Dreamland by Sarah Dessen...

I recently read This Lullaby, by Sarah Dessen. Lately, as in the past year or so, I haven't been reading nearly as much as I always had before. I used to be the kid that would go home and immediately start reading until it was absolutely necessary for me to take a break to eat dinner, take a shower, and do a rush job on my homework. Then I would furiously find where I left off in my book and read throughout the night. But once I started high school and started being involved in sports, clubs, and AP classes, I found that I had less and less free time; and with the little time I had, I wanted to rest my brain as much as possible by just watching t.v. or hanging out at the mall with friends.

Part of it, too, was that I couldn't really find any books I was really into. Like almost every kid who has ever picked up a book, I went through the Harry Potter phase. I even went through the Twilight phase in middle school. But when I tried to start getting into my heavy reading habit again, I couldn't find any material that got me hooked as much as HP or Twilight (by the way, I am not embarrassed that I went through the Twilight phase. I must say, I liked the books a lot more before the huge craze hit-I felt like it was my secret discovery book-but the fact of the matter is, I enjoyed the book a LOT).

My friends always suggested and lent me books to read-Vampire Academy, anyone?-and although it started getting me back into reading, I didn't particularly find any of them amazing.

But (ah, of COURSE there is a 'but'!) I then found an author that I really enjoyed: Sarah Dessen. Okay, yes I realize I am quite a few years behind when it comes to Sarah Dessen. I remember in middle school (I'm a Senior now) I bought my friend a Sarah Dessen book, as well as introduced her to Twilight, for her birthday. But I never actually read her books. That was until I checked out This Lullaby from the library and, surprise, surprise, liked it a ton.

There was something really funny and appealing about her style of writing, not to mention the fact that it was a teen love story and, come on...what single high school girl doesn't love a good romance! So after finishing that book in two days, I immediately went on my online library account and reserved Dreamland.

I'll admit, Dreamland almost seems like it was written by a completely different author. But I was pleasantly surprised. It's a book about an abusive relationship (it's about a lot more than that but I'm not really a book reviewer and I'm sure you can find your own reviews of the book online). As someone who has always had this sort of twisted, curious fascination with abusive relationships, I got hooked on the book (not in a masochistic way. It's sort of like how people like to watch Cops, or Hoarders, or murder shows. It's an interest in what is a known social taboo, something that you know you will never experience which makes it all the more intriguing).

After reading those two books, I am definitely back in the reading game. I'm unstoppable. I'm abusing my library card privileges wholeheartedly by checking out way more books than is necessary just so that I can race through every book like a madman. Anyway, the moral of the story is...

Reading is good. That, and make time to do things you love. Sure, I stopped being an avid reader for a couple of years. I didn't miss reading when I wasn't reading, mostly because I forgot how lost I could get in books. But when I finally made time for it, came back, and realized my passion for reading a second time, I was happy. I am happy.

Not a profound life lesson or anything. Just an observation. And a chance for me to announce my, very late, discovery of the lovely Sarah Dessen. Hooray for late bloomers!

-A