Dreamland

Reader reviewed by Alexandra

Caitlin has always been in her sister's perfect, over-achieving shadow. When her sister runs away, Caitlin feels completely confused about who she is, now that she's back in the light. When she meets Rogerson Biscoe, she knows he's the perfect escape from her old life. Even when he doesn't fit in with her friends, Caitlin writes it off. She likes who she is when she's around him, someone completely different from who she was before. All too quickly, she falls completely in love with him. She starts to blow her friends off, and soon Robinson is her entire world. But when her world becomes painful -- physically so -- she has nowhere to turn. She feels too distanced from her friends, and her parents are too preoccupied with her sister's disappearance, to know how to escape the cycle of abuse. This haunting, deeply moving novel has a deep, dark undertone, and will touch anyone and everyone who reads it.

Reader reviewed by Syl

I thought Dreamland portrayed the emotion and physical effects of abusive relationships very aptly. They are no joke. Like Caitlin, you find it hard to leave your abuser because you love them so much. Rogerson had problems at home with his dad. But that doesn't warrant the abuse he gives to Caitlin.
Today, more and more stories of relationships that turned fatal are appearing on the news. Just recently, in my town, a women was murdered by her ex-husband in front of her young child. It sickens me that someone takes advantage over another person just because they are weak. I urge you, that if you or anyone you know is involved in an abusive relation, to please get help before it's too late.

Reader reviewed by Nikki

The book was so good that i could not put it down! The book made me want to cry and throw things at the same time! Wow, what a book!!!! I think that i can relate to how the mother feels and what she thinks of the actions of her daughter.
     Here is a brief summary: Cassie is 18 years old. She was always the one who was better than her younger sister Caitlin. Cassie picks out her college and everything! Then one day, Cassie goes missing. The family is torn. Then Caitlin decides that she needs to be better than her sister. She starts getting involved in activities and even meets someone new. But Cassie is in a whole lot more trouble than she think she is. The story of an abusive relationship.

Reader reviewed by Shana

Dreamland was the third book that i read of sarah dessen. one of the things i love about her writing is that even though the books are separate novels the bools also combine together into a series. they do that because dessen sneeks in facts about previous books and you find out things about other charaters in other books.dreamland was a deep book for me it was one of the first where there was true contoversy. robertson is a name i will never for get. even though he was a character i look out for him every day. the way dessen writes about him makes him seem so real and his hits as well. as he hit the main character i felt it and the shame and the anxiety. i want to help her so bad but new she was only a character. but the best part was the end where she gets the note from her friend and it talks about how she needed to be free. my other favorite part is when she sees her sister at the end as well.

Reader reviewed by Selena Peterson

     Sarah Dessen's remarkable Dreamland will have you reading until you turn the very last page. Dessen starts off by having a beautiful, wonderful, talented girl, being taken for a loop as her sister disappears on her sixteenth birthday. She starts to cope when she meets the mysterious and alluring Rogerson. It turns out that she might be better of without him than with. But how long will it take Caitlin to realize that?
     This is story is simply compelling and will have you flipping the pages feverishly until you reach the end. She shows the pain of one girl and how the turn of events aren't very beneficial to her. It is painfully honest as she describes the reality of abusive boyfriends. It's truly amazing.

Reader reviewed by Selena Peterson

     Sarah Dessen's remarkable Dreamland will have you reading until you turn the very last page. Dessen starts off by having a beautiful, wonderful, talented girl, being taken for a loop as her sister disappears on her sixteenth birthday. She starts to cope when she meets the mysterious and alluring Rogerson. It turns out that she might be better of without him than with. But how long will it take Caitlin to realize that?
     This is story is simply compelling and will have you flipping the pages feverishly until you reach the end. She shows the pain of one girl and how the turn of events aren't very beneficial to her. It is painfully honest as she describes the reality of abusive boyfriends. It's truly amazing.

Reader reviewed by cintia

rogerson seemed like such a cool person at first and i can totally understand why caitlin fell for him. this novel is so realistic because it hppens to sooo many young girls and this incourages them to stand up for themselves. it all transitions so smoothly .

Reader reviewed by mh

Dreamland is about a girl who falls in love with a bad boy. Everything seems to be going fine until he starts hitting her. Not just once but all the time. Caitlin is too scared to talk to anyone about it so she says nothing and it continues. You can really feel for this character and feel with her. It's like you are in the story yourself. This book is really good and it's about stuff that happens nowadays too.
You should definetely read it if you like books where people have to deal with all kinds of problems.

Reader reviewed by Amanda

Dreamland is a sad, but close to life book. Excuse me if some of my information is wrong, but I read this last winter. I read some of the reviews and I don't think they explained the entire picture of the tragic tale.


Caitlin is a young woman, deciding who to be, what to do with her life. After a terrible problem regarding her runaway sister (which goes off with a boyfriend and begins work on a Jerry Springer-esque TV show), Caitlin is left out of the family. She wants to do something to get attention back. Caitlin meets a dredlocked boy named Rogerson Biscoe. Her friends believe he is a druggie. It turns out that he is. Rogerson drags Caitlin into his dangerous life of drug trafficking, drinking, partying, and sexual behavior. He even gets her use drugs. Being the trafficker that he is, Rogerson even provides her with free drugs. Rogerson takes her to hang out with his "hazed" friends, who she later takes for her own. However, this is at his own luxury. Rogerson abuses Caitlin. Just as in most relationships like these, she says she loves him and won't tell others about the problems. He is "important" to her. Rogerson denounces Caitlin all the time with harsh words and his beating. He is an awful person. At this time, Caitlin ditches her other life.


Eventually, Rogerson is caught. Caitlin still must "do the time" for taking drugs, but also heals from the abusive relationship. If you want an inside look into an abusive relationship, read this novel. It is will help you make the right decisions.


I liked this novel because of the reality and the boundaries it crossed. Most books won't get into such topics. Sarah Dessen has the ability to show how awful it is and help others. She is one of my favorite authors.

Reader reviewed by Julie

*Spoilers*

I liked this book, though it wasn't my favorite. It started out sadly with Caitlin's sister running away. The story was just in the life of an average teenage girl at the beginning, who was a little depressed. Soon, Cailtin became a cheerleader and found some dark, alluring guy she couldn't stay away from. Rogerson. He was mysterious and exciting, he added 'fun' into Caitlin's life. Everything was perfect, except for the occasional drugs and all. Caitlin was slowly getting over her sister leaving. Then... Rogerson hit her. This started happened more and more everday, but Caitlin kept it a secret; she loved him. The story is a good, but sad book. The cover is eye-candy, first of all and second of all, I liked the plot. It was simple and normal, which I could relate to... kinda. This was a good read and I finished it in two short days. I would recommend it to anyone! It was a good read!