Dreamland

Caitlin has always been in the shadow of big sister Cassandra. That is until Cass picks up and skips town with her new boyfriend Adam. Her parents, so upset that their little girl has run off and ruined a perfect life, withdraw themselves from everything, including Caitlin. That’s when Caitlin meets Rogerson Biscoe.
“There were so many things I loved about him. The smell of his skin, his hair, wild and dreadlocked. The way he pressed his hand into the small of my back. He was so attentive, with one eye on me regardless of what else he was doing.”

Rogerson is different from anyone Caitlin has ever known. He is everything Caitlin isn’t. He’s confident, compelling and dangerous. Rogerson makes Caitlin feel on top of the world. He puts aside his “bad boy” persona and lets her in to his deepest feelings. She is finally able to forget about her parents and sister. It’s almost as if she is in a dreamland. Everything is so perfect with Rogerson, there is no way it can be real.

Finally, Caitlin has someone to make her feel alive. She is no longer in anyone’s shadow. She pushes away all her friends and spends every last minute with Rogerson. It’s as if she can’t live without him. Their relationship seems flawless to those on the outside.

To those on the inside, however, they know things with Caitlin and Rogerson are far from perfect. He has thrown Caitlin into a world she never knew existed. A world of sex, drug abuse, and violence. Suddenly, being with Rogerson is Caitlin’s biggest problem. Buts she’s fallen so fast and hard and can’t see the problem. So what if he slapped her in the car. After all, she was late. But what happens when the slaps turn into punches, and the punches turn into kicks?

“When he hit me, I didn’t see it coming. It was just a quick blur, a flash out of the corner of my eye, and then the side of my face just exploded, burning as his hand slammed against me.” “We didn’t talk about what happened. Rogerson parked in front of my house and kissed me tenderly, cupping my chin in his hand. As much as I hated to admit it-it seemed impossible, just so wrong-I felt that rush that always came when he kissed me, the one that made me feel unsteady and wonderful all at once.”

Can Caitlin wake up from this dreamland she’s fallen into and save herself and Rogerson before it’s too late? Dessen places you within the relationship of Caitlin and Rogerson. You will be right there through the good times and the bad, wishing and hoping for Caitlin to just wake up.