Dreamland

The opening chapters of Dreamland move back and forth in time frequently, establishing a nonlinear structure that is critical to later plot developments. Caitlin moves easily between what happened three days ago and what is happening in the present moment, narrating it almost as if the events are parallel. This emphasizes the emotional confusion she feels in the wake of her sister’s disappearance. Additionally, it sets up a dreamlike narrative structure in which the reader must follow Caitlin’s story closely to understand what is happening and when. The nonlinear structure of the first chapters establishes that Caitlin will not tell everything that happens directly in the order that it happens, which will both be a consequence of the abuse she faces later in the novel and a foreshadowing of the resolution she will find at the end.

The title of this section, “Cass,” in connection to the other two sections, “Rogerson” and “Me,” also fits with the choice to structure the novel in a nonlinear way. Caitlin’s story is broken into three parts, but these are not necessarily linear. They are focused on her experience of relationships with three people: Cass, Rogerson, and herself. By sectioning the novel in this way, Sarah Dessen frames the importance of these connections for Caitlin. Further, Dessen makes it clear that the novel is following a story that has more to do with interactions with people than about narrating a particular truth or series of events. This is characteristic of young adult novels, which often center the emotions of the protagonist rather than facts or logical processes. Caitlin’s journey is psychological and less tied to a concrete series of events; the novel’s structure is set up specifically to support this.

One underlying theme of the novel that is introduced early on is the question of what exactly makes someone fall in love. Every character in Dreamland has a relationship with someone, at some point in the text. In fact, Caitlin is the only one without a romantic interest at the start of the novel. In the early chapters, Caitlin watches the relationships around her with interest. She wonders what would make someone like Cass leave their home to be with a boyfriend. Simultaneously, she observes Boo and Stewart and their quirky, loving interactions, in contrast with Caitlin’s own stressed parents who rarely speak directly to one another. At 16, Caitlin is old enough to recognize that there is something keeping these relationships together, but she is not quite able to figure out what that factor is, tying the narrative to the aspects of Visibility and Physical Appearance. Her confusion about how and why people love each other romantically is a key thematic factor in her eventual relationship with Rogerson.

Caitlin’s jealousy is defined early on as an important factor in her relationship with Cass and her behavior at school and at home. Sibling relationships are a source of tension for many children and teenagers; despite her close connection with her sister, Caitlin remains frustrated by her inability to match Cass’s success and importance within the larger family dynamic. The O’Koren parents are portrayed as limited in their ability to value their younger daughter. Caitlin’s feeling of insecurity in her own family system is a critical part of her characterization; Dessen sets Caitlin up as a character who feels that she has parts of her that are unfulfilled and unseen by her parents, highlighting the complexity of Parent-Child Relationships. Now that Cass is gone, Caitlin finds her old jealousies resurfacing and impacting her self-esteem. This insecurity creates a conflict within Caitlin that she can’t resolve on her own.