Dreamland

Dreamland

by Sarah Dessen

Rating: Incredible

Difficulty: Normal

Pages: 250

Synopsis

Ever since she started going out with Rogerson Biscoe, Caitlin seems to have fallen into a semiconscious dreamland where nothing is quite real. Rogerson is different from anyone Caitlin has ever known. He's magnetic. He's compelling. He's dangerous. Being with him makes Caitlin forget about everything else- her missing sister, her withdrawn mother, her lackluster life. But what happens when being with Rogerson becomes a larger problem then being without him?

Review

So i can't help but stress to you how absolutely amazing this book is! Not only is Rogerson Biscoe one of the most terrifically written characters in writing history (to me) but this story is also very real. Now what i mean by real is that it addresses a large problem occurring today among many teenage girls- abuse. Caitlin is the less "outstanding daughter," her grades aren't perfect, she doesn't have a specific talent and she's always hidden in the shadow of her older more phenomenal sister, Cassie. That is until she meets Rogerson. He is the epitome of everything Cassie would never have- mysterious, brilliant, charming and soon controlling, terrifying and abusive. At first she is grateful for his unfamiliar ways but as the latter traits begin to appear, Caitlin is caught up in a fight for her identity and her life. The characters in this book are the best i know- Sarah Dessen perfectly captures the personalities of everyday people with a splash of a little eccentricism. It doesn't take you long to fall in love with these characters- especially Rogerson. I was shocked and appalled that someone so amazing could be so evil and it really showed me how you can never really know someone completely. Caitlin learns this and plenty other lessons in Dreamland and the ultimate one is finding herself. Finding the niche where she belongs in her own personal life. It's a story of courageous survival, getting to know one's self, and appreciating what you have. This is the absolute must read!