  We revisit the phase transition from the N\'eel ordered to a valence bond
solid (VBS) state in the two-dimensional $J_1-J_2$ antiferromagnetic Heisenberg
model. In the first part we address the question whether or not this transition
could be an example of a second order phase transition due to a deconfinement
of spinons. We give arguments based on series expansion and spin-wave theory
that this is not the case and the transition is most likely first order. The
method proposed here to detect first order phase transitions seems to be very
sensitive and might be useful in other models as well. In the second part we
analyze possible VBS patterns in the magnetically disordered phase based on
numerical data for different susceptibilities, obtained in the ordered phase,
which test the breaking of lattice symmetries. We conclude that a columnar
dimerization pattern is the most likely candidate.
