Title: Dreamland
Author: Sarah Dessen
ISBN:978-0142401750
Publisher: Puffin Books
Copyright: 2004
Plot Summary: Caitlin's older, perfect, 18-year-old sister ran away on Caitlin's 16th birthday. While her parents are focusing on finding her sister, Caitlin becomes a cheerleader, and meets Rogerson. Rogerson and Caitlin begin a downward spiral including doing drugs and having sex. Rogerson starts to hurt Caitlin when he gets mad but will she be able to leave him to save herself?
Critical
Evaluation: Sarah Dessen writes well developed characters in this book. The plot ventures into some dark territory that Dessen broached well but not lightly. The plot is well developed and the reader feels the love that they are caught up in and the betrayal Caitlin feels at the first abuse.
Reader's Annotation: Caitlin has found the love of her life in Rogerson, but what he does when he is angry hurts her in more ways than one.
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Young Adult
Author Information:
Book talks: Abuse, Dating violence, love, drugs, sex
Reading
Level/Interest Age: High School.
Challenge: Drugs, alcohol, sex, abuse. The drugs and alcohol that Caitlin encounter are nothing that typical high school students don't encounter at normal parties. Rogerson's drug dealing is a plot device that shows the reader how bad he is. They decide to have sex but the description of their physical relationship is not very detailed. Finally, Rogerson beats Caitlin more than once, this part of the book is key because teenagers in the same situation can recognize what is happening and possibly get out or teenagers not in the same situation can recognize an escalating situation and get out before it starts.
Why was this
book chosen?: This book was chosen because Sarah Dessen writes so well about the love they share and then the pain that Rogerson causes.
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