Dreamland
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 forKeeping 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--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.