[LM_NET] SEC: Book Review: Dreamquake by Knox

[Doyle_Tony <tdoyle@MUHSD.K12.CA.US>]

This review, and others, can be found on "Shelf Life: The Livingston High School 
Reading Blog":
http://lhsblog.edublogs.org/


Dreamquake by Elizabeth Knox

(Note: I read this last fall and never blogged it.)

Book 1 in this duet, Dreamhunter, ended seemingly in the middle of the story’s 
climax.  It was one of those endings that makes you want to take the author by the 
lapels and yell, “why did you do that to me?!”  Finally, after more than a year, 
the second book was released.  There was no way I was going to wait for the 
paperback.  Now I can forgive Ms. Knox.  Dreamquake is every bit as good as book1, 
and this time the story has an ending.

This volume begins with the cataclysmic scene that ended the first book.  Laura 
Hame, a young dreamhunter (someone who can catch and share dreams from the 
mysterious “Place”) overrides her famous aunt as she shares a pleasant holiday 
dream with thousands of people at the Rainbow Opera.  The dream Laura shares is 
terrifying and it begins to expose insidious government corruption and abuse.  
Laura’s actions sicken and injure thousands of people and create turmoil.  As 
Laura, her living sandman creation, and her cousin Rose, struggle to remain free 
and to show people the truth about the government’s plans, Laura must also deal 
with a larger and more profound mystery.  What is “The Place”, where did it come 
from, and what does it want from her?

While there is a good deal of action and plenty of plot twists, it is the 
relationships that rule in this story.  Knox is a pleasure to read and she creates 
some great characters, not least of which is Nown, the sandman.  If you haven’t 
read Dreamhunter already you should definitely read that first.  Highly recommended 
for stronger readers grades 9-adult.


Tony




--------------------------------------------------
Anthony Doyle, Teacher Librarian
Livingston High School
Livingston, CA
tdoyle@muhsd.k12.ca.us<mailto:tdoyle@muhsd.k12.ca.us>

"Play nice."
Mrs. Young (my kindergarten teacher)

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