YA review: Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

16 year-old Annabel was part of the popular crowd at the end of the school year, but now at the start of a new school year she’s an outcast.  The reason for the drastic change is Annabel's former best friend Sophie discovered Annabel and Sophie’s boyfriend together at an end-of-the-year party.  Annabel starts the year friendless, and though she feels it's unjustified, she can't put her finger on precisely why things should be different.  Annabel is a model, but she lets everyone else’s problems take center stage while she surpresses her own issues.  Owen, a legend at the school for his temper and mandatory anger management counseling sessions, becomes Annabel’s only friend.  Owen hosts a radio show on the local public radio station, a show aptly named Anger Management.  Despite his reputation, Annabel finds Owen to be calming and full of reason.  His anger management mantras help Annabel find herself… Some of the ones he gives her are: “Nice generally involves not telling the truth.”  “Don’t think or judge.  Just…. Listen.”  The cover will most likely mean guys won't want to be seen reading it because it looks like chick lit, but Owen is a great character and young men and women will both like this enjoyable book.  It's not a fast-paced thriller, but it does explore some deeper issues that teenage guys and girls both face.