Review: Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

Publisher: Speak

Source: Purchased

Pages: 250

Series: Standalone

Release Date: May 11, 2004

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Wake up, Caitlin

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 Being with him makes Caitlin forget about everything else--her missing sister, her withdrawn mother, her lackluster life.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 than being without him?

This is by far my favorite book by Sarah Dessen. This story os so heartbreaking. Actually, heartbreaking may not be a strong enough word to describe this book. 

As I read this, I would literally cringe and want to cry/scream/punch things. Okay, that may be a little dramatic, but this book caused me to go through so many different emotions. It was haunting and disturbing. I feel so bad for Caitlin throughout the whole book. She feels like she will never measure up to her sister, Cass. She ends up getting tired of trying to be like her that she is lead to trouble. In this case, trouble is named Rogerson. I'm not going to say much about him because that would be a spoiler, but I will say that I HATED him SO so so much. At first, things seem to be just find between them... then things happen. (I won't mention what things because again, spoiler.) There were parts in the book where I literally wanted to shake Caitlin because I felt like she should have known better in some situations. She knows that she is on a destructive path, but she feels like she can't do anything to get herself out of it. I feel like this isn't true. I feel like you have a choice whether or not you really want to or not.

This book is one of those books that is so raw. The things that Caitlin had to deal with, I could relate to in so many ways. I unfortunately was in a situation like her before, so I felt a real connection with her and her story. Although we took different actions to help ourselves to get out, I still understand why she did certain things. I feel like Dessen did an awesome job with showing the negative effects of drugs without being too preachy. Sometimes you need to go through pain to heal, but drugs cheat you out of the opportunity. Sarah Dessen is a beast at showing how all the choices we make add up to what path we are lead to. She does this in all of her books. 

There isn't a lot that I can say about this book without giving too much away. All I can say is that you should definitely give this book a read. It is one of those books that after you read it, you won't forget it.