Dreamland

Rating:
Summary: Life Changing
Review: It seems as if this book found me at the right moment. It's about a girl who learns how to find herself and get herself functioning in the real world. It had me crying because Sarah Dessen was so good at describing how one can literally be drowning emotionally and mentally in a physical life form. She built Rogerson up so well and had the readers feeling what Caitlin was feeling so strongly that we weren't sure how she was going to get out of what resulted in an abusive relationship because we knew how wonderful he could be. His father is the root of the problem... turning him into this monster at the end.
And the way Sarah Dessen writes is so symbolic and profound... you can see every move Caitlin makes and it's not just descriptive writing... it's artistic and poetic writing...
It was a great book that has truly changed my life because I could relate to Caitlin so much. I give it 5 stars without a second thought and I am positive whoever picks this book up will agree with me.

Rating:
Summary: A person who hated reading books, couldn't put this down!...
Review: Dreamland was a fascinating novel. It involved issues that are encountered by adolescents. Issues many of us encounter everyday. It included everything from friendship, school, family, love, to abuse.
Can one family members life really have an affect on others in the family? Sarah Dessen illustrated how one persons decision changes everything for the rest of the family. When Cassandra ran away from home, everything was changed. Cassandra was a older sister to Caitlin. And after she left Caitlin had no one to look up to. Caitlin made many wrong decisions, such as, drugs, wrong crowd of friends, wrong relationships, etc.
Can a person really take physical abuse just to stay in a relationship? Dessen had illustrated how hard it can get to get out of a abusive relationship. Caitlin thought she met the "perfect guy". Rogerson was everything she wanted. But until what point will she take the abuse?
Sarah Dessen portrays how life can have happiness and sadness. How one wrong decision could lead to many others.
I enjoyed reading the book. It shows how you are the one who controls your life, by at times it is so hard for you to take control it. You will encounter many obstacles in life, but you can make it. I recommend this book to teenagers around ages of 13 to 18. Read Dreamland and find out what happens with Caitln. Does she leave Rogerson? Does she find the right path for herself? Does Cassandra come back?

Rating:
Summary: WOW!!!!!!
Review: WOW! Thats all i have to say. this is one of the most wondeful books ever. It was so realistcic and gripping that i was always kept up late in the night reading it till i was screamed at to go to bed. This novel is so true that I think every girl and guy should read it just to see what this world is going through now with abusive relationships. It is very powerful and although i recommend that every body read it it is not to be read by kids under at least 12. This is possibly the best book and everybody should read it!!!

Rating:
Summary: Page Turner to... so-so
Review: When I first hopped into this book I was amazed, I could not put this book down for anything. I was constantly reading and reading. I loved the fact that Kaitlen(sp?) feel in love with the bad boy type of guy instead of the jock. You know now a days how they say "Good Girls like Bad Boys," well this book pretty much showed us this. Another reason this book was great is how no matter how many times Rogerson hit her, she still felt loved by him because he showed her the attention she wanted, and yes of course you hear all those teenage girls say "If my boyfriend hit me he would be gone, and in more pain than I would be." Well blaaaaa how many girls do you think would really do this, its probably not a very good ratio. After awhile I came to the dull points in the book, towards the end, I think the book dragged out alittle bit about the same things, I think the author could have shortend it and headed towards the point alot faster than what she did, but all in all this book was good and I would definitly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: I starting reading this book because I had read a couple other of Sarah Dessen's books and I think she is an excellent writer. But this book was definitely one of the best books I have ever read. It's amazing how real Dessen makes everything. Caitlin's whole life is changed when her sister leaves. When she gets involved in an abusive relationship, she doesn't feel like she can let go because she feels she has no one else to turn to, and this is a feeling that a lot of people get from time to time. Especially teenagers -- it's hard to cope sometimes. I think this book has a great message and really helps to explain some of the feelings that would go through your head in this kind of situation.

Rating:
Summary: Damaged
Review: Wow...that's all I can say. I read this book 3 times and every single time it was like going through the pain that Caitlin was going through all over again. I absolutely recommend everyone to read this book! It makes you think, cry, love, and so much more. I totally fell in love with this book. The first time I read it I was only 13 and I couldn't put it down. My friends have read it too and they feel the way that I do. Don't waste your time on those cheezy romance novels, read something that will mean something to you! :)

Rating:
Summary: A totally unforgettable, amazing book
Review: I don't understand how anyone could give this book less than five stars. It's a powerful, gut-wrenching story of a girl and her relationship with her abusive boyfriend. After reading the reviews, there won't be much suprise in the events that happen in this novel, but just to learn why she stays with him and even loves him is reason enough to read it.
Rogerson, her boyfriend, almost seems like two completely different people by the end of the novel. The sweet, caring boyfriend at the beginning of the book and a monster by the end. When you finish reading the novel, you may even question if you yourself would be strong enough to get out of that kind of relationship.
With her knack for describing details so vividly and her amazing character development, Sarah Dessen has become my favorite author. Anyone and everyone should read this book. It's not to be missed.

Rating:
Summary: Wow.
Review: I've never read Catcher in the Rye so I don't know what other reviewers are talking about but, I read this book and was incredibly moved. It's definitely one of the best books I've read. I highly recommend it. :)

Rating:
Summary: Dreamland
Review: Since I have read Dreamland, I honestly belive this and Catcher in the Rye should be taught together to make examples. Such as peer preasure,drugs, being on your own,relationships and things that happen in everyday life. Both books have something to say of their own. Dreamland was such a page tuner that I couldn't put it down. It is an example of the thoughts and activities in a teenager's everyday life. The Catcher in the Rye caught my eye. It is an fairly good book in it's own twisted way. This book is based on some of the similar views as Dreamland. Thogh various parts of the book may seem unrealistic, both books still prove a point.

Rating:
Summary: Out with the Old in with the New!
Review: Since I've read Dreamland, I honestly believe that The Catcher in the Rye should be retired. The Catcher in the Rye, was a phenomenal book, but is outdated. I believe we can obtain the same information in a more contemporary novel. Dreamland was a thrilling novel that kept me interested throughout it's entirety. For instance, abusive relationships is one thing that many teens are experiencing. Dreamland was truly a page-turner, which is what is needed to keep a teenager's attention. I can't say the same about "Catcher" because I was unable to comprehend how Salinger perceived a teenager's use of profanity. Dreamland was a novel that more teens could relate to. The main character is faced with a abusive relationship just when everything is going great. It has been fifty years since the publishing of "Catcher", things have changed and as a result, The Catcher in the Rye should be retired and replaced with a more contemporary novel.