Dreamland

Content Warning: This section discusses physical abuse by a family member and physical abuse by a partner.

Photography becomes an important part of Caitlin’s life, and cameras and photographs both serve as important symbols in the text. Through photography class, Caitlin maintains a relationship with Boo and her mother, which otherwise might have been impossible given Rogerson’s manipulative behavior and emotional abuse to separate Caitlin from her friends and family. More importantly, Caitlin is able to use her newfound ability to take photos to capture the world around her and process her feelings through this art form.

At the start of her photography journey, Caitlin first establishes its significance in relation to her past achievement. Her sense of confidence as a photographer begins to blossom and serves as a strong juxtaposition to her evolving insecurities in her romantic relationship. She describes her first portrait as “the first thing I’d done in a long time that I was truly proud of, so much so that I hung it on my mirror, replacing my second-place ribbons and B honor roll certificates” (127). Her photograph is able to actively replace her feelings of being “second-place” as she finds her artistic