Dreamland (novel)

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Dreamland
Author Sarah Dessen
Country United States
Language English
Genre(s) Young adult
Publisher Puffin Books
Publication date September 1, 2000
Media type Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages 250 pp
ISBN ISBN 0142300675 (Paperback)

Dreamland (2000) is a young adult novel by the American author Sarah Dessen.

[edit] Plot introduction

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 Being with him makes Caitlin forget about everything else—her missing sister, her withdrawn mother, her lackluster life.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 is as dangerous as being without him?

[edit] Plot summary

Caitlin is heartbroken and hurt when her sister, Cass, leaves the morning of her 16th birthday. To make matters worse, one week before Cass was supposed to leave for Yale. Caitlin tries to move on and joins the cheerleading squad with her best friend, Rina. Caitlin later meets Rogerson Biscoe. She is immediately drawn to him. At a party, he offers to give her a ride home. They make out in the car and would have gone farther but realizes she'll miss her curfew if she doesn't leave. She does not hear from him for a week until she sees him a the Community Center where he is doing community service. They begin to date. Caitlin starts skipping cheerleading practice and school to be with Rogerson. She starts smoking marijuana and cigarettes with him and goes with him to sell marijuana.

Caitlin is supposed to meet Rogerson after cheerleading practice but doesn't show because she needs to help Rina and then has to go to a school function. When she sees Rogerson later that night, he slaps her as "punishment" for being late to meet him. He drives her home, then kisses her and tells her he loves her. Caitlin does not break up with him; she thinks that he will only hit her once. It happens again after she talks to a guy, and again, and again, until the occasional slaps become more frequent and less rational. But she believes that she's in love and justifies his actions.

One day, Caitlin is late to meet Rogerson again. She goes home to find him in her driveway. She gets in his car and he starts to beat her. The neighbor sees and calls the police. The police arrest Rogerson and Caitlin's parents send her to a place called Evergreen to help her with her drug addiction and getting over Rogerson.

At the end of the book, Caitlin is much better and is happy again for the first time in months. A part of her still loves and misses Rogerson, but she is moving on. Her parents throw her a surprise party and her sister comes back home to see her.

[edit] Characters

  • Caitlin: Main character. She is 16 years old. She has an older sister named Cassandra who ran away from home on her 16th birthday. Her best friend is Rina who convinces her to try out for cheerleading. Caitlin meets Rogerson at a car wash and later at a party. They begin to date soon after that. Rogerson is a drug dealer and his father is abusive. After four months of bliss, Rogerson begins hitting Caitlin. The occasional hit becomes beatings and for some reason, Caitlin can't get away from Rogerson.
  • Rogerson Biscoe: Rogerson has dreadlocks and is described as very attractive and charming. Rogerson is a drug dealer who is abused by his father. He is from a wealthy family and lives in the pool house behind his parent's house. He begins dating Caitlin and falls in love with her. He only admits that he loves her after the first time he hits her. He hits her when she does something "wrong" like talking to another guy, or being late to meet him. He begins to hit her harder as their relationship progresses but he refrains from hitting her where it was visible to avoid suspicion. He gets Caitlin addicted to marijuana.
  • Cass: Cassandra is Caitlin's older sister that ran away from home on Caitlin's birthday to be with her boyfriend, Adam, instead of going to Yale. Having overshadowed Caitlin in terms of accomplishments, Caitlin is at a complete loss when her sister suddenly disappears. She works on a TV show called "The Lamont Whipper Show", which is much like "Jerry Springer."
  • Corrina: Corrina is Caitlin's new friend. She lives in a small farm house with her boyfriend, Dave. She attended the same high school as Caitlin and Cass, but was disowned by her parents after running off to live a life similar to Cass's – away from the pressure to be perfect, away from smothering parents. Corrina dreams of getting away to California. She also smokes pot and has jingley-jangley bangles which is her trademark throughout the novel.
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