In this quote, Sarah Dessen reflects on her personal journey from adolescence to motherhood. She describes a period during high school when she was closely connected with her mother but felt it necessary to distance herself to assert her independence and identity. This experience of breaking away from her mother’s influence and later reconnecting has significantly shaped her writing.
The deeper meaning behind Dessen's words is that personal growth often involves a complex relationship between dependency and autonomy. She suggests that the struggle for self-definition can sometimes mean distancing oneself from the influences of important figures in one's life, such as parents or mentors. However, this process is not always linear; there are moments of returning to those relationships with new perspectives and understanding. Dessen implies that her own personal journey has informed much of her storytelling, revealing themes of self-discovery and complex familial dynamics in her novels.
Sarah Dessen is an accomplished American author known for her young adult fiction. Her writing often delves into the intricacies of teenage life, exploring themes like coming-of-age struggles, family relationships, and the quest for personal identity. With a career spanning over two decades, she has gained recognition for creating relatable characters and nuanced narratives that resonate with readers.
