Along for the Ride with Heather and Ginger

My friend Heather and I were chatting one day when she mentioned doing a re-read of her favorite Sarah Dessen novel, Along for the Ride.  Instantly it made me want to go back to Colby with her and see what Auden, Eli, and the rest of the gang were up to (or how they all came to be, I should say).  So we decided to re-read our favorite Dessen novel together and keep each other updated as we experienced this amazing story again.  Please join us as we take you along for the ride...

Reading a favorite for the second time is always scary.  Will we love it just the same the second time around?  Or will we find flaws that we missed the first time around?  Between the pair of us, we definitely focused on some character qualities we didn't recognize so clearly the first time, but it also shed some light on new understandings as well.  Here's a snapshot of our text convo's as we revisited our favorite Dessen novel...

About the book:
It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.

In her signature pitch-perfect style, Sarah Dessen explores the hearts of two lonely people learning to connect. [goodreads]

Visit Heather's Blog  |  Read Ginger's Review

Summer of Sarah Dessen - Just Listen

I am thrilled to be apart of the Summer of Sarah Dessen blog tour, hosted by Penguin Teen!  As an absolute fangirl of everything Dessen writes, it's an honor to be promoting her latest work SAINT ANYTHING as we celebrate her beautiful craft all summer long.

Week Six highlights JUST LISTEN by Sarah Dessen, a powerful novel that illustrates the beauty in shutting out the negative and listening to the silence all around you.  My detailed thoughts on this lovely story are below, followed by original content from Penguin Teen and more details about Summer of Sarah Dessen.

About the book: Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything"—at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf's Department Store.

This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong.

Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to truth-telling. With Owen's help, maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends. [goodreads]

My thoughts: I enjoy Sarah Dessen's books because even though they may look light & fluffy on the cover, the story within is always deeper and meaningful. She has a gift of writing stories about characters with problems that are identifiable, something that we can all relate to. I think she is one of the best YA authors out there at the moment who can send young teenage girls profound messages in such an easy, calming manner - instead of shoving morals down your throat.

Just Listen is about a girl named Annabel who is the youngest of 3 girls in her family. From the outside, her home looks picture perfect - literally. She is someone who is considered popular at school & appear to have the "perfect" life. Over time these picture perfect qualities begin to break & shatter in to a million little pieces. Annabel's family is now dealing with her sister's anorexia problem. At school Anabel is shut out from the popular crowd, mainly by the ring leader Sophie (her ex-best friend), because of an incident that was misunderstood placing Anabel at the wrong place, at the wrong time. Just when Anabel's world is closing in on her, she meets Owen - the bad-boy-turned-good-again who reaches out a hand and asks her if she needs help. It's through his love of music that he slowly rebuilds Anabel's faith in herself, her friends at school, and even her family. The power of shutting out the negative and "just listening" to the silence around you.

The beauty of Sarah Dessen's writing really shown through in the family's struggles with anorexia. She did not create the story around that, but merely introduced it in appropriate places. The evil that surrounds an eating disorder was present and I felt that Dessen did a good job of showing the ugly side, but also representing the positives on how one can seek help for it. The characters in this story felt very real to me. I could see the wrong choices that Anabel had made and wanted so badly to shout them out to her, but just like every other teenager - I knew she had to figure it out for herself. The relationship between Annabel and Owen was very sweet. I give praise to Dessen for not throwing an instant romance in to the mix, but more so a slow build to a lasting friendship.

If you have not read anything by Sarah Dessen, I suggest starting with this book. It's just the right amount of heart-felt laughter mixed in with genuine honesty. I also enjoyed this book due to it's musicality references :-) And as Sarah Dessen writes... "Don't think or judge, just listen."

source

Review: Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
Published: May 5, 2015 by Viking Juvenille
Source: ARC from publisher

Peyton, Sydney's charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family, receiving the lion's share of their parents' attention and—lately—concern. When Peyton's increasingly reckless behavior culminates in an accident, a drunk driving conviction, and a jail sentence, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident?

Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlor, play bluegrass on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time.

The uber-popular Sarah Dessen explores her signature themes of family, self-discovery, and change in her twelfth novel, sure to delight her legions of fans. [goodreads]

Reading a Sarah Dessen book is the essence of YA contemporary.  She manages to capture all of its glory in such a flawless, unforgiving manner.  The characters are multi dimensional, coming alive from the pages with their unique voices.  Dessen is known for her strong-willed character driven novels, and thats a familiarity that I have come to love within her story-telling.  Saint Anything holds its own, yet still offers the comfort of a true Dessen novel.

Immediately I am drawn to Sydney and the shadows she lives in as always being second best to her spotlight brother Peyton.  But when tragedy strikes, sending Peyton to jail, it forces Sydney to step up, creating her own platform to perch from.  I was cautious of Sydney, wanting to see her step out on her own, but also wanting to create a safe harbor for her, too.  She's always done the right thing her entire life, so when she decides to be bold and venture into new friendships that lead to new adventures, I found myself cheering her along.

I had difficulty reading some of the interactions between Sydney and her mother.  Not because it was bad form on Dessen's part, but because it felt so authentic.  As the adult reader, I knew Sydney's mom ultimately loved her and only wanted to protect her.  But I could also see the damage it was doing to Sydney's reluctant courage.  When I find myself shouting out at the pages while reading, I know I'm encountering some amazing writing.

Overall I was pleased with Dessen's latest.  Her beautiful writing reminded me why I fell in love with her storytelling in the first place.  She's an author I wish I would have had as a teenager.  I know its directness, yet gentleness would have spoke volumes to my teenage heart.  I can only imagine the positive impact this particular story will have on today's youth and the ones to come.

A Sarah Dessen Deal Alert!

As a Sarah Dessen fangirl, I had to share this amazing deal alert with my readers here at GReads... today only you can purchase four of her backlist titles for just $2.99 each!  Been wanting to read a Sarah Dessen novel? This is a great opportunity to start!  Are you a fan and want to revisit her beautiful stories? Go ahead and grab these deals up!

The Truth About Forever: BUY/CLICK HERE

Lock and Key: BUY/CLICK HERE

Along for the Ride: BUY/CLICK HERE

Just Listen: BUY/CLICK HERE

Waiting On: Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
To be published: May 5, 2015 by Viking Juvenile

Peyton, Sydney's charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family, receiving the lion's share of their parents' attention and—lately—concern. When Peyton's increasingly reckless behavior culminates in an accident, a drunk driving conviction, and a jail sentence, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident?

Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlor, play bluegrass on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time.

The uber-popular Sarah Dessen explores her signature themes of family, self-discovery, and change in her twelfth novel, sure to delight her legions of fans. [goodreads]

I am definitely a member of said legion!  As a Sarah Dessen fan, I have had my eye on this new one for quite some time.  I adore her novels because they bring such a well rounded theme, touching on all parts of a story, not just one. This novel in particular poses an emotional punch, one that I have faith Sarah Dessen will deliver at her best.  My excitement knows no bounds and I cannot wait until I have the next Dessen read in my hands!

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
Published: May 11, 2004 by Penguin
Source: Purchased from bookstore

A long, hot summer...

That's what Macy has to look forward to while her boyfriend, Jason, is away at Brain Camp. Days will be spent at a boring job in the library, evenings will be filled with vocabulary drills for the SATs, and spare time will be passed with her mother, the two of them sharing a silent grief at the traumatic loss of Macy's father.

But sometimes unexpected things can happen—things such as the catering job at Wish, with its fun-loving, chaotic crew. Or her sister's project of renovating the neglected beach house, awakening long-buried memories. Things such as meeting Wes, a boy with a past, a taste for Truth-telling, and an amazing artistic talent, the kind of boy who could turn any girl's world upside down. As Macy ventures out of her shell, she begins to wonder, Is it really better to be safe than sorry? [goodreads]

All my reviews for a Dessen book begin by professing my love and admiration for an author who writes such spot-on YA contemporaries.  This review will follow suit because once again, she's captured all the right ingredients for what makes my heart sa-woon for contemporary YA!

Macy is the type of girl who lives by a plan, scheduling everything just so, right down to what she'll wear the next day.  It's easier this way when things are mapped out ahead of time, better to avoid the unexpected and be prepared.  But this organized, planner attitude she's crafted is shot into over drive when her father suddenly dies, and the weight of being "fine, just fine" falls on her shoulders.  She's created the image of being perfect, and is expecting her summer to carry out this perfect image just as she's planned it to be.  But then the unexpected happens, and sometimes you can't always plan everything.  Sometimes, things are out of our control, and we must roll with the punches in order to survive.

I struggled a lot with Macy's character in this story, but not because she wasn't well-developed, or because I didn't like her -- it was for the complete opposite, actually.  I struggled with her need to always be perfect, even when her world had been completely turned upside down.  I struggled with her choices she thought she had to make, and her will to keep quiet.  I felt myself wanting to shake Macy, showing her that life doesn't always have a plan, and that's OK.  I wanted to stand up for her when others didn't understand her quiet grief.  The constant connection carried me through this story.

A characteristic of Dessen writing that I can always count on, are her well-developed, engaging secondary characters.  When Macy finds herself working for the Wish catering company, I completely fell in love with the friends she made there.  Then of course, there was the boy.  Sa-woon!  Wes stole scene after scene.  His easy-going, quiet friendship moved in on Macy and showed her the truth to opening up to someone.  I adored their interactions, and really appreciated the presence that Wes brought to Macy's life.

This story is a deeper read for the summer-time, but it's one not to pass up.  I found myself noting page after page, at all the beautiful words that littered this heart-felt story.  Seeing Macy's character evolve in a summer she thought she had planned out, broke my heart a little, but was slowly mended back together through the unforgettable friendships she made, and the realizations she came to.  If you have not read a Dessen book, this is a great starting point.  It highlights so much of what I love in her YA contemporaries.

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen
Published: June 4, 2013 by Viking Juvenile
Received: ARC from publisher

Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.

Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.

Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby?

Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?

Sarah Dessen's devoted fans will welcome this story of romance, yearning, and, finally, empowerment. It could only happen in the summer. [goodreads]

Reading a Sarah Dessen book is like hanging out with an old friend, there's something very comfortable about it.  There's a formula to her novels that I've come to expect, but it's that familiarity that keeps me coming back for more, welcoming each new Dessen read into my world.  I adore summer contemporaries and this one presented so much potential, that I was beyond excited to experience a new story from Sarah Dessen.

We're back in the beach side town of Colby, which I am very familiar with since the last Dessen book I read was Along for the Ride, which is set in the same surroundings.  This cozy little beach haven stole my heart, so coming back to it, with new characters and a new storyline, was such a treat to experience.  Emaline (which I love that name, btw) has just graduated high school and is looking ahead to her last summer in Colby before she embarks on a new journey away at college.  This particular summer begins, just as the last few have, working at her family's beach rental business by day, and hanging out with her best friends and boyfriend down at The Tip by night.

Immediately I was drawn to Emaline's family dynamic.  We quickly learn that her mother had Emaline at a very young age, after a whirlwind summer romance with a boy who was visiting from the City.  After the boy fizzled out, Emaline's mother found a solid relationship with Emaline's step-father, thus completing the family with two daughters of his own.  Their family was whole, but Emaline always had questions when it came to her biological father.  There were few attempts on his part at being present in Emaline's life, only to let her down in the end.  I really gravitated towards Emaline's relationship with her mother since this was the one constant in her life that she knew she could depend on.

What began as any other summer quickly escalates into something Emaline never saw coming.  What was once familiar and normal, is now changing, all within a moment's notice.  With that change comes a new boy in town for the summer, he represents the life Emaline imagines for herself outside of Colby.  The same life her father once promised to make reality, but only to pull the rug out from under her.  All of these changes create new wants and desires for Emaline, and most of the time I felt so confused right alongside her.

In true Dessen form, it was the secondary characters who really stole scene after scene for me.  I loved the family dynamic that circled Emaline.  They created a strong foundation for her, but still had the tendency to shake things up a bit - as so many families tend to do.  As Emaline's mother would express her love for Emaline as "the moon and more", that was the feeling I kept hoping to grasp while reading this story.  There were definite moments that kept me turning the pages, but I never quite got that "I love this book, plus the moon and more".  It was definitely a solid read for me, but I felt it lacked that over the top emotion that a few Dessen reads have left me with in the past.  Over all, fans will enjoy this book -- the perfect escape for summertime!

Sarah Dessen Book Challenge [March]: THIS LULLABY

I Eat Words is hosting a Sarah Dessen Book Challenge all year long to experience her books for the first time, or revisit a past love.  I will be participating sporadically through out the year because there are a few Dessen books I have yet to read, and others I want to experience again.  Be sure to check out my post HERE with all the details and the full schedule.

THIS LULLABY is March's read for the challenge.  I first experienced (and fell in love) with this one awhile back, so I am very excited to have another opportunity to jump back into Remy and Dexter's world.  The witty banter between these two, followed up with those sweet romantic moments, stole my heart.  In my opinion, this is one of Dessen's best.  If you haven't read this one, or any Dessen book for that matter, I highly recommend joining us this month for the challenge and picking up a copy of This Lullaby.  You'll most likely be coming back for more!

About the Book from Goodreads: When it comes to relationships, Remy doesn't mess around. After all, she's learned all there is to know from her mother, who's currently working on husband number five. But there's something about Dexter that seems to defy all of Remy's rules. He certainly doesn't seem like Mr. Right. For some reason, however, Remy just can't seem to shake him. Could it be that Remy's starting to understand what those love songs are all about? 

From acclaimed author Sarah Dessen, this is a captivating novel about a tough-as-nails girl and the unexpectedly charming boy who's determined to soften her up.

Sarah Dessen Book Challenge Hosted by I Eat Words

Sarah Dessen is one of my favorite YA contemporary authors.  Her stories capture the essence of what I feel makes a great contemporary read for teens.  I've read quite a few of her books, but there are still a few that are patiently waiting on my shelf.  So when I saw that I Eat Words was hosting a challenge for Sarah Dessen books I thought, what a great opportunity!

The Challenge: Read a selected Dessen book from the monthly schedule posted at I Eat Words & then come back & tell us what you think!

The Reward: You get to fall in love with Dessen's stories (all over again - or for the first time!)

Here is the monthly schedule of which books to read when:

February - Just Listen
March - This Lullaby
April - Dreamland
May - The Truth About Forever
June - The Moon and More
July - That Summer
August - Along for the Ride
September - Someone Like You
October - Keeping the Moon
November - What Happened to Goodbye
December - Lock and Key

I'm pretty excited about this (especially since she has a new release, THE MOON AND MORE coming out June 4, 2013!!) -- so let me know in the comments if you plan to join in & be sure to stop by I Eat Words and let them know as well :)

Waiting On: The Moon and More

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen
To be published: June 4, 2013 by Viking Juvenille

Set in the fictional beach town of Colby, where several of Dessen's novels take place, it features 18-year-old Emaline, who is spending her last summer before college working for her family's vacation rental business and enjoying a summer romance with a young aspiring filmmaker. [goodreads]

Featured excerpt from the book at USA TODAY.

First of all, I am still in love with the new Dessen covers and her next book is aiding my love for them even more by following suit. Second, IT'S SARAH DESSEN. She is one of those YA contemporary authors that I will always read. ALWAYS. I've said it in multiple reviews before, and I'll say it again, she is that GO TO author that I'll recommend to anyone who wants a well-rounded YA contemporary story. She brings so much to every story she writes. This woman owns it.

After reading the excerpt featured on USA Today, I got even more excited for this novel. I adore the beach side town of Colby and I can not wait to go back and visit it again with a story of new characters, which will be instant new loves!

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
Published: June 16, 2009 by Viking Juvenille
Received: Gifted by Capillya
[Sarah Dessen's newly redesigned covers can be found here.]

It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.

In her signature pitch-perfect style, Sarah Dessen explores the hearts of two lonely people learning to connect. [goodreads]

Visiting a Sarah Dessen book is like visiting the best and worst of times in my younger years.  There is something so comforting and raw about her stories that I just adore.  She can develop a character that may not necessarily be true to my exact past, but there's always bits and pieces of myself I hear in so many of the voices she speaks through out her novels. 

Along for the Ride really stood out to me.  I've read quite a few Dessen books, but something about this one grabbed me and made it difficult to put down.  The story begins just as Auden has graduated from high school.  She never truly had a childhood; always coaxed into growing up before her age defined it.  Auden's mother and father spent the later half of her teenage years in deep arguments late into the night.  Auden attempted to stay up all night, in hopes that if her parents knew she was awake in the wee morning hours, then maybe, just maybe they would stop fighting and get along. Unfortunately, that is not the case and Auden's parents got a divorce.

The summer before she is to go away to college, Auden decides to visit her father, his new wife, and their newborn daughter.  In an attempt to escape her mother's overbearing, critical eye; Auden is hoping to fly under the radar at her dad's house for the summer.  Taking all her academic books in tow, what she finds in this small beach side town is far from anything she could learn through a textbook.  Auden discovers that sometimes life gives you second chances.  Through a series of unforgettable characters, and one particular boy, Auden gets a second chance at unearthing the girl who's laid dormant for far too long.

There is something magical about the hours after midnight, that as a teen, you feel the world is yours to do whatever you want with.  My favorite moments of this novel occurred when Eli took Auden on her "quest" to experience things from her childhood, that she seemed to miss out on.  These two characters were holding on to some pretty emotional pasts, but the connection they found in the middle of the night as they walked the aisles of the 24-hour grocery store, drank coffee at the local laundry mat, or even considered learning how to ride a bike; cured their loneliness.  When the world was asleep, Eli and Auden were alive.

The deeper issues which Auden waded through when it came to her parents and their divorce presented a mature tone to the story.  Though this girl was having fun during those late night hours, she still had demons to battle when it came to accepting that her parents choices did not dictate the person she should be.  I loved the unexpected connection Auden found in her stepmother Heidi, and the girl friends she met through Heidi's store.  Though Auden expected a summer of nothing, what she got was a summer that changed her life.

Sarah Dessen has a way with words that sneak up on you when you're not expecting them to.  I found myself marking pages, line after line.  She knows how to send a message, but not in a preachy way.  If there is ever an author to recommend to a teenager, I would most definitely choose Sarah Dessen, and in particular this story.  Dessen is a timeless writer.  I feel that her stories have the capacity to touch each generation; continuously moving forward for new readers to discover.

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
Published: April 6, 2006 by Puffin
Received: gifted from Farrah at I Eat Words - thank you!!

Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything"—at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf's Department Store.

This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong.

Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to truth-telling. With Owen's help, maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends. [goodreads]

I enjoy Sarah Dessen's books because even though they may look light & fluffy on the cover, the story within is always deeper and meaningful.  She has a gift of writing stories about characters with problems that are identifiable, something that we can all relate to.  I think she is one of the best YA authors out there at the moment who can send young teenage girls profound messages in such an easy, calming manner - instead of shoving morals down your throat.

Just Listen is about a girl named Annabel who is the youngest of 3 girls in her family.  From the outside, her home looks picture perfect - literally. She is someone who is considered popular at school & appear to have the "perfect" life.  Over time these picture perfect qualities begin to break & shatter in to a million little pieces.  Annabel's family is now dealing with her sister's anorexia problem.  At school Anabel is shut out from the popular crowd, mainly by the ring leader Sophie (her ex-best friend), because of an incident that was misunderstood placing Anabel at the wrong place, at the wrong time.  Just when Anabel's world is closing in on her, she meets Owen - the bad-boy-turned-good-again who reaches out a hand and asks her if she needs help.  It's through his love of music that he slowly rebuilds Anabel's faith in herself, her friends at school, and even her family.  The power of shutting out the negative and "just listening" to the silence around you.

The beauty of Sarah Dessen's writing really shown through in the family's struggles with anorexia.  She did not create the story around that, but merely introduced it in appropriate places.  The evil that surrounds an eating disorder was present and I felt that Dessen did a good job of showing the ugly side, but also representing the positives on how one can seek help for it.  The characters in this story felt very real to me.  I could see the wrong choices that Anabel had made and wanted so badly to shout them out to her, but just like every other teenager - I knew she had to figure it out for herself.  The relationship between Annabel and Owen was very sweet.  I give praise to Dessen for not throwing an instant romance in to the mix, but more so a slow build to a lasting friendship.

If you have not read anything by Sarah Dessen, I suggest starting with this book.  It's just the right amount of heart-felt laughter mixed in with genuine honesty.  I also enjoyed this book due to it's musicality references :-)  And as Sarah Dessen writes... "Don't think or judge, just listen."

Sarah Dessen Week: Dreamland

I am participating in Sarah Dessen Week hosted by the lovely ladies of The Reading Housewives and YA Bibliophile.  All week long different blogs will be posting reviews & discussions on all things Sarah Dessen!  Be sure to visit the link-up page here to see who all will be participating in this epic tribute to such an amazing YA author!

I am re-posting a review I had written several months back (when GReads had only 10 followers! seriously!).  This book, in particular, spoke volumes to me.  I know that Sarah Dessen is known for her swoon-worthy characters & that easy-going storyline.  But every once in awhile she throws us a curve ball that leaves the reader breathless.  Dreamland did just that for me.  Below are my original thoughts on the story that lingered inside my head long after I turned the last page.

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen
Published: September 1, 2000 by Penguin Group

Wow. This intense story caught me off guard & I found it difficult to put down, yet difficult to keep turning the pages as well. In the few book synopsis that I read about this story, I never once read anything about an abusive relationship. So when this story took a turn down a horrible path, I myself felt like I had been slapped in the face. Of course all the signs were there, but like so many people think.. we just didn't want to believe this could be true.


Caitlin is your typical teenage girl trying to find her place in this world. She has always lived in the shadows of her "perfect" older sister Cass. Their parents constantly praising Cass for her accomplishments & staying on her heels so that she never falters from her pristine schedule. Caitlin watches from the side lines & finds herself jealous of her sister's "perfect world" and how much attention she receives from their parents for it. Then one day, that all comes to a crashing halt when Cass has made the decision to run away from home & start her life elsewhere, away from the pressures of her parents & what they had planned for her. Caitlin is left in disbelief. How could her sister leave her like that? So now it is up to Caitlin to fill the holes that Cass has left behind. She feels compelled to become the "perfect" daughter by getting involved in chearleading; which gives her mother an excuse to become busy once again in her daughter's life. Caitlin starts going through the motions & thinks she's doing every one a favor. Then one night she meets Rogerson. Dark, mysterious Rogerson. All her friends tell her to stay away; that he has a bad boy reputation. But Caitlin feels herself being sucked in to his world. She describes it as a "dreamland", a place she never wants to wake up from.


As the story continues there are little signs that keep popping out about Caitlin & Rogerson's relationship. As the reader, you want to believe that Rogerson was put in her life during a difficult time for a reason & he's there only to help & be a positive influence on her life. However, this is so far from the truth! Rogerson becomes controlling of who Caitlin hangs out with & gets annoyed when Caitlin is late for their usual meet ups. He starts saying negative things about her friends & cheerleading. Caitlin, of course, feels like Rogerson hung the moon.. so instead of fighting these words, she just accepts them as part of Rogerson's love for her. Then one night everything just spirals out of control. Rogerson's hand, across Caitlin's face. I think I was just as shocked & appalled as Caitlin was. I knew something wasn't right with Rogerson, I did not like him. But me being who I am, I forced myself to think he had reasons for acting this way & he'd soon redeem himself. That one slap changed everything. My heart literally ached for Caitlin. The world she thought she created for herself, all came crashing down around her.


As the weeks & months went by Caitlin found herself in a constant fear of Rogerson & his moods. She never knew when he might lose it again, so she was always on her toes.. making sure she was never late & always there when he wanted her to be. But she came to find, that wasn't enough. Caitlin was withdrawing herself from her family & her friends. Soon her life become nothing but Rogerson. She was using drugs & skipping school. It was the only escape she could find from this dreamland that had turned in to a nightmare. The boy she thought who was there, with an open door, full of possibilities, had quickly shut all the other doors in her life & she felt trapped.


At this point I found it difficult to keep reading. I wanted to know how it ended, yet I was so afraid for Caitlin. I found myself just as anxious, never knowing when Rogerson may get out of control & hit her again. But I knew I had to push through & finish this story. Just when you didn't think things could get worse, they did. Rogerson hit Caitlin for the final time, leaving her body bruised & mangled on the front lawn of her parent's house. By the grace of God, a neighbor saw them & called the cops.. along with Caitlin's mom who had been so oblivious to what Caitlin's world had become that she didn't even know her own daughter was getting the sh*t beat out of her on their front lawn by her boyfriend. I cried for Caitlin. As the cops took Rogerson away she felt relieved the abuse would end & she could finally talk to someone about this, but she also felt sad for him. Sad that the boy she had grown to love, abuse and everything, would no longer be in her life.


Abuse is something that is real. It happens every day. To all different types of people. It does not just have to be a hand across a face, but words as well. To someone who has never found themselves in this type of relationship, you may wonder why Caitlin did not just leave Rogerson after the first time he hit her. Or why she didn't tell anyone either. Unfortunately when the abuse comes from someone you love, the answers are not that simple. Caitlin was already in a messed up situation, Rogerson saw that & took advantage of it. It is NEVER ok for someone to treat another person this way. But sadly, it happens. I hope this book opens people's eyes to the truth behind domestic abuse. There is always a way out & no one has to live this way. Thankfully Caitlin was able to wake up from this dreamland before it was too late.

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

Strange, sleepy Rogerson, with his long brown dreads and brilliant green eyes, had seemed to Caitlin to be an open door. With him she could be anybody, not just the second-rate shadow of her older sister, Cass. But now she is drowning in the vacuum Cass left behind when she turned her back on her family's expectations by running off with a boyfriend. Caitlin wanders in a dream land of drugs and a nightmare of Rogerson's sudden fists, lost in her search for herself. - taken from goodreads.com


Wow. This intense story caught me off guard & I found it difficult to put down, yet difficult to keep turning the pages as well.  In the few book synopsis that I read about this story, I never once read anything about an abusive relationship.  So when this story took a turn down a horrible path, I myself felt like I had been slapped in the face.  Of course all the signs were there, but like so many people think.. we just didn't want to believe this could be true.


Caitlin is your typical teenage girl trying to find her place in this world.  She has always lived in the shadows of her "perfect" older sister Cass.  Their parents constantly praising Cass for her accomplishments & staying on her heels so that she never falters from her pristine schedule.  Caitlin watches from the side lines & finds herself jealous of her sister's "perfect world" and how much attention she receives from their parents for it.  Then one day, that all comes to a crashing halt when Cass has made the decision to run away from home & start her life elsewhere, away from the pressures of her parents & what they had planned for her.  Caitlin is left in disbelief.  How could her sister leave her like that?  So now it is up to Caitlin to fill the holes that Cass has left behind.  She feels compelled to become the "perfect" daughter by getting involved in chearleading; which gives her mother an excuse to become busy once again in her daughter's life.  Caitlin starts going through the motions & thinks she's doing every one a favor.  Then one night she meets Rogerson.  Dark, mysterious Rogerson.  All her friends tell her to stay away; that he has a bad boy reputation.  But Caitlin feels herself being sucked in to his world.  She describes it as a "dreamland", a place she never wants to wake up from.  


As the story continues there are little signs that keep popping out about Caitlin & Rogerson's relationship.  As the reader, you want to believe that Rogerson was put in her life during a difficult time for a reason & he's there only to help & be a positive influence on her life.  However, this is so far from the truth!  Rogerson becomes controlling of who Caitlin hangs out with & gets annoyed when Caitlin is late for their usual meet ups.  He starts saying negative things about her friends & cheerleading.  Caitlin, of course, feels like Rogerson hung the moon.. so instead of fighting these words, she just accepts them as part of Rogerson's love for her.  Then one night everything just spirals out of control.  Rogerson's hand, across Caitlin's face.  I think I was just as shocked & appalled as Caitlin was.  I knew something wasn't right with Rogerson, I did not like him.  But me being who I am, I forced myself to think he had reasons for acting this way & he'd soon redeem himself.  That one slap changed everything.  My heart literally ached for Caitlin.  The world she thought she created for herself, all came crashing down around her.


As the weeks & months went by Caitlin found herself in a constant fear of Rogerson & his moods.  She never knew when he might lose it again, so she was always on her toes.. making sure she was never late & always there when he wanted her to be.  But she came to find, that wasn't enough.  Caitlin was withdrawing herself from her family & her friends.  Soon her life become nothing but Rogerson.  She was using drugs & skipping school.  It was the only escape she could find from this dreamland that had turned in to a nightmare.  The boy she thought who was there, with an open door, full of possibilities, had quickly shut all the other doors in her life & she felt trapped.


At this point I found it difficult to keep reading.  I wanted to know how it ended, yet I was so afraid for Caitlin.  I found myself just as anxious, never knowing when Rogerson may get out of control & hit her again.  But I knew I had to push through & finish this story.  Just when you didn't think things could get worse, they did.  Rogerson hit Caitlin for the final time, leaving her body bruised & mangled on the front lawn of her parent's house.  By the grace of God, a neighbor saw them & called the cops.. along with Caitlin's mom who had been so oblivious to what Caitlin's world had become that she didn't even know her own daughter was getting the sh*t beat out of her on their front lawn by her boyfriend.  I cried for Caitlin.  As the cops took Rogerson away she felt relieved the abuse would end & she could finally talk to someone about this, but she also felt sad for him.  Sad that the boy she had grown to love, abuse and everything, would no longer be in her life.


Abuse is something that is real.  It happens every day.  To all different types of people.  It does not just have to be a hand across a face, but words as well.  To someone who has never found themselves in this type of relationship, you may wonder why Caitlin did not just leave Rogerson after the first time he hit her.  Or why she didn't tell anyone either.  Unfortunately when the abuse comes from someone you love, the answers are not that simple.  Caitlin was already in a messed up situation, Rogerson saw that & took advantage of it.  It is NEVER ok for someone to treat another person this way.  But sadly, it happens.  I hope this book opens people's eyes to the truth behind domestic abuse.  There is always a way out & no one has to live this way.  Thankfully Caitlin was able to wake up from this dreamland before it was too late.