Emily Mills
Dreamland, by Sarah Dessen, tells a secret love story which applies to many teen relationships. Things may seem “lovey dovey”, but behind closed doors there lies nothing but secrets and lies. The novel follows the relationship of a sixteen year old girl and how her relationship affects not only her, but the people around her.
The main character, Caitlin, has lost her relationship with her older sister due to her sister running away from home. Caitlin feels empty even though she still has her best friend, Rina. She and Rina attend a party where they meet a "bad boy" named Rogerson, who Caitlin ends up leaving with. In the days following Caitlin finds out that Rogerson is a drug dealer. He convinces Caitlin to smoke with him before meeting his parents later on in the day. When Rogerson brings her to meet his parents it does not go as well as planned. His mother acts friendly, his dad on the other hand, not so friendly. His dad ignores Caitlin’s existence and starts yelling at Rogerson for being late, even hitting him right in the temple. The following day Rogerson and Caitlin become a couple. Their relationship is wonderful, it’s the “dream relationship”... until he strikes Caitlin with his hand. Their relationship soon escalates rapidly and sexually; in other word: an abusive “romance”. She quickly becomes afraid of him because of the abuse while also afraid that being away from him would make him even more angry. She is forced to quit cheerleading and stop being with friends. One day Caitlin’s mom and Rina pressure her to go out with Rina, but when she arrives home, Rogerson is waiting...and not with joy.
Dreamland tells a story, but it’s also an awareness and a wake up call to the people oblivious to domestic violence or even people who deny the idea of being in an abusive relationship. The victims are not the only ones that this story can relate to. Many people do not know the signs of domestic abuse or simply think their friend is choosing the boyfriend over friends. I highly recommend this book to people of all genders and ages, not just teens and girls. I think that this can really open up minds to be more aware and change how people look at relationships between a friend or a significant other. It helps readers to understand how to overcome it or take steps into overcoming it. This is not only my number one book I enjoy, but it is also the number one book I recommend to family and friends.
Personally, I found this novel extremely compelling for the way it speaks to the readers. For the way that it uses teens’ insecurities to keep them hooked. The way that it can almost feel as if the reader is living their own life through the novel. It uses fairly realistic emotions and thoughts rather than the typical girl that falls for a “hello” from the high school quarterback. For example, Caitlin is not oblivious to the fact that she is in an abusive relationship. She does not ignore it because he “loves her”. She's scared and vulnerable to the thought of leaving him, because she knows that if she does, he'll beat her worse than he already does. I have never read a book so emotional, Sarah Dessen writes many intriguing teen “love stories” fraught with valuable life lessons. Though I have never personally been in an abusive relationship, I have found myself vulnerable to the same feelings and emotions in different situations in my life. As a reader you would think by her writing that she is a teen herself. It feels like she understands all the emotions that every teen has felt. Sarah Dessen understands how it feels to be kicked down, to feel vulnerable or rebellious, and to feel happy and in love.
The main character, Caitlin, has lost her relationship with her older sister due to her sister running away from home. Caitlin feels empty even though she still has her best friend, Rina. She and Rina attend a party where they meet a "bad boy" named Rogerson, who Caitlin ends up leaving with. In the days following Caitlin finds out that Rogerson is a drug dealer. He convinces Caitlin to smoke with him before meeting his parents later on in the day. When Rogerson brings her to meet his parents it does not go as well as planned. His mother acts friendly, his dad on the other hand, not so friendly. His dad ignores Caitlin’s existence and starts yelling at Rogerson for being late, even hitting him right in the temple. The following day Rogerson and Caitlin become a couple. Their relationship is wonderful, it’s the “dream relationship”... until he strikes Caitlin with his hand. Their relationship soon escalates rapidly and sexually; in other word: an abusive “romance”. She quickly becomes afraid of him because of the abuse while also afraid that being away from him would make him even more angry. She is forced to quit cheerleading and stop being with friends. One day Caitlin’s mom and Rina pressure her to go out with Rina, but when she arrives home, Rogerson is waiting...and not with joy.
Dreamland tells a story, but it’s also an awareness and a wake up call to the people oblivious to domestic violence or even people who deny the idea of being in an abusive relationship. The victims are not the only ones that this story can relate to. Many people do not know the signs of domestic abuse or simply think their friend is choosing the boyfriend over friends. I highly recommend this book to people of all genders and ages, not just teens and girls. I think that this can really open up minds to be more aware and change how people look at relationships between a friend or a significant other. It helps readers to understand how to overcome it or take steps into overcoming it. This is not only my number one book I enjoy, but it is also the number one book I recommend to family and friends.
Personally, I found this novel extremely compelling for the way it speaks to the readers. For the way that it uses teens’ insecurities to keep them hooked. The way that it can almost feel as if the reader is living their own life through the novel. It uses fairly realistic emotions and thoughts rather than the typical girl that falls for a “hello” from the high school quarterback. For example, Caitlin is not oblivious to the fact that she is in an abusive relationship. She does not ignore it because he “loves her”. She's scared and vulnerable to the thought of leaving him, because she knows that if she does, he'll beat her worse than he already does. I have never read a book so emotional, Sarah Dessen writes many intriguing teen “love stories” fraught with valuable life lessons. Though I have never personally been in an abusive relationship, I have found myself vulnerable to the same feelings and emotions in different situations in my life. As a reader you would think by her writing that she is a teen herself. It feels like she understands all the emotions that every teen has felt. Sarah Dessen understands how it feels to be kicked down, to feel vulnerable or rebellious, and to feel happy and in love.
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