Dreamland (1-40)

Summary
The book begins with a young girl by the name of Cass running away from home the day of her sister's sixteenth birthday. However, she does leave a present behind and a note for her parents. The note informs her parents not to worry about her and tells them she'll be sure to keep in touch. In addition, it is an apologetic letter because she is aware of how badly her parents will react. The parents do react badly which is perfectly understandable in their situation. Her mum begins weeping and says she has gone to be with "him", the him referring to her twenty-one year old boyfriend. In addition, the mum is extremely saddened because Cass, who is eighteen, is suppose to be moving into Yale University in two weeks. The dad, on the other hand, is more calm and decides to call everyone who knows Cass and where she might be.

Cass's family then informs their neighbours about the devastating disappearance of their family member. Their neighbours share sympathy with them and begins to notice changes in Caitlin, Cass's sister, on the day of her sixteenth birthday. They also observe that she is much quieter than usual but it is all due to the fact of her sister's runaway. About a day or two later, Cass gives her parents a call. The dad answers and queries her about where she is and if she is doing well. Caitlin then picks up the phone on the other line after realizing it is her sister calling. Cass, realizing her sister is on the other line, then apologizes for running away specifically on her birthday. After that, she hands up and the misery in the household once again becomes existent.

Two days later, Caitlin begins a new school year although she has not yet heard from Cass. The mum is still taking it very harshly as she kept Cass's room shut. She is very involved in Cass's activities as if it is Cass herself. The father is then doing what most men will do. Men are not as emotional as women are and the father kept himself at work. He works long hours in other to deviate the pain off of his mind. While in school, Rina, Caitlin's best friends convinces Caitlin to try out for cheerleading. She wants her to do that because it is one thing Cass never did while in school. However, Caitlin argues she never did it because she was an athlete and cheerleading is not a sport.

Everything seems to go back to normal when Caitlin makes the cheerleading team. Her mother goes back to dressing normally once again and finally finds out about her making the cheerleading team. She then suddenly becomes very excited and even says that the two of them should go shopping tomorrow. In addition, she posts her schedule up on the fridge - something she use to do for Cass. When Labour Day is coming up, everyone is deciding whether they should have their annual Labour Day family cookout. The decide to because even if Cass was still with them, she would be in Yale anyways for her freshman orientation. There, mum is laughing with Boo, their neighbour and family friend while dad is talking to Boo's husband. Boo's husband then mentions if it does help, he took away Boo from her family when she was only eighteen. He ended up taking good care of her even though her family was very worried and traumatized. The father gives him a gentle nod and only hopes the same for his daughter and her boyfriend.

Quote
"My mother kept Cass's bedroom shut, with all of her Yale stuff piled up on the bed, waiting for her. I was the only one who ever went up there, and when I did the air always smelled stale and strange, pent up like the sorrow my mother carried in her shoulders, her heart, and her face." (Dessen 25)

Reaction
This quote is honestly beautifully written with a good sense of imagery, simile, and personification. It also conveys a large sense of emotion the mother must be feeling and facing in her life as her first daughter has run away from home weeks before she is supposed to attend Yale University. The mother must be thinking where she went wrong and why did the daughter do this without informing anyone. Perhaps she is thinking did she raise her right and is there something wrong with her daughter. There is imagery where the author describes the smell of the air as stale and strange. Then, there is simile when it is comparing it to the sorrow the mother carried on her shoulders. The mother is absolutely going through a lot and she is very worried. I feel like I am carrying the emotions with her and I am thinking about how my mum would react if I was in a similar situation - horrified, like this mother.

I'm wondering why did she decide to leave on the day of her sister's birthday? That seems very harsh especially if she cares about her sister, the least she could do is wait a few days, she still has time. Did she act impetuously or is she thinking about the long run too? Is is something she has been planning for a long time or is it just something that came up? Who suggested it? Her boyfriend or she? I am guessing it was her boyfriend...