Dreamland

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Summary: Dreamland
Review: Living in the shadow of her "perfect" sister Cass as never been easy for the "also ran" younger sister, Caitlan, but on her sixteenth birthday her world would change forever. When Cass runs away from her scripted life, the pressure to be perfect like her older sister becomes too much. Caitlan begins making questionable choices for herself in order to separate her own identity from her sisters. In order to hide the pain from an abusive relationship, Caitlan falls into a distant, dream like state, thanks to the help of marijuana and self-isolation from those who truly love for her.
This book is a close up, realistic look at a teenager's inner feelings. The isolation and pressure that can be felt in a family, as well as, the twisting, painful hold that love can create is woven into this story so well that the reader may feel the hurt the same as the characters. This is a well written, gripping novel that deserves to be read.

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Summary: Really Good Book!
Review: Wow! I started this book yesterday and I couldn't put it down, except when it was time to go to bed. The characters are so real, and each chapter leaves you wanting more. There was a lot of emotion in this book. It was a tearjerker, and a love gone bad. I am really glad i read this and reccomend it to anyone who isn't sure to read it or not.

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Summary: A really good book....
Review: I really thought that the story was amazing especially the setting and the characters. It's really sad that Rogerson had to take advantage of Caitlin by manipulating and strucking whenever he feels. I'm glad that Caitlin got out of that abusive relationship and moving on with her life which she's fantansizing in dreamland.

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Summary: This book is awesome!
Review: I love reading the books by Sarah Dessen. This one is awesome! I read this book in less then a day,I loved it soooo much! Meeting Rogerson and experancing his world through Caitlin makes you feel like you are the one riding next to him in his BMW. I think ever teenage girl should read this book.

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Summary: Best Book I've ever Read
Review: I've read a lot of books...in fact, when I scan the young adult section of a book store, I've read more of the books then I haven't.
Anyways...this book is the best book I've read for as long as I can remember, actually it ties with my other favorite, Life in the Fat Lane, but thats just a personal favorite. This book is so amazing I cannot describe it. I cried so much. I've read all 5 of Sarah Dessen's books, and they are all great. I can't wait for the movie, How to Deal. This book was the best of hers.
It is basically about an average high school girl named Caitlin, who's perfect sister has gone AWOL to be with her boyfriend, whos best friend is beautiful and envied, and who just wants something to be her own. When she meets Rogerson, she sees him as her chance to be herself, and soon she falls in love with this mysterious, brilliant character. I personally never expected Rogerson to go bad, I fell in love with him at the beginning, but my love was turned to hate when he starts physically abusing Caitlin. Caitlin has fallen into a dreamland, and becomes controlled by Rogerson, meanwhile not talking to her sister who is trying to make contact with the family again. I would tell you if Caitlin gets strong enough to leave Rogerson at the end, but YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK!

Rating:
Summary: Dreamland
Review: Dreamland is about an average girl living in the shadow of her older sister Cass. So, when Cass leaves, without a word to anyone, the spotlight shines on Caitlin. At first, Caitlin can handle it, being a cheerleader, hanging out with her best friend, but soon the pressure starts to take a toll on her. Then, she meets Rogerson, who seems great at first, starts demanding all of her time. After time, he starts hitting her and getting her involved in drugs. She stays with him, and continues to let him hit her, until it becomes too much. Rogerson makes Caitlin give up her photography for him, and that's too much. When her friend drags her to spend the day with her, and she keeps Rogerson waiting. That's when the secret's out....

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Summary: Another Example of Sarah Dessen's Masterpieces
Review: This book is a must-read for all teenage girls. It portrays dozens of feelings, and you'll find yourself laughing, crying, and praying for Caitlin all in a few short pages. It also helps the reader realize the reality in situations like these, so that if they're ever in a relationship where someone is having sex with you one minute and beating you up the next, they can keep it in perspective. It was hard (emotionally) to read because you find yourself becoming attached to the characters, and you hate to see them get hurt. I would reccomend this book to all teenage girls.

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Summary: Dreamland - A Deep and Worthwhile Read
Review: Dreamland, by Sarah Dessen is the story of high school junior, Caitlin, and her relationship with the dangerous and intriguing Rogerson. On Caitlin's 16th birthday, her 18 year old sister, Cassandra, whom everyone had considered perfect, ran away from home to be with a boyfriend she had only known for a few months instead of going to Yale for college, as she was supposed to do. Caitlin's whole family was devastated and, after being dragged into cheerleading by her best friend, Rina, Caitlin felt that she was being forced to become a replacement for the talented and athletic Cass, something that she knew she could never do. Desperate to do something different, Caitlin became involved with the mysterious Rogerson. Unfortunately, Rogerson was far from a good influence on Caitlin, getting her involved with drugs, encouraging her to ignore school and cheerleading to be with him and, eventually, using her as a punching bag. The story Dreamland tells is one of an average high school girl searching to find where she belongs, and finding herself in a place that is very wrong indeed.
This novel is excellent for high school students and for their parents. Dreamland does not merely address abusive boyfriend/girlfriend relationships, but also relationships with friends, family, and within oneself. Parents should be encouraged to read this book because, since it seems very realistic, it could help them relate to their child by teaching them what and how teenagers think and feel. Surprisingly enough, the major conflict in this book is not person vs. person, boyfriend and girlfriend fighting one another, but person vs. self, Caitlin searching to know what she should do about her various problems.
There is not a lot of symbolism in Dreamland, but when there is it is very appropriate and well placed. One of the major symbols is the "dream journal" Cass left for Caitlin on the night she ran away. In the book, Caitlin frequently thinks about the journal. To both Caitlin and the reader, the "dream journal" symbolizes Caitlin's relationship with her missing sister. Probably the most important symbols in the book are photographs. At one point in the book, Caitlin takes a photography class with her mother and their neighbor. The class comes to represent Caitlin's sanity and the pictures she takes represent both how people seem to be and how they really are when they thing no one is looking.
In all, Dreamland, by Sarah Dessen is an outstanding book. It is good for people of many ages, although it is technically a "young adult" novel, and the story does an excellent job of drawing the reader in. Dessen's characters, their behaviors and their rationales are all very believable and easy to relate to. Not only is Dreamland a good read, it is also an insight into the lives of teenagers who are forced to deal with difficult situations.

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Summary: Catilin, Rogerson, Cass
Review: I am reading this book for a second time since it was so good. However i felt really bad about Rogerson hitting Catilin. I had like him at first thought he surprised me in bad ways quite a few times. First i felt bad that Rogerson's father abused him, but when he abused Catilin i felt like it was wrong. Shouldn't he have learned? This was definatly one of the best books i have ever read. ...

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Summary: Abusive Boyfriend
Review: This book is one of the most entertaining books that I have ever read. Whlie reading this book, I felt like I was also a character in it.Everything was so realistic. i found myself glued to this book.Once I picked it up,it was hard to out it back down. I felt sorry for Catlin. She had do deal with her sister running away,being a shadow of her sister, not having many friends, and on top of all of that having an abusive boyfriend.Rogerson was probably so abusive because his father abused him. Of course the drugs also had something to do with it.
At the begining of the story, i thought that Rogerson would be a good boyfriend. He was cute, smart, funny, and nice to Catlin. But, when he hit Catlin that first time I burst into tears.It hurt me because I ahd misjudged him like that. Catlin was a little too nice because she never fought back. If I xould change anything about this story, it would be the fact that she didn't fight back.Other than that minor adjustment, this book was by far the best book I have ever read.