Dreamland

Sarah Dessen

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2000

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue

Part 1, Chapters 1-3

Part 1, Chapters 4-6

Part 2, Chapter 7

Part 2, Chapters 8-10

Part 2, Chapters 11-12

Part 3, Chapters 13-15

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

PrologueChapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue Summary

Content Warning: This novel graphically depicts teen dating violence, physical and emotional family abuse, and drug use.

Cass O’Koren ran away to live with a boyfriend, instead of attending Yale as she is expected to. Caitlin O’Koren, the younger of the two sisters, describes her parents’ reactions to Cass’s disappearance. As the family reels from the situation, Boo and Stewart, their neighbors, come over to offer support. When Caitlin heads back upstairs, she opens her gift that Cass had left for Caitlin’s 16th birthday: It is a dream journal, with a note that says, “I’ll see you there” (5).

Prologue Analysis

The Prologue establishes several key relationships that will remain central to the plot. Caitlin is secondary to her sister, especially for her parents. Mr. and Mrs. O’Koren focus their attention only on Cass, ignoring Caitlin and not acknowledging her birthday. Additionally, Caitlin’s parents don’t see that she has a cut on her face, which is a key foreshadowing of the injuries that are to come. Despite the way her sister’s disappearance is posed to negatively impact her, Caitlin feels strongly about her connection with her sister, reflecting on how Cass “would never have forgotten [Caitlin’s] birthday” (5).