Book Review: Dreamland by Sarah Dessen
This book made my angry and sad, but mostly angry.
I actually went to bed upset. That usually never happens. Please note that those feelings weren’t based on bad writing or a predictable plot. On the contrary, it was the content. I truly did not expect it.
Dreamland follows Caitlin after her older and very accomplished sister Cassandra runaways, weeks before Cass is to start her freshman year at Yale. The family is in shock. Caitlin realizes that her own identity it tied to her sisters. She then does something very uncharacteristic and tryouts for and makes the cheerleading squad. Then it happens. Caitlin meets Rogerson Biscoe, the son of a wealthy family. A troubled youth, a bit of a bad boy. With Rogerson Caitlin is able to escape the reality of her sisters decision. Her time with Rogerson is like a daze.
That is all I can say without giving away the entire purpose of the book.
**Also, look for some very cool new age neighbors who balance out Caitlin and Cassandra’s very conservative ones.
I give this book 3 STACKS!
See you in the STACKS, Stacy
I think Dreamland is the only one of Sarah Dessen’s books I haven’t read. But I’m curious now, lol. I’ll have to track it down and read it.
This was my first Sarah Dessen book, I just happend to see it on display with other “love” stories at the book store, or was it the “note worthy” section? Anyway, I hope your curiosity is satisfied after reading it!!
I stayed angry while reading this book as well. I couldn’t believe some of the situations that Caitilin found herself in. I felt this book was ‘right on’ as far as what alot of teens go through during that time in their lives. It definately opened my eyes and made me more sympathetic than I once was. This book was not one of my favorite Sarah Dessen books but it was well worth the read!
JoAnn, I completely agree! It was not a favorite or an enjoyable read, but it did feel like it hit the mark and very much worth the read.
This book is absolutely amazing. You hear people saying how some books are amazingly realistic and they felt like they were actualy there, sometimes you might not believe it, but in this book it is so true. (If you have not read this book yet, do not read this part) When Rogerson first hit Kaitlyn, I was so surprised. I mean after a while it kind of made since, seeing as Rogersons father ofton hit him, but at that moment i was very surpried. And at the very end when she was calling him back and telling him not to leave, even after all that he had done to her, it absolutely broke my heart. Because she was very much in love and emotionally attached to him that she wanted to be with him even though he had harmed her. Sarah Dessen is an absolute genius.