Dreamland

Authors Note: I wrote an point of view piece on one of my favorite books.

Inside the novel Dreamland, By Sarah Dessen, It is told by main character Kaitlin’s point of view, which may really affect the readers thoughts on some things. She has had a very rough life ever since her only sister, Cass ran away from home on Kaitlin’s 16^th birthday. Then  Kaitlin’s boyfriend, Rodgerson abuses and he makes her lose connection from her best friend Rina.  That’s not it, Kaitlin’s parents are so tied up on Cass running away, that they almost forgot about Kaitlin.

On the other hand, Kaitlin joins the cheerleading team, she only did it because that was one of the sports her mother enjoyed Cass doing and she wanted to get her mother’s attention.  After their first football game, Kaitlin went to the after party.  She couldn't keep her eyes off this shadowed boy named  Rodgerson. As soon as he talked to her, he offered a ride home. She could refuse the offer, but she got so tied down into his secretive personality that she had to find out more.  As soon as Kaitlin arrives at her house, Kaitlin gives him a sheet of paper with her phone number on it and gives him a kiss goodbye. This just kept Rodgerson wanting her more.

In addition, Kaitlin and Rodgerson start seeing each other more, getting attached, and getting abusive.  Kaitlin can’t see her friends, and when she does, there are always punishments for her.  These punishments are from Rodgerson, they go verbal to physical.  Mainly the reader would think that if this guy is going to beat a woman, then he’s a woman beater.  Rodgerson’s actions  changes  the readers attitude on how they really feel about him.  At first he seemed sweet and shadowed, but in reality, when you really get into the book  he is scary and abusive.

Equally important Rodgerson’s point of view might be slightly different.  Rodgerson might have been protecting  Kaitlin to not make the same mistake Cass made and run away.  Rodgerson just wants to be Kaitlin’s first majority.  When Rodgerson got arrested for doing drugs and beating a woman, he proclaimed that he was having a lot of emotional periods with his family.  During these times, Rodgerson’s Father beat him and Rodgerson’s parents got into very bad fights, so Rodgerson beat and threatened Kaitlin to get his anger out.

In conclusion, things do work out in the end for Kaitlin and Rodgerson was put in jail. Kaitlin has spent the rest of her high school years in a mental hospital.  Ever since her sister ran away it caused Kaitlin to be a little crazy, but Rodgerson calmed her down.   Mainly it depends on the reader if they like or don’t like the point of view a story is told from.