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Dreamland

by Sarah Dessen (Goodreads Author)

3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 · rating details · 34,173 ratings · 2,310 reviews

Living a Nightmare

Sarah Dessen's novels are known for being unerringly polished, for possessing the quintessential young adult voice, and for tackling tough but important subjects. In her latest, Dreamland, Dessen deals with the specter of physical abuse and the cycle of intimidation that can catch female victims of all ages. The victim in this case is young Caitlin O'Kore...more Living a Nightmare

Sarah Dessen's novels are known for being unerringly polished, for possessing the quintessential young adult voice, and for tackling tough but important subjects. In her latest, Dreamland, Dessen deals with the specter of physical abuse and the cycle of intimidation that can catch female victims of all ages. The victim in this case is young Caitlin O'Koren, whose new boyfriend, Rogerson, seems like a dream come true. However, it doesn't take long for the dream to become a nightmare that threatens to rob Caitlin of everything she holds dear.

Used to living in the shadow of her overachieving older sister, Caitlin has always been something of a loner. When the older sister runs away to be with a boyfriend, Caitlin is left behind to deal with her mother's anguish and her father's seeming indifference. While searching for her own identity and some sense of self-worth, Caitlin hooks up with Rogerson Biscoe. Rogerson is a mixed package: He comes from a wealthy, upper-class family, but he also comes with a reputation for being a troublemaker and a rebel. His rebellious lifestyle strikes Caitlin as refreshingly different. Rogerson is different in other ways, too, with his intense demeanor and dreadlock hair.

Though Rogerson doesn't fit in with any of Caitlin's friends, Caitlin is happy to tag along and meet his friends. While she may not always like them, she likes what Rogerson brings out in her, a side of herself that she's never explored. When she learns a terrible secret about Rogerson's life, it brings them closer, and Caitlin finds Rogerson to be an intelligent, sensitive, and caring boyfriend. But that same secret comes back to haunt Caitlin when she sees a side of Rogerson he's never revealed before. Deeply in love and caught in a cycle of abuse she doesn't know how to escape, Caitlin is desperate for someone to notice and help her. Because she can't seem to help herself.

Dessen's dead-on handling of the psychological maelstrom that accompanies an abusive relationship is vivid, heartbreaking, and honest. This is intelligent fiction that takes a hard but realistic look at many of the pressures teens must face as they enter adulthood, including that first brush with true love. Dessen gets her message across loud and clear without any spoon-feeding or preaching, and the sweetly naive but wry voice of Caitlin is captivating, funny, and entertaining.

--Beth Amos

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ebook, 256 pages

Published May 11th 2004 by Speak (first published September 1st 2000)

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Sep 07, 2009 Cara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Sarah Dessen fans

Recommended to Cara by: Ash

Shelves: realistic-fiction

Is there another word for heartbreaking? One that really can sum up feeling totally drained, broken, but at the same time hopeful? If the word does exist, that's this book in a nutshell.

While reading this I literally cringed and would slap the book shut, but a couple seconds later I would open it again to see what happens to a girl named Caitlin. She never feels like she measures up to her sister Cass, and in turn that leads her to trouble. And that trouble is named Rogerson (this is random but...more Is there another word for heartbreaking? One that really can sum up feeling totally drained, broken, but at the same time hopeful? If the word does exist, that's this book in a nutshell.

While reading this I literally cringed and would slap the book shut, but a couple seconds later I would open it again to see what happens to a girl named Caitlin. She never feels like she measures up to her sister Cass, and in turn that leads her to trouble. And that trouble is named Rogerson (this is random but I HATED the way he dressed). He's different and wild, and she feels like she can gain that from him. Things seem to be ok at first, but you see hints of things that just don't seem right.... (I don't want to give away what happens because it isn't mentioned in the cover blurb) I literally wanted to shake Caitlin sometimes. She herself knows that she is on a destructive path, but feels like she can't do anything to get out of it. Though that isn't true, you always have a choice.

This book is so raw . I understood why Caitlin thought they way she did (even if it was wrong). It really opened my eyes to the situation she was in. Be warned that there is a lot of drug use. Rogerson is a dealer, so it was inevitable. Dessen does a good job of showing the negative effects of drugs without being preachy, or on the other hand being mistaken as a "stoner" book. Sometimes to heal you have to go through pain, and drugs cheat you of that opportunity.Sarah Dessen is the queen of showing how all the little choices we make add up to what path we are lead to. She does this in all her books, but it's emphasized in this one especially. As always her symbolism is perfect, and as all you fans know she really does know her stuff.

If you are looking for something happy this isn't it, but it's worth the read. Dessen's style shines and does an excellent job of telling Caitlin's story, which I know will hit home for some teenage girls. It's the best book on the subject I have read. If you liked this one read Breathing Underwater, which shows this situation from the other side. Like I said heartbreaking, but in the way we need it to be.(less)

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Aug 19, 2007 Sookie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: ages 16+

Dreamland is about a girl named Caitlin. The books starts with her older sister, Cassandra, running away-which leaves Caitlin's family situation in chaos, and also leaves Caitlin to fill her "perfect" sister's place. She joins the cheerleading squad and starts to date a jock-the whole prep girl routine. But that abruptly ends when she meets a bad-boy named Rogerson.

This book was amazingly written-just like Sarah Dessen's other book (that I've read) This Lullaby.
But it's so different. Dreamland i...more

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Dec 21, 2012 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: readers sick of sweetie pie bad boys

Whoa. This was different. I've read two Dessen books prior to this one, Just Listen and This Lullaby. I very much enjoyed both of them, and, based on my experiences with them, I cataloged Sarah Dessen's fiction as intermediate contemporaries, balancing dark issues with optimism and sweet romance. Thus, I found the fact that they repackaged all of her books to look like shiny, happy summer reads odd. Well, it's odder still, since Dreamland is dark all the way through, depressing almost in its ent...more Whoa. This was different. I've read two Dessen books prior to this one, Just Listen and This Lullaby. I very much enjoyed both of them, and, based on my experiences with them, I cataloged Sarah Dessen's fiction as intermediate contemporaries, balancing dark issues with optimism and sweet romance. Thus, I found the fact that they repackaged all of her books to look like shiny, happy summer reads odd. Well, it's odder still, since Dreamland is dark all the way through, depressing almost in its entirety.

As in The Sky Is Everwhere by Jandy Nelson, we begin with a girl living in the shadow of her perfect older sister. In this case, however, the older sister isn't dead, merely gone, run away to who knows where. Caitlin has always used her sister as a bit of an excuse not to excel or be special, knowing she could not measure up, and, without Cass around, Caitlin doesn't have any clue who to be.

In the absence of Cass, Caitlin's overprotective mother switches her focus to the remaining daughter. When Cass makes the cheerleading team, having been pressed to audition by her steamrolling best friend, Rina, her mother gets involved the same way she always did for Rina. Nothing cheers Caitlin, though. She both misses Cass and relishes the idea that now maybe she will shine for a change, but has no idea how to do that. The reader can feel Caitlin's lack of direction and disconnection from the world.

In her continuing search to be her own person and do things Cass never did, Caitlin begins dating a bad boy. Now, you know all those popular books these days about heroines dating bad boys with hearts of gold, who make their girlfriends into better people? This is NOT one of those. Rogerson Biscoe most definitely is a bad boy. He deals drugs, bosses Caitlin around, and completely monopolizes her life. Dessen shows the attraction such a boy possesses, while also conveying a definite message. The portrayal of their relationship is realistic and utterly horrifying. Rather than helping her become her own person, Rogerson lets her live for him instead; Caitlin remains a shell of a person.

Much as I love Dessen's writing, I do not feel this is one of her best novels. For one thing, I think the messages might have gone down better with a little bit more breadth of emotion. Pretty much the only feelings I got from this were sadness and hopelessness. Dark fiction works best with some other emotions juxtaposed to really set off the tragedy of the situation and to make everything feel more real.

Also, I had a really hard time accepting that her family, her neighbors, and Rina all failed to notice her downward spiral. The girl was stoned all of the time, constantly at the beck and call of her boyfriend, lost weight, and was doing perpetually worse in class, among other things. Her mother may have been busy trying to get Cass back, but I think she would still have noticed something. Rina seemed mostly to forget about Caitlin for much of the novel. These reactions just did not seem true to the characters.

Sarah Dessen's Dreamland is an unrelentingly dark story of a girl struggling to find her own identity. If you are tired of all of the romanticized bad boys, this story will appease.(less)

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Oct 14, 2012 Grace rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: haunting, young-adult, romantic, gorgeous-covers, you-must-read, reviewed

*This review (and more) can also be found on my blog: The Humble Watermelon*

What makes Sarah Dessen's books so special is the fact that you feel like you can actually relate to the characters. Also, the plots are almost always the same, complete with a girl, a boy, and some romance, and the main character always has some kind of emotionally damaging problem they have to deal with, but it never seems repetitive.

Dreamland was haunting. It was disturbing. Not words you usually associate with Desse...more *This review (and more) can also be found on my blog: The Humble Watermelon*

What makes Sarah Dessen's books so special is the fact that you feel like you can actually relate to the characters. Also, the plots are almost always the same, complete with a girl, a boy, and some romance, and the main character always has some kind of emotionally damaging problem they have to deal with, but it never seems repetitive.

Dreamland was haunting. It was disturbing. Not words you usually associate with Dessen, the queen of summer romance and chick flicks. But words that Dessen definitely pulled off.

I had to take a few breaks from Dreamland, first because I finally got ahold of Insurgent, and then because somebody lend me The Maze Runner. Yet every time I came back to read this book, I didn't feel very distant from it or confused, because the plot just sucked me right in, like the last time I read the book was not a week ago, but a day ago.

The thing about Sarah Dessen is that she gives you a lot of time to know the characters more, and then after a couple of hundred pages or so she actually gets into the plot. Normally, this kind of format would greatly annoy me, but with Dessen's books, I think it actually works really great. By knowing the characters with more details and revealing many different sides of them, everything in the story just seems to be more vivid, more rich.

Caitlyn is the kind of girl that can easily be persuaded at her weak point, but has a very strong will and drive. Honestly, I was more emphatic towards her than sympathetic, but I felt like she was a pretty well-rounded female lead. Now Rogerson brought a whole new dynamic to the story. Whereas Caitlyn was hesitant, forgiving and slightly self conscious, Rogerson was mysterious, impatient, and possessed quite a temper. In fact, Dessen made these two characters- well, all the characters- all so complex and developed that I fear I may not ever have the right words to describe them.

Caitlyn and Rogerson's relationship was what you could call unexpected and tumultuous. I desperately wanted to yell at Caitlyn to get away from this abusive relationship, yet I understood how she really couldn't. It's that kind of relationship that draws you, drowns you in with a brutal force, and never let's you out of its grasp. Sometimes, you might be able to wiggle a little looser from it, yet you just can't completely set yourself free. It puts you in a daze, a hallucination where you think that everything's all right, yet you know that it's not.

Sarah Dessen definitely blew me away with this one. All the elements in this story- the relationships, the family dynamic, the pain, the emotions- interwove with each other in perfect harmony. She made the book feel so light, so eerie, and ever so fascinating. Just like you were in dreamland.(less)

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Feb 07, 2011 Aleeeeeza rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-read

Before this book, I'd only read one other book by Sarah Dessen--Lock and Key. And while it was a pretty decent read, I wasn't sure what the whole fuss over Sarah Dessen was about. And now I totes do!

I didn't really know much about the novel before reading it...besides for it involving dating abuse. And I kind of love 'issue' novels, so this one sounded right up my alley. And it was!

The story starts off with the the MC Caitlin's sister Cass running away on her (Caitlin's) sixteenth birthday. Cass...more

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Aug 08, 2011 Ryan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

There is something to be said for authors that refuse to write the "Hollywood ending." They believe in their stories enough to write characters that need more than a big screen smooch to resolve their conflicts. Instead, these authors take the chance of writing an extended resolution, arguing, I imagine, that it takes time to resolve the problems people have. I would argue that novels that have a strong sense of resolution, something more than the sum of its tied-up-loose-ends, make a more endur...more

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Sep 09, 2010 Cienne Olaes rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Dreamland to most of us is a venue where we could momentarily escape reality. It could be a place where a medium of communication for a lost loved one is possible. At least for me, that's how it is.

What happens if everything has been altered and there's nothing you can do but stay stuck? Perhaps, pray that someone would see things through and save you. Being stuck in the dreamland as Sarah Dessen had described, is like drowning. You can't just pull yourself up. Like gravity, it could be beyond...more

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Aug 29, 2010 Margaret rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: children-s-and-ya-fiction, authors-cd

Sixteen-year-old Caitlin had a terrible birthday; her older sister Cass ran away to New York that morning to be with her boyfriend, giving up her future at Yale and leaving only a note behind for her family. Since then, Caitlin has been struggling to sustain life as the girl left behind, missing Cass, but resenting the need to take her place at school and at home. Rebelling, she takes up with mysterious, dangerous Rogerson Biscoe, who helps her forget her problems...until he becomes a bigger pro...more

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Jul 09, 2007 laaaaames rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I actually enjoyed this book a great deal. It's a bit heavier in theme than most of Dessen's work, which I enjoyed, as it fit her tone well. But I wish she would stop writing cautionary tale-type fare; it's unfair to the target readers. Time and time again Dessen's stories don't stand on their own but instead as lessons to young girls to be good, that "bad boys" lead to trouble, that drinking leads to bad decision-making, that sex is not without its punishments, that generally boys know best.

I l...more

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Feb 24, 2009 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

While reading this book, there was many things that I liked, and very few that I didn't. I can relate to this book in a couple of ways which to me was really cool. I like how in the book they go into detail about what is going on and explain it so that you will understand. I like how it gives a couple different outlooks on what could happen and then shows/tells what really did happen. I liked how when Rogerson & Caitlin first got together things were good but when they had been together for...more

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Jan 02, 2009 Karin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: abusive-relationships, assholes, cautionary-tales, chick-lit, families, high-school, realistic, relationship-problems, relationships, violence, young-adult-fiction, borrowed-from-the-library

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I'd been wanting to read something by Sarah Dessen for awhile. She's one of those prominent YA authors, and I've heard good things about her books...although not so much as to tell me what they were about. So while I was at the library the other day, I picked up one of her titles at random and read the back – description of the “hot” guy. I decided, sure, why not? So Dreamland came home with me.

It starts out with a gripper – on Caitlin's 16th birthday, her sister Cassandra, 2 years older, runs a...more I'd been wanting to read something by Sarah Dessen for awhile. She's one of those prominent YA authors, and I've heard good things about her books...although not so much as to tell me what they were about. So while I was at the library the other day, I picked up one of her titles at random and read the back – description of the “hot” guy. I decided, sure, why not? So Dreamland came home with me.

It starts out with a gripper – on Caitlin's 16th birthday, her sister Cassandra, 2 years older, runs away to be with her boyfriend who is a bouncer/security guy on some crazy talk show (akin to Jerry Springer/Jenny Jones). This is totally out of character for Cass, who has always been the model student, person, daughter. And everyone is lost without her. Caitlin is sort of drifting the whole time – into one thing or another. She ends up being a cheerleader and describes the experience as something that “just happened” to her. In fact, many of her decisions are made on the basis of whether it would be different from something Cass has done. She does make a conscious decision to start dating Rogerson, though – the hot boy described on the back cover. Rogerson has problems of his own – an abusive father, a criminal record, and he continues to sell pot and narcotics even after his arrest. But he and Caitlin seem to understand one another. Until one day, when Caitlin fails to meet him at an agreed upon time, he hits her. And then it's like he can't stop hitting her. And she can't stop seeing him.

At this point in the story, I sighed, because this story has been told time and time again: woman trapped in an abusive relationship, can't bring herself to leave. And I prepared myself to slog through it, waiting to be deliberately manipulated by a heavy-handed author...but it didn't happen that way at all. The abuse was bad, but it was like I was in the same drifty dreamworld that Caitlin was in...and I felt her fear and trepidation, but I also felt her strength and the conflict within her. No one thinks that they will ever be in this kind of situation. No one wants it. But it struck a chord with me, because Caitlin loved Rogerson, and saw something behind his hurting her...which is what made it so difficult for her to leave him. It made me think about how hard it is to walk away from something you are so bound up with emotionally...even when things are bad. And this story did not HARP on about the good days and how Rogerson was so good. Caitlin didn't see it like that. She just saw those days/times as being safe. She could be with him and not have to worry about being hurt.

She does get out of it. Something within her crumbles, and she just can't move...and someone sees Rogerson beating her. She ends up in therapy in a psychiatric hospital, where she gets the rest she needs, and gets to talk about what's happened to her since her sister left. And we aren't left with the feeling that everything is going to be happily ever after, but at least we know that Caitlin is free of this hurt, and she's on her way to healing.

This moved me, and I can be SO immoveable when I've decided not to like something. I'm so glad I gave it a chance, even when the PLOT was revealed. Thank you Sarah Dessen for not being heavy-handed, and for telling this kind of a story in a new and meaningful way. (less)

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Dec 30, 2008 TheKBSeries rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Although this book may not start off so grim, it does get darker the deeper you go. This is not a bad thing though! I enjoy darker stories! The subject matter is so common these days and although its a depressing one, it provided quite an intense plot line for this book. Even though Dreamland may be depressing, it's a great read! I was so compelled to read what happened next! I've never read so much in a car (normally i get bored easily or am never in the mood to read while in the car. not this...more

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Feb 13, 2013 Hayley Charnock rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An innocent girl living in her sister's shadow meets a dangerously intriguing boy. There is only one way this can turn out; badly. After dating for a while, things start to get serious. More serious than anyone knows, and Caitlin is trapped in a cycle that she can't seem to break free from on her own.

This seemingly romantic novel takes a sudden twist, changing the nature of the story, and delving into the emotional (and physical) hardships that Caitlin must endure. This is a great book, which d...more

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Jan 17, 2009 Briana rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is a light, easy read that can be finished in one night. Dessen again finds strange situations to throw her protagonists into and then we all read on to see how they solved their problems.

I, however, did not like this book. I found the characters completely unlikeable excluding one or two minor characters. Basically, you have two crazy kids. Rogerson (drug dealer) and Caitlin (cheerleader & girlfriend to the drug dealer). At first, Rogerson seems all mysterious and cool, but then...more

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Mar 17, 2010 Paige rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Pg.1-138

So far what happened is Caitlin's older sister ran away with her boyfriend. Her family and neighbors are in major sadness. Caitlin joins cheerleading with her friend Rina. She goes to parties. One day before a party she was at a football game. The squad was doing their cheer. they did a pyrimid Caitlin was on top. When she got there she heard someone say Cass's name over and over again. Then she fell off the top of the pyrimid. She got caught and the girl that caught her didnt really lik...more Pg.1-138

So far what happened is Caitlin's older sister ran away with her boyfriend. Her family and neighbors are in major sadness. Caitlin joins cheerleading with her friend Rina. She goes to parties. One day before a party she was at a football game. The squad was doing their cheer. they did a pyrimid Caitlin was on top. When she got there she heard someone say Cass's name over and over again. Then she fell off the top of the pyrimid. She got caught and the girl that caught her didnt really like her that much but she did it to be nice towards the team. Caitlin got hurt she got brused up. Her partents didnt want her to go to the party but her mom let her. Caitlin, Rina, and Kelly stopped at the gas station to clean out Kelly's car. Thats when Caitlin met Rogerson. When she went to the party she was supposed to end up dating Mike Evens but she didnt. When shes at the party she sees Rogerson. When Mike Evens offers her his letter jacket she denys it and goes with Rogerson. After he drove he home he didnt talk to her for like a week. Then he eventually talked to her and they started to date. She is always spending time with Rogerson or at practice. She found out he does pot. She tires it once when he went to his house. When they were at his house his dad either slapped or punched him in the face. Then one day when he was out delivering the pot they went to his friend Corinna's place. Now when she not with Rogerson or at practice she is at Corinna's place. Corinna gets Caitlin like with how she feels about things. One day while she was going to the cheerleading ceremony she saw Rina in her car crying. She made Rina poll over so she could talk to her. Rina said that Bill found out she was cheating on him with another guy. While Rina was talking Caitlin was late to be with Rogerson because Rina takes a while to explain things.

I like the book. It took me a while to get into the book. Mainly because it takes while for me to read books. But its a good book. It is teaching me a lesson about what kind of guys to choose instead of going with the pothead guys. I like the love/runaway stories. Plus im a sucher for love stories and movies. It gives me reasons not to runaway from home.

From 138-250
Things got worse when she got to talk to Rogerson. Rogerson punched her in the face. her eye was all red and bursed. she was always with rogerson and corinna. she gets kicked off the cheerleading squad and she gets stoned all the time now. she hangs out with rogerson more then anyone else because he wont let her go and hang out with friends. he beats her more often. she isnt telling anyone. then one day while her parents and boo and stewart are having their party. she is in the car with rogerson. she is trying to tell him why she was late but he wouldnt let her explain that Rina kidnapped her. Rina didnt know that he beat her no one did. well while she is in the car with rogerson. the door isnt shut all the way. she falls out of the car when she gets hit really hard. her mom sees her laying on the ground. she comes and yells at rogerson. the police come to get rogerson because the nieghbor across the street sees everything that is happened to her. caitlyn's mom finds her bowl in her jacket. she gets sent to Evergreen. that is a place where people go who have been beaten or have a drug problem or something like that. caitlyn has a crying spree for 2 days. she is in about 3 kinds of therapy. shes in one for group one for individual and specalized therapy. caitlyn gets visits from her mom, dad, boo. stewart, and rina. she doesnt know who is coming each visiting day. when she is all better she leaves and goes home. she is now afraid if she runs into rogerson because she doesnt know what is going to happen.

I ended up really liking the book. its more of these kind of books i want to read. they keep me wanting to know more. it just surprised me by how it ended. im happy that she gets better and that her parents, friends find out what happened. i really liked it.(less)

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Nov 04, 2011 Joy Joy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: those with wayward relationship

Shelves: 2011

"Remember no one can make you feel inferior without your consent." --Eleanor Roosevelt

This was one of those books that I would start off easily. And also, one of those books that I would cringe and shut their covers because of too much tension and unbearable anxiety. Some of those books, they were left unfinished. I couldn't just go on because they were too hard to read. -But, all books have souls-. They would speak to you and nag you to finish them and find out about the characters and their bu...more

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Aug 24, 2008 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book started slow for me, but I definitely got more into it as the story went on. The author does a good job of pulling the reader into Caitlin's plight; I cared what happened next.

That said, I had trouble with the way the abusive relationship was portrayed. I've done a lot of volunteer work in this area and abuse tends to happen in a "cycle"... the abuse occurs, then the abuser apologizes/says he'll never do it again/loves on the victim big time/etc. It goes from absolute terror to absolut...more

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Mar 16, 2008 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, read-and-reviewed

When Caitlan discovers that her older sister, Cass has run away from home to be with her boyfriend, it shocks Caitlan's whole family. Cass was always like the "perfect" daughter, cheerleader, overachiever, all A's, etc. Caitlan feels obligated to join cheer squad to make her mother happy.
Caitlan later falls for mysterious, green eyed Rogerson. Rogerson and her have the perfect relationship. Rogerson introdues Caitlan to the drug world and when Rogerson hit her for the first time, it all seems li...more

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Dec 02, 2007 Georgia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The book I read is called Dreamland by Sarah Dessen. Sarah has also written the novels titled That Summer, Someone like You, and Keeping the Moon. In “Dreamland”, a confused young teen named Caitlin turns her life in the wrong direction as she leaves a party with her soon-to-be boyfriend, Rogerson. Little did she know that this stranger she grew to love would be so controlling. Rogerson beats Caitlin and introduces her to drugs, but Caitlin’s parents do not seem to notice because they are too ca...more The book I read is called Dreamland by Sarah Dessen. Sarah has also written the novels titled That Summer, Someone like You, and Keeping the Moon. In “Dreamland”, a confused young teen named Caitlin turns her life in the wrong direction as she leaves a party with her soon-to-be boyfriend, Rogerson. Little did she know that this stranger she grew to love would be so controlling. Rogerson beats Caitlin and introduces her to drugs, but Caitlin’s parents do not seem to notice because they are too caught up in the sudden disappearance of her older sister, Cass. Meanwhile, Caitlin’s skipped cheerleading practices and seclusion from her social world catches Rina’s eye, her best friend. Due to Cass’s mysterious departure and her love hate relationship with Rogerson, Caitlin is stuck in a dream, waiting for someone to pull her out.
In this novel, I particularly like the reality of the story. Many women have experienced an abusive boyfriend, or an unknown departure of a close family member. Not only that, but many people have felt they are caught in a trance that they cannot get out of. It is interesting to me how Caitlin’s best friend, Rina, is the complete contrary of her. These companions show that opposites really can attract. Also, the overall plot and messages kept me reading because I have never read a book with a negative message that does not hesitate to show the truth.
It is difficult to find weaknesses in Dreamland, but Sarah Dessen could have extended the novel. The way this book concludes leaves numerous questions in my mind, and disappoints me to find that there is no sequel. Although the ending was not a bad one, a few resolutions are missing. These absences make me feel as if the book is pointless to read because the conflicts I am most excited about are never written as solved.
Despite the disappointment in the ending of the novel, Dreamland is a great book to read. It is realistic, shocking, and tragic yet powerful; a page turner. I suggest this book to readers who enjoy drama and a bit of mystery. Overall, Sarah Dessen’s Dreamland captures the heart and soul of readers while reminding them that dreams are not always pleasant.
(less)

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Mar 21, 2008 Katya rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: imitating-life, young-adult

I'm on my post-final YA fiction binge and working my way through the roommate's Sarah Dessen books. This one was, in my opinion, sadly lacking. Dessen gets into the head of an abused girlfriend very well, and the slow slide into an abusive relationship is believable. However, we never find out why her boyfriend was abusing her, leaving him to be a one-dimensional 'bad boy' and the circumstances around their relationship remained shallow. I don't have much patience for people who are too weak to...more

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Jul 04, 2010 Jaci rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: different, fast-reads, sad, read-in-summer2010

This book was a lot better than I thought it would be. I've read most of Sarah Dessen's novels just not her older ones. I still have to get to Keeping the Moon and That Summer. She's definitely one of my favourite authors so when I finally got around to this one I was excited. This book was a lot different than her other novels but still had the same Sarah Dessen writing style. I wish it was a bit longer so you could really get to see what happened with Caitlin but I still really liked it. If yo...more

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Mar 17, 2013 Suzanne Sullivan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Caitlyn is tired of living in her older sister Cass' shadow. So when Cass takes off the night before Caitlyn's 16th birthday, Caitlyn isn't nearly as upset as her parents are. While she misses her sister, Caitlyn is ready to live her own life and create her own story.

Trying to make sure everything she does is different from her sister, Caitlyn starts dating Rogerson. Rogerson is everything exciting Caitlyn feels like she has never been. But Caitlyn soon learns that Rogerson has issues-with an ab...more

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Mar 30, 2009 Vania rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It took me so long to finish this book and not because I didn't like it, but because it was so hard for me to read. I wanted so badly to cry with Caitlin and so badly to punch Rogerson (How ironic...) But instead I was forcing myself to keep reading, hoping for a happy ending. The writing was simply real and raw. The characters were troubled and as real as anyone can get.

When Caitlin's perfect sister,Cass, goes missing, she uses that as an opportunity to find herself and step out of her sister's...more

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Jun 13, 2013 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

With Cass gone, Catlin has to live up to the expectations of her mother, but also making sure that her mother doesn't start calling Cass again. Cass disappears on Caitlin's 16th birthday running off with her boyfriend. Her mother is all over the place while her father is quiet and doesn't talk as much as he used to. Cass was the family expectation going to Yale, but suddenly just leaves everything behind. Catlin is desperate to find an escape and so she finds Rogerson. Rogerson with the crazy ha...more

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Jun 13, 2013 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Fans of Sarah Dessen know that her books have a similar ring to them: set in the summer time, confused and lonely young girl meets amazing guy, overcomes her problems, and ends up with the guy. Yes, it is all quite predictable but there is something quite captivating about how spot on her writing is-how real her make believe world and characters are to me.

If you think that Dreamland is just going to follow the structured outlines of Dessen's other light, beachy reads, prepare to be in for a huge...more

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Jun 09, 2013 Sara Dean rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dreamland, by Sarah Dessen is a book centered on the main character, Caitlin O’Koren who has just found on her birthday that her sister has ran away. After dealing with that hard time in her life, she meets a boy named Roger Biscoe who is a bad boy and she ends up being with him although there are some warning signs from the start. My experience with this book is very good because I feel that many YA girls could relate or connect this this kind of book. Caitlin has to go through some very hard a...more

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Jun 06, 2013 Ellie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Dreamland is a powerful, moving novel written by Sarah Dessen. The book starts off immediately with the main character, Caitlin, telling the story of how her sister ran away that morning. It was not just any day though – it was Caitlin’s birthday. Caitlin’s sister, Cass, seemed to have her life perfected. She was an amazing soccer player and was soon heading off to Yale for college. One would think that she had no reason to skip out on her family and future in such an untimely fashion, with only...more Dreamland is a powerful, moving novel written by Sarah Dessen. The book starts off immediately with the main character, Caitlin, telling the story of how her sister ran away that morning. It was not just any day though – it was Caitlin’s birthday. Caitlin’s sister, Cass, seemed to have her life perfected. She was an amazing soccer player and was soon heading off to Yale for college. One would think that she had no reason to skip out on her family and future in such an untimely fashion, with only a small note saying she loves them and will be in touch and a present for Caitlin… a dream journal that said “Meet you in Dreamland”.
When she left, she did not understand the effect it would leave on her family. Their mother was depressed – she bought little dolls and filled the empty spaces in the house with them, almost filling an absence that Cass left. She completely ignored Caitlin. It was almost like since Cass was gone, she had forgotten how to whole-heartedly love Caitlin. Her father was just sad all the time.
Caitlin’s life was suddenly spiraling out of control. She was persuaded by her best friend, Rina, to try out for cheerleading. She argued that it was one of the few things that Cass had never done, and it would be Caitlin’s time to shine. It turned out that she was amazing, and made the team with ease, though she never liked it and only wanted to quit. At a game night in October, they were playing a huge rival. The energy was up throughout the whole stadium and they were winning. Everything happened in slow motion as she ran out with the squad, and as she was the lightest on the team, was lifted right up to the top of the pyramid… only to fall straight to the bottom.
After the paramedics cleared her to be okay, her father agreed to let her attend the team party, and this is where it all begins. As she went to get money for the party, she meets the mysterious Rogerson and ends up seeing him again at the party. From the moment she met him, she knew something about him was mysterious, but never knew what. Caitlin and Rogerson end up dating shortly after, and the book follows the adventure of Caitlin as her family falls apart, she is abused by her boyfriend, and gets into drugs. Caitlin is trapped in a web of darkness and is scared to escape, for that may mean more abuse and simply having to live in the real world. With Rogerson, whether she is being hit or not, she forgets about the hurt and the sadness for a while. She knows she needs to get out… but can she do it?
Overall, Dreamland was an amazing read. Up until I had read this, I never understood fully what people were like when they did drugs or what it was like to be in an abusive relationship. I mean, how could I know? This novel took me on the journey of a girl my age who did not know how to express the sadness she was feeling in a healthy way. She turned to accepting abuse from someone who did not deserve to be in her life and using drugs to forget about everything for just a little while… and escape into Dreamland, where she hoped to meet Cass.
I love how Dessen develops all of the characters in the beginning, showing that it is a normal family living an average life. I could imagine Caitlin being one of my friends from the way she was introduced to the story… in the beginning, at least. The chapters were not too long or too short. The story never slowed down, each chapter contained something important to the plotline the whole way through. There were twists and turns along the way, and the ending sealed the deal. I could see it coming and I was so relieved when it happened. I also like how Dessen finished the novel with all of the loose ends being tied together.
Dreamland taught me how important it is to always make the good decisions in life, because one bad decision can lead to a million problems. I would recommend it to any teenage girl above the age of fourteen, because some of the content is very mature. Any woman of at least this age should read Dreamland because it is a powerful and the story will stick with you for forever. I would read it again in a heartbeat.

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Jun 05, 2013 Brook rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen is a very compelling, quick read that grabs the reader's attention right from the beginning. It starts off as the morning of Caitlin's birthday, she awakens to find her older sister, Cassandra, gone when she's supposed to be going off to college. This leaves Caitlin in a rock and a hard place because now she feels like she is expected to live up to her sister's "perfection." She then joins the cheer-leading squad in order to live up to her parent's expectations, that wa...more

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May 21, 2013 Hillary rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Caitlin is second best compared to her Yale sister Cass. Cass is perfect in Caitlin's eyes, while Caitlin is confused of who she really is. Then, when Cass runs away a few days before she is to head off to Yale in order to live with her boyfriend, her whole family is obsessed with finding her.

Caitlin joins the cheerleading squad, thinking it will help her figure out who she wants to be. One night after a party, she meets Roger, a mysterious figure with luscious curly hair. They begin dating, in...more

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May 08, 2013 Anna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

dreamland
sarah dessen
250 pages

When Caitlin wakes up on her sixteenth birthday she comes downstairs to find out that her sister, Cass ran away to be with her boyfriend she met a while ago. Her birthday is practically ruined but her neighbors, Boo and Stewart try to comfort her and her family making a bit better. Caitlin starts school and of course news has spread about her sister leaving home and not going to Yale where she was excepted into but instead leaving to be with her boyfriend. Before C...more dreamland
sarah dessen
250 pages

When Caitlin wakes up on her sixteenth birthday she comes downstairs to find out that her sister, Cass ran away to be with her boyfriend she met a while ago. Her birthday is practically ruined but her neighbors, Boo and Stewart try to comfort her and her family making a bit better. Caitlin starts school and of course news has spread about her sister leaving home and not going to Yale where she was excepted into but instead leaving to be with her boyfriend. Before Cass left she left Caitlin a birthday present. a dream journal that Cass wrote " ill see you in Dreamland" something her and Cass would say. Caitlin lives her life and tries not to think of Cass leaving. Caitlin soon meets Rogerson. Rogerson has dark thick curly brown hair and peircing green eyes. Caitlin feels connected to him somehow and when they see each other again at a party they instantly become close. They begin hanging out after school and on the weekends. One special thing about Rogerson is that he knows absolutely everything. Any question you could ever think of he knows. One night caitlin for the first time meets Rogersons parents that seem to be having a party and Rogerson shows up late. they go to the pool house where Rogerson lives. As Caitlin goes to the bathroom Rogersons father shows up unknowing that Caitlin is there. His father is so upset that he slapped Rogerson right across the face. Rogerson and Caitlin become inseprable. Rogerson hates when people are late and when a guy even talks to Caitlin Rogerson is very upset. Rogersons anger gets the best of him and starts to abuse Caitlin. Caitlin soon realizes that shes to far under in the lies to her parents about her bruises and the lies to her best friend Rina that she keeps it a secret. Rogerson kept slapping and punching when he went so far that he was abusing her in front of Caitlin's house. The police soon show up and all the truth spills out caitlin was abused and she also started drugs. Caitlin soon after ends up at evergeen mental hospital. When Caitlin leaves Evergreen a surprise awaits her at home.(less)

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YA Book Club : Ashleigh and Cassie read Dreamland	7	19	4 hours, 37 min ago
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“If you didn't love him, this never would have happened. But you did. And accepting that love and everything that followed it is part of letting it go.” — 340 people liked it

“I was worn out, broken: He had taken almost everything. But he'd been all I'd had, all this time. And when the police led him away, I pulled out of the hands of all these loved one, sobbing, screaming, everything hurting, to try and make him stay.” — 339 people liked it

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