This is an Online Internet Book Club on Dreamland (reissue) by Sarah Dessen. Discuss this book, share your thoughts, make comments, ask questions, offer responses...
Description
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.
Why do so many girls allow themselves to get into abusive relationships--and what keeps them there? In this riveting novel, Sarah Dessen searches for understanding and answers. Caught in a trap that is baited with love and need, Caitlin must frantically manage her every action to avoid being hit by the hands that once seemed so gentle. All around her are women who care--best friends, mother, sister, mentor--but shame keeps her from confiding in any of them, especially Cass, her brilliant older sister, whose own flight from home had seemed to point the way.
Dessen has here created a subtle and compelling work of literature that goes far beyond the teen problem novel in a story rich with symbolism, dark scenes of paralyzing dread, quirky and memorable characters, and gleams of humor. With the consummate skill and psychological depth that brought her praise for Keeping the Moon, she explores the search for self-identity, the warmth of feminine friendships, and the destructive ways our society sets up young women for love gone wrong. (Ages 14 and older) --Patty Campbell
Book Club Questions for Dreamland (reissue) (Fiction)
Suggested Book Club Questions for Dreamland (reissue) (Fiction)
The following book club questions provide a starting point for creating a reading group discussion on Dreamland (reissue):
- Did Sarah Dessen emphasize any specific themes throughout Dreamland (reissue)? What do you think Sarah Dessen is trying to explain with this theme?
- What was unique about the setting of Dreamland (reissue) and how did it affect the storyline?
- Could you relate to any of the characters? If so, which ones and why?
- How do characters change or learn throughout Dreamland (reissue)? What events caused these changes? Have you or someone you know experienced the same thing?
- How does Dreamland (reissue) reveal Sarah Dessen's own perspectives about people and the world? For a lively discussion, describe why you think Sarah Dessen is liberal or conservative.
- Did certain parts of Dreamland (reissue) affect you emotionally? Why did it evoke those emotions?
- Did Sarah Dessen's point of view on things lend new perspective to your own view of the world?
Book Club Questions for Dreamland (reissue) (for Non-Fiction)
Suggested Book Club Questions for Dreamland (reissue) (Non-fiction)
The following book club questions provide a starting point for creating a reading group discussion on Dreamland (reissue):
- Did Sarah Dessen make persuasive arguments in Dreamland (reissue)? Did Dreamland (reissue) change or reinforce your opinion on the subject?
- What did you learn from Dreamland (reissue)?
- How does Sarah Dessen present the information and did you enjoy it?
- How is Sarah Dessen biased within Dreamland (reissue)? Is there a political slant to what is being discussed and how does it impact the book?
- What, if anything, does Dreamland (reissue) make you want to read next? Why?
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