this lullaby by Sarah Dessen Created by: Sarah Jackson

 Remy finds out from one of Dexter’s band members that he is still pursuing to get her to like him. Remy is very independent and keeps to herself while Dexter is bold and outgoing. This was a conflict for Remy because she didn’t like Dexter and didn’t want someone constantly trying to always be with her. Now that Dexter is not giving up, Remy’s summer isn’t going to go as she planned her last summer before she goes to college would be.

 Remy is sitting at a bar, looking at herself in the mirror and notices that she is drifting back into her old bad habits. This reveals a part of Remy’s past that she has kept hidden.

 At this point in the novel Remy is breaking up with Dexter and he doesn’t think they should. Remy still does not believe in love while Dexter does. This causes a big conflict in the story because Remy was starting to question what she has always thought could never happen. Dexter was making her see that love is possible and suddenly they break up with little of the novel left.

 Remy faces an internal conflict when her friend, Lissa, makes her question her beliefs towards love. Remy answers firmly which shows that she wants to keep up the strong, tough and unemotional appearance she has always had towards guys. This leads Remy into rethinking her relationship with Dexter which she wouldn’t have done without Lissa’s comment.

 The setting is a local bar that Remy and her friends visit frequently. This is important because the author uses descriptive words to give the readers a mental picture of Bendo, where Remy and her friends spend most of their free time. This reveals what the characters like to do for fun.

 This setting uses imagery to gives readers a good visual of the area where Remy works. This is important because Remy spends much of her time here as well.

 In this setting of the story, Dexter’s bedroom, Sarah Dessen uses common imagery so that we can relate to the unclean room. This lets readers know that Remy is unlike Dexter since she made a comment of his room being a mess. She wouldn’t think this if her own room was a mess.

 The narrator is first person and uses language like the words and phrases “glamorous”, “small and wiry”, “full of energy”, and “swishy outfits in bright colors” to show her attitude toward what her mother is like.

 The narrator is first person and she reveals her attitude towards what she looks for in a guy by stating all the qualities she prefers such as “Good-looking” and “…no annoying personal habits”.

 The narrator is first person and this text is revealing that Remy feels strongly about her mother. When her mom’s husband cheated on her, Remy comforted her mother as shown in the quote above.

 One example Remy finds of love is in her relationship with Dexter even with conflicts caused by others they end up together by the end of the novel.  A second example is Remy’s relationship with her mother and the support she provides for her through the difficult time of her most recent marriage.  A third example that love exists is with Remy’s brother, Chris. Chris had had problems with his behavior until he met Jennifer Anne who he was willing to change for. By the end of the novel Chris and Jennifer were engaged.