Response 4 "Dreamland"

                                           

     Caitlyn has lived in the shadow of her sister Cass for a very long time. Even     when Cass runs away, thats all her parents can talk about- even though it's Caitlyns birthday. Excepting Cass's move, her parents begin to see Caitlyn as "the new Cass." Caitlyn is made a cheerleader even though she hates it. Eventually, she meets Rogerson, and the two become a couple, even though Rogerson is a drug dealer. Caitlyn begins to meet Rogersons friends and begin to live the sort of lifestyle he lives.  She starts to do drugs, and her school work begins to fail. And then something even more shocking happens. Rogerson beats her. He hits her, over and over. And she takes it. Caitlyn begins to kind of leave the world. She becomes more and more secluded and alone. Her and Rogerson begin to sleep together and Caitlyn states that it is the only time she feels safe with him. Eventually, Caitlyns mother sees Rogerson beating Caitlyn within inches of her life and calls the police. Caitlyn enters a rehab facility and begins to get her life back.

     Dreamland is my favorite book yet by Sarah Dessen. This is the second time reading it for me, and this time It ment more to me. When I first read it, I was only about 14. Now that I am 16, and I have friends that actually do have lifestyles similar to Caitlyns. I sometimes feel like Sarah Dessen has hit being a teenager right on the nose. I love the books by Sarah Dessen, all of them because I can relate to them. No, I dont have a boyfriend that beets me, but that isnt the point. I know people who do. Any girl can relate to a Sarah Dessen book, at least one of them. I have read all of her books thats shes written thus far and I love them. I dont want to give to much away about the book, but it is one of the better books you can find in the library.

    I'd been taught since sixth grade about Peer Pressure and Bad Influences and Just saying No. But for all I knew, I could be the kind of girl that smoked. I could be anything.

   I lit the bowl and took a big drag, feeling the smoke tangle in my throat, making me cough hard, fast. Tears came to my eyes as I handed it back to him, already feeling something change in me, as if I was slowly falling into warm water, one inch at a time.

     Like Caitlyn, I know what it feels like to live in the shadow of my sister. I know how it feels to want to do something so crazy just so people remember you for something other then just being someones sister. I cannot tell you how many times someone has called me my sisters name. I think that has influenced me to change myself and be different then the other people in my family. And I think thats what Caitlyn has been doing. Shes changed herself so shes not just Cass's sister anymore! And that is why I love Sarah Dessens books! They really do relate.

Twenty Boy Summer Response

Frankie and Anna have been best friends forever. They're neighbors and practicly grew up sisters along with Frankies real older brother Matt. But one summer, Matt dies in a car crash, where Anna and Frankie were sitting right next to him. A year later, Frankies parents decide to take a vacation down to their beach house in Zanzibar Bay, and decide to bring Anna along. Frankie has plans for them this summer though. She has planned for Anna to finally have her summer romance by meeting one boy every day while they are there. However, unknown to Frankie is that Anna has already had that summer romance the previous summer. With Matt, Frankies brother, right before he died. Matt and Anna never told their parents or Frankie and when Matt died, it was over, nobody would ever know. Anna carries a journal with her everywhere, keeping her thoughts about Matt with her, secretly hidden on the pages. Both of the girls have changed since Matts death, but Frankie is completly new. All she worries about it is Clothes, Makeup, Boys and of course finding a boy for Anna. Teasing Anna all the time, Frankie does find Anna and herself two boys to spend the summer with, Jake and Sam.

   Sam and Anna begin to spend large amounts of time together, alone. Anna is slowly able to enjoy being around a guy who isn't Matt. Their romance along with Jake and Frankies are able to flourish, away from home. Having secrets from your best friend never turns out spectacular though and soon both girls are able to learn new, hurtfull things about the other. The biggest surprise is for Frankie when she learns of her bestfriends romance with her brother.

                   “Anna, he was my brother. Mine,” Frankie screams.

                      “You have no right to have anything left of him!”

   Even though "Twenty Boy Summer" is on a few Banned Books Lists, I would recomend it to anyone. Honestly, I couldn't even tell you why it is banned in a few places. It's enticing, and one of my favorite books. I wish that I could read it again for the first time. Sarah Ockler does an amazing job with this book. She is able to hit those fights between best friends spot on. All in all, if you do find yourself looking for a good book, pick up "Twenty Boy Summer" by Sarah Ockler.