Lock and Key

     In Lock and Key, by Sarah Dessen the main character's name is Ruby. She has a older sister, Cora 10 years her senior. They have been apart, with no contact for more than 10 years and they are suddenly reunited when their mother pulls a disappearing act. By this time Ruby is 17, almost 18 and very upset that she is having to move in with Cora. Cora, on the other hand doesn't seem to thrilled about it either which is probably the last thing that Ruby needs to deal with now, another person not wanting her. 

     Ruby and Cora have a very interesting relationship. Before Cora left for college, abandoning Ruby with their awful, unreliable mother Cora and Ruby were quite close. Cora always took care of Ruby and was more of a mother to her than her real mother ever was. I think that because of this close relationship growing up Cora and Ruby have a built a level of respect and a bond that is still strong after all these years apart. 

     Even though just being in the room with her sister is now incredibly awkward for Ruby she and Cora still have this tight bond that will remain. I hope that they will become really close again, but I'm not so sure this will happen because stubbornness is one thing these sisters have always had and always will have in common.

     Ruby also has a tendency of trying to block everyone out of her life. She hated the idea of "owing" people something even though the people like Nate, Jamie, Cora, Gervais, Harriet, Reggie and Olivia weren't doing things for Ruby because they wanted something in return. They were doing it because they really care about her. 

     Ruby has always had this problem of letting people in because of how awful her childhood was. She doesn't want to open up to people, even if they really care about her because she thinks that when you let people in they are bound to hurt you. She has good reasons to believe that as well, because she never felt like she could truly trust someone after Cora left for college. So, she didn't. Ruby spent pretty much her whole life alone. But the scary part is, that it would've always been like that if her mother hadn't left her. She would've never been reunited with Cora, or met any of the friends she made. I think, in a way, spending all those years alone with her mom, blocking everything out actually ended up benefiting Ruby in the end. She was so resistant, so hesitant, that was one of the things that drew Nate to her, her passion for everything and her un-openness to the world. It may seem crazy, but when there is something or someone that won't tell you something, or won't let you in it makes you want to know even more and I think this is exactly how Ruby felt. 

     In the end though, Ruby ended up letting these people in and she even changed her mind about "owing" people, she now believes that it isn't "owing" when the person is not expecting anything in return.