2020-11-05
A young girl must harness a strange ability to save her brother in this debut children’s novel.
Like many older sisters, Isla loves her brother, Ethan, but is frustrated by his constant need for attention. When he falls off a swing in their backyard and hits his head, Isla and her father, who is a doctor, must watch over him at the Monadnock Sleep Disorder Center. The center was founded by her father, who specializes in sleep disorders, and his friend Dr. Amit Prasad, both of whom have unique talents about which Isla knows nothing. While sleeping at the center, Isla and Ethan, who is still comatose, find themselves wandering through odd, dark dreams—a new sensation. They never dreamed much in the past. After telling her father about her remarkable experience, Isla learns that she is a “theta” with an ability that allows her to view others’ dreams. She feels as if she’s right there with the dreamers. She soon unearths key information about her parents’ odd, sleep-related powers and her mother’s dying wish that Isla and Ethan be kept out of Somnium, the world of dreams, so they can remain safe from those who would want to use them and cause them harm. But being kept in the dark didn’t stop Ethan from drifting into a coma, and learning the truth may be the only way to save him. This imaginative novel weaves the real world seamlessly into the vivid dreamscape. In addition, Sterling’s detailed descriptions of the bizarre dreams are evocative (“Above the bed was a mural with animals. Isla looked closer. The animals appeared to be moving. What is going on? She watched as a sheep, two cows, a few pigs, and some chickens moved about their penned in area outside a farmhouse, eating their dinner”). Perhaps because this is a series opener, there are some aspects of the characterizations and pacing that feel rushed. But overall, the author delivers an exciting, inventive story that will spark anticipation for the next installation. This is a superb read for clever kids who like a little bit of darkness in their magical adventure stories.
A thrilling tale about the power of dreams.