Instead, these authors take the chance of writing an extended resolution, arguing, I imagine, that it takes time to resolve the problems people have. There is something to be said for authors that refuse to write the 'Hollywood ending.' They believe in their stories enough to write characters that need more than a big screen smooch to resolve their conflicts. Like I said heartbreaking, but in the way we need it to be. If you liked this one read Breathing Underwater, which shows this situation from the other side. It's the best book on the subject I have read. Dessen's style shines and does an excellent job of telling Caitlin's story, which I know will hit home for some teenage girls. If you are looking for something happy this isn't it, but it's worth the read. As always her symbolism is perfect, and as all you fans know she really does know her stuff. She does this in all her books, but it's emphasized in this one especially. Sarah Dessen is the queen of showing how all the little choices we make add up to what path we are lead to. Sometimes to heal you have to go through pain, and drugs cheat you of that opportunity.

Dessen does a good job of showing the negative effects of drugs without being preachy, or on the other hand being mistaken as a 'stoner' book. Rogerson is a dealer, so it was inevitable. Be warned that there is a lot of drug use. It really opened my eyes to the situation she was in. I understood why Caitlin thought they way she did, even if it was wrong. Though that isn't true, you always have a choice. She herself knows that she is on a destructive path, but feels like she can't do anything to get out of it.

(I don't want to give away what happens because it isn't mentioned in the cover blurb) I literally wanted to shake Caitlin sometimes. Things seem to be ok at first, but you see hints of things that just don't seem right. He's different and wild, and she feels like she can gain that from him. And that trouble is named Rogerson (this is random but I HATED the way he dressed).

She never feels like she measures up to her sister Cass, and in turn that leads her to trouble. While reading this I literally cringed and would slap the book shut, but a couple seconds later I would open it again to see what happens to a girl named Caitlin. Is there another word for heartbreaking? One that really can sum up feeling totally drained, broken, but at the same time hopeful? If the word does exist, that's this book in a nutshell.

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen