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Most Helpful Favorable Review
37 out of 38 people found this review helpful.
Loved It!
Dreamland by Sara Dessen is about a girl named Caitlin, age 16. On her birthday Caitlin's sister Cassandra runs away with her boyfriend, leaving her family disappointed and confused with what has happened. Soon after, Caitlin meets Rogerson Biscoe, a mysterious and appe...Read More
Dreamland by Sara Dessen is about a girl named Caitlin, age 16. On her birthday Caitlin's sister Cassandra runs away with her boyfriend, leaving her family disappointed and confused with what has happened. Soon after, Caitlin meets Rogerson Biscoe, a mysterious and appealing boy around her age. As their relationship grows stronger Caitlin finds herself in a twisted situation trying to decide between her world with Rogerson and her world with the rest of the people in her life. Caitlin's decision brings her to tough times in this supposed "Dreamland." Once this book got going I couldn't put it down, it is written with great detail and form. This wonderful coming of age story teaches a great lesson to girls 12+ while still keeping it interesting. I've never read anything like it and I can't wait to read more books by this author. Don't let the slow beginning keep you from continuing this novel.Show Less
posted by 1366146 on May 19, 2009
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9 out of 42 people found this review helpful.
Wow...
This book was a buuummmer. Yeah I decided to buy this book since it had such great reviews, and I was so excited when it finally arrived I started to read it. And I was terribly bored at the first 4 chapters, that I stopped reading it. Then latter decided to finish sinc...Read More
This book was a buuummmer. Yeah I decided to buy this book since it had such great reviews, and I was so excited when it finally arrived I started to read it. And I was terribly bored at the first 4 chapters, that I stopped reading it. Then latter decided to finish since Ive read a lot of really good books that started off slow also. So I continued to finish it and yeah it wasn't that great... There wasn't much to it and was pretty plain. I mean once in a wile (and i mean every 3 or 4 chapters) something good happens. But the whole book pretty much, was a disappointment...
If you want to read a good book check out Ellin Hopkins books. There ALL amazing. I highly recommend you check them out because unlike this book hers catches your attention from page one! And you will not put the book down once you pick it up. There great. =]Show Less
If you want to read a good book check out Ellin Hopkins books. There ALL amazing. I highly recommend you check them out because unlike this book hers catches your attention from page one! And you will not put the book down once you pick it up. There great. =]Show Less
posted by Amber_roxx051 on November 16, 2008
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Anonymous
Posted May 19, 2009
I Also Recommend:
Loved It!
Dreamland by Sara Dessen is about a girl named Caitlin, age 16. On her birthday Caitlin's sister Cassandra runs away with her boyfriend, leaving her family disappointed and confused with what has happened. Soon after, Caitlin meets Rogerson Biscoe, a mysterious and appealing boy around her age. As their relationship grows stronger Caitlin finds herself in a twisted situation trying to decide between her world with Rogerson and her world with the rest of the people in her life. Caitlin's decision brings her to tough times in this supposed "Dreamland." Once this book got going I couldn't put it down, it is written with great detail and form. This wonderful coming of age story teaches a great lesson to girls 12+ while still keeping it interesting. I've never read anything like it and I can't wait to read more books by this author. Don't let the slow beginning keep you from continuing this novel.
37 out of 38 people found this review helpful.
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Amber_roxx051
Posted November 16, 2008
Wow...
This book was a buuummmer. Yeah I decided to buy this book since it had such great reviews, and I was so excited when it finally arrived I started to read it. And I was terribly bored at the first 4 chapters, that I stopped reading it. Then latter decided to finish since Ive read a lot of really good books that started off slow also. So I continued to finish it and yeah it wasn't that great... There wasn't much to it and was pretty plain. I mean once in a wile (and i mean every 3 or 4 chapters) something good happens. But the whole book pretty much, was a disappointment...
If you want to read a good book check out Ellin Hopkins books. There ALL amazing. I highly recommend you check them out because unlike this book hers catches your attention from page one! And you will not put the book down once you pick it up. There great. =]9 out of 42 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted October 27, 2008
I Also Recommend:
EXCELLENT REAL LIFE NOVEL!
This book, "Dreamland" by Sarah Dessen , is about Caitlin (main character), her sister, Cass leaves on Caitlin's birthday to be with her boyfriend and get away from the college chaos. Caitlin's family goes through some really tough times and Caitlin, later on, decides to do cheerleading. This cheerleading activity leads to unsupervised parties and boys. Caitlin's new boyfriends name is Rogerson Biscoe, who she sees as a great guy, but ends up getting Caitlin into things she normally would not do. Rogerson is really good to Caitlin, until she doesn't show up for a shopping trip that they had planned, and their relationship pretty much goes downhill from there.
My favorite part of the book is when Caitlin's parents meet Rogerson. Friends of the family, Boo and Stewart, are playing Trivial Pursuit with Caitlin's parents and everything Rogrson says is correct, leaving the family amazed after some things that they had herd about him.
I defiantly recommend this book to anyone who is into "real life" books and anyone who will read for hours , because this book will leave you wanting to read on and want to know more. Not a disappointment.7 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted March 22, 2011
amazing
this book is my faveorite book as of FOREVER im 13 and i can realate and i absoloutly love this book. its wonderful.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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CamiMuffin
Posted December 12, 2010
Oh please!
Such a terrible book.Why write about something serious like abuse and not talk about it until the very end? That doesn't make a good plot.This book is just about some whiny girl running around complaining about her problems,like most of Sarah Dessen's books.She neglected the strongest part of the novel which was the abuse.Dessen is not a good writer.It seems like she has been watching too much 7th Heaven because so far all of her books are about teenage girls going "No one understands! Wahh!" about their life.I do not recommend this book.Read Laurie Halse Anderson instead.Now,that is a REAL writer who writes about problems the way it should be.
3 out of 19 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted September 17, 2008
this is the worst on yettt...
i love sarah dessen books this one was a dissapointment
3 out of 13 people found this review helpful.
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TheSeparates
Posted January 12, 2012
I Also Recommend:
This book has been my favorite for years. And now I want to share my thoughts on it with you.
I love this book.
I read it a few years ago, and it is still my favorite book of all time. I haven't found another book that could replace the magic of this book.
It is a story that talks about the love and pain inside a teenage abusive relationship. It is gripping, scary, powerful, and yet, still beautiful. There is love. There is desire. There is pain. There is confusion. But most of all, there is an understanding you gain from reading this story. You learn to understand why maybe some girls are stuck, or choose to stay in abusive relationships. You may learn to understand the power and life behind a druggie. You may learn to appreciate life in ways you would've never seen before.
The title of this book is perfect.
It brings you into Caitlyns life - where everything seems fast paced at times, and slow at others. It's a life where nothing seems like it could be real. But the effects of living in this dreamland can kill her, but leaving it might also.
I feel like I have learned from this book, something about myself, and other girls who may've gone through what Caitlyn has, and also the life behind someone like Rogerson.2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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AH-HA!
A lot of people actually hate this book, but I on the other hand actually liked it. Caitlyn is trying to know who she is or who she wants to be and meets Rogerson. Caitlyn then goes on a wild ride she can't get off. Yet she still loves Rogerson till the point at the end. Blah abuse blah. I really liked the relationship between them, the isolation she puts between everyone, and the drama. This is one of Sarah Dessens forgotten books except for Keeping the Moon which is the most.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted June 3, 2010
I Also Recommend:
Dreamland
This book shows how anyone with stay will someone else, just because they feel needed. I liked this book because it also showed the way of a teenage
girl trying to carve out her OWN path. It is not made by her older sister or her mother anymore. It is a great story that shows how one change or move in a life can change someone elses life.2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted January 26, 2012
Dreamland
I loved this book!! If you are wondering if you should get it... just get it!!! Best book I have read in a while!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted December 29, 2011
Good
Want to read it soon! Is it any good?
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted August 12, 2011
Highly Recommended - you must check it out!!
Charming, mysterious, and attractive; the first impression of Rogerson Biscoe. One would not think that someone who seemed so gentle could be capable of such monstrous things. Caitlin who is desperate to escape her older sister Cass's shadow and find comfort in her sudden departure. Instead she finds Rogerson the answer to all of her problems.. or so it seems. He brings in a few problems of his own; drugs and abusive habits. Caitlin soon gets hypnotized by his charm and quickly get's mixed up in his dark side. She turns her back on the people in her life that she cares most about, and with one decision she completely alters her life as she knows it.
Seems in today's society lots of women and girls get mixed up in abusive relationships, Dessen in this book searches for the answer as to why girls feel trapped in this situation. She captures that by showing that Caitlin lacks love and Rogerson give's that to her, though only when she isn't late for meeting him, and talking to other guys, in this case doing thing that are apparently very wrong in Rogerson's mind. In Caitlin's life she has many people she can turn to for help like her sister, her mom, her best friend, and her neighbor, though shame overrides her want and her need to be rescued, from Rogerson deathly grasp on her and her world. Dessen does an astonishing job of showing Caitlin's struggles to over come her drug addiction and to escape Rogerson's fists.
Dessen has generated a novel full of happy memorable moments as well as dark blood curdling scenes, only making the readers never want to put the novel down. She shows young girls and even women that it is hard to escape an abusive relationship, but no impossible. This is by far one of Dessen's greatest novels. She captures the essence of Caitlin's double life in her odd fun loving family, and Rogerson's dark secrets, drug addiction, and his dark abusive side. In this book she demonstrates how Caitlin get's into this mess and how she escapes. Though it took lots of bruises along the way she overcame her addiction and her need to be loved by a man who loved her only after she is beaten several times. Dreamland is definitely a recommend read, Dessen did an incredible job on portraying what it is like to be in an abusive relationship1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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ivetter_mendez
Posted March 6, 2011
PLOT IS SEEN IN MANY RELATIONSHIPS NOW!!!
I really enjoyed reading this book because the fact that Caitlen is in an abusive relationship and she can't seem to get out. Nowadays, many teen relationships are abusive and it's important that they know that they must speak up and not continued with the torture & abuse; both physically and mentally. I definetly recommend because my sister went through the same situation as Caitlen.
ITS IMPORTANT FOR GIRLS AND BOYS TO KNOW THAT IF YOU ARE IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP, SPEAK UP AND DON'T KEEP QUIET. OR ELSE IT WILL BE TOO LATE!1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Hated it!!!!!!!!
I will never ever pick up a Sarah Dessen book ever again!!!!! Every time I see one of her books I scream. It's all about drugs and sex...who wants to read about that? Yeah, people like my cousin.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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QMS
Posted June 7, 2010
Dreamland
I have recently read Dreamland by Sarah Dessen. It's one of my favorite books. Reading this book made me feel sorry for Cass. This book is about Cass's life and what she went through with have a missing sister and an abusive boyfriend. Once you start reading this book you won't be able to put it down! I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a thrilling life story.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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stepholqm
Posted May 14, 2010
BAD and DISAPOINTING
it thought it could have been better in the beginning there is to much of her just wondering and then when she starts to date rogerson its just to fake. when he abuses her thats when it gets good but the abuse slows down i wanted more it should have been more intense but it was just BLAH
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Adii
Posted May 14, 2010
I Also Recommend:
Could have been better
I really liked this book.
I liked the story behind it. But i think that the reason why everybody was so disappointed is because the most exciting part of the book doesn't come until the ennding of the book. All of Sarah Dessen's books are like that. She takes about 100 and something pages to explain the story behind every character and then thats when it starts to get exciting.
I like to read books in less than a week. So if you have time, try not to read one chapter one day, then another one next week, because then you'll hate this book. but if you're a fast reader, read it the same day if you can. Thats what i did, and i really really liked it!!1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted April 3, 2010
I Also Recommend:
A Dream Called Dreamland
Sarah Dessen is one of my favorite authors now, but this was the first book I read by her. I didn't like it AT ALL. The whole book felt detached, as if she was half asleep and nothing really made sense. I never felt like I actually knew the characters either. It felt too rushed and the whole "everywhere we go happens to be extremely dark" thing got old fast. I was very cautious reading another Dessen book after this, but luckily This Lullaby fixed my faith in her. Read her other books before trying to stay awake during this one.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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pretty-in-pink
Posted January 18, 2010
I Also Recommend:
A Story of a Lost Girl and Her Journey Back to Finding Herself
I would recommend this book to a person who is okay with reading a book that is a story of struggles, this is not a happy book. Although the ending does redeems itself, so if you love to see endings in which the main character survives and gains back what is lost, then this book is for you. The main story line of this book "Dreamland" is that of a teenage girl and her family, relationships, and internal struggles. Her sister was an all around star, academically, socially, and physically. She was constantly being overshadowed by her sister, feeling a lost of identity. Not that her sister tried to be an overcast, she allowed herself to be overshadowed and her mother was very bad at the equality of attention, and support. On her 16th birthday her sister runs away, having her birthday forgotten, and her mother completely distraught and occupied with getting her sister back. Caitlin tries out for the cheerleading squad because her best friend nags her too and she would be doing something similar to her sister. She makes it and is beginning to gain her mother back through her busy schedule. One night Caitlin is running into the gas station and she spots a mysterious boy, he is just staring at her from the hood of his car. Caitlin is not able to shake the impression of this guy. Later at a party she runs into him and learns his name is Rogerson, she ends up leaving with him. She begins to build a relationship with him. What drew Rogerson to Caitlin was that he was all new, something that her sister never touched. As she keeps seeing him she discovers he's a pot dealer; she stays with him. Over time she begins to smoke pot, all her extra time she spends with him. She starts to slip away from her family, friends, and commitments. Rogerson is very demanding of her, becoming angry if Catlin is late meeting him. He begins to hit her, and it starts to become a regular occurrence and she doesn't know how to get out of it. As you can see this is a story about a girl who looses herself. If you are willing to ride out the hard times to see her hit rock bottom, and recover. Recovering is a long and painful process. She has to learn how to build up her relationships, to trust and to find herself again. The ending will not fail you, you will leave this book with a sense of hope and revitalized.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Dreamland: An Escape
"Caitlin, it said in black ink, I'll see you there." Dreamland by Sarah Dessen a New York Times Best-selling Author, published by the Penguin Group in 2000, is the book for you?
This story is fiction about a teenage girl name, Caitlin, trying to find her way through life. Somehow she is trapped in a dreamland where nothing is quite real. Caitlin needs to find her way out, but there are many obstacles standing in her way. Her big sister, Cass, is the favorite child, she was suppose to attend Yale, and her parents want Caitlin to be just like her, but she runs away. Next, Caitlin's parents forget about Caitlin ever existing. Lastly, Caitlin's boyfriend, Rogerson, who Caitlin loves so much, hurts her. This story is full of life changing adventures that Caitlin comes upon, trying to get out of the Dreamland, and to find herself at the end.
Sarah Dessen is trying to inform her readers to be yourself. Caitlin's mother and Rogerson are trying to make Caitlin someone she is not. Next, you need to stand up for yourself, don't let people push you around. If anyone is hurting you, you need to find help. Don't let your emotions get the best of you. This is what happened to Caitlin when she loved Rogerson so much; she just let Rogerson hurt her and beat her. She is in so much pain and did nothing about it. Luckily at the end, Caitlin gets the help she really needs.
Sarah Dessen does a really outstanding job keeping her readers so focused on every page. She doesn't start off slow at the beginning instead she just jumps right in. This makes the book enjoyable to read. She also writes about teenage situations, which her readers can relate to. One negative thing I didn't like about the ending of the book is it just ends making you left thinking on what could happen next. This makes her an excellent writer by doing this, and sometimes you want to keep your readers thinking at the end of a book.
Sarah Dessen is an awesome writer, and I really enjoy reading her books. I recommend Dreamland to any teenager who is looking for an awesome book, or who doesn't enjoy reading books. Trust me you won't get bored. By reading Dreamland, I guarantee you won't be disappointed. This book is so good; it even made me cry in some parts. It really came alive, and it seemed so real. If you like Dreamland, I bet you would like Sarah Dessen's other books Someone Like You and This Lullaby.1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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