supposed to mow the lawn and Macon showed up to help her, which she got in trouble for because her mom said that it was her responsibility. After that day, Macon and Halley were a couple. Halley got grounded for having Macon at the house and her mother just found out that Scarlett was pregnant. Halley and Macon were having problems, she was trying to hold on, but he was drifting away. Halley's mom said that she trusted her to go out on New Years Eve, but Halley still was going to see Macon. Halley and Macon went to a party and got into a fight because Halley wouldn't have sex with him. The first half of the car ride Macon wouldn't talk to her, but then they started arguing, Macon driving faster. A car hit Halley's side of the door, Macon said that he loved her, it was the wrong place and the wrong time.
 * Summary Chapter 2-10**


 * Symbols**

The water slamming into the dam symbolizes every hardship that Halley and Scarlett go through.

The ripple effect of the lake represents Halley's actions.

Scarlett's pregnancy represents trying to hold on to someone that is no longer their.


 * Conflicts**


 * Person vs Person
 * Person vs Self
 * Person vs Fate


 * Person vs Person- The first person vs person conflict involves Scarlet and her mother. Scarlett is 16 and pregnant and her mom wants her to give up the baby for adoption and Scarlett wants to keep the baby. They argue about it throughout the book. Another Person vs Person conflict is Halley and her Mother, Halley wants to grow up and make decisions for herself, but her mom thinks that she knows what is best for Halley and she isn't ready to let go. Also, Halley and Macon have Person vs Person conflicts, Halley isn't ready to have sex and Macon really wants to. This causes them to fight and drift apart throughout the book. Finally the Person vs Person that is very significant is the conflict between Halley and Scarlett, Halley wants to have sex so that Macon won't leave her and Scarlett knows the consequences of sex and just wants to protect Halley what she is going through. This causes fights between Halley and Scarlett, and they never get itnto fights.


 * Person vs Self- The first Person vs self conflict is Halley not knowing whether she should be the good girl that she has always been, or be the bad girl that she wants to be. Another Person vs Self conflict is Scarlett deciding whether she should keep the baby or give it up for adoption, whether she is mature enough to take care of another human beings life.


 * Person vs Fate- A Person vs Fate conflict is when Halley is disobeying her mother and sneaking out with Macon and she gets into a car accident, bad things always happen when you are doing something that your not supposed to be doing, so she ends up getting caught.

The element of being able to relate to the characters. I am a teenager so i know what it is like to go through high school and trying to find who you are. Also, the lessons that it teaches, its just like what adults tell you, but it's a teenagers prospective so teens are more willing to listen. > 2. What would make this book better? > The ending is lacking a strong ending, the book kind of leaves you hanging, but not in a good way. The book should show how Halley and Scarlett's lives are after Scarlett's baby is born. > > 3. What is the one most important thing that the author wants you to know? > The author wants you to know the consequences of sex and also that you have to do what you feel is right, you can't do something because someone else wants you to. You have to do what is best for you and know when you are ready to do it. Jumping into things can change your life for better or worse. Thing of all the consequences before you do anything, do the positives out do the negatives? You have to decide. > > 4. What does the audience need to know to understand and enjoy the book? > Readers need to know what it's like to be or to have been a teenager. You can't connect with the characters if you've never been through what they have been through. If you have been or are a teenager you can relate to this book. > > 5. What are your overall recommendations of the book? > I recomend this book to any teenage girl or boy that is thinking about having sex, it really shows the consequences of not thinking about what the outcome of your action could be. If your still trying to find yourself, this is a good book to help guide you through it. This book would better be enjoyed by a female reader.
 * ## What elements make this a good book?