Into the Dream

HOME SCHOOL BOOK REVIEW






Book: Into the Dream



Author: William Sleator



Cover Illustrator: Richard Williams



Publisher: Puffin Books, Reprinted 2000



ISBN-13: 978-0525325833 Hardcover



ISBN-10: 0525325832 Hardcover



ISBN-13: 978-0141308142 Paperback



ISBN-10: 0141308141 Paperback



Language level:  1



(1=nothing objectionable; 2=common euphemisms and/or childish slang terms; 3=some cursing and/or profanity; 4=a lot of cursing and/or profanity; 5=obscenity and/or vulgarity)



Recommended reading level: Ages ‏8 – 12



Rating: **** 4 stars



(5 stars=EXCELLENT; 4 stars=GOOD; 3 stars=FAIR; 2 stars=POOR; 1 star=VERY POOR; no stars=NOT RECOMMENDED)



Category: Science fiction



Reviewed by Wayne S. Walker



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     Sleator,William.  Into the Dream (Published in 1979 by Dutton Juvenile, a division of E, P. Dutton Inc., 2  Park Ave., New York City, NY  10016; republished in 1985 by Scholastic Inc., 730 Broadway, New York City, NY  10003).  Twelve year old Paul Rhodes, who lives with his divorced mother and is a student at Wiley School, has a recurring, frightening nightmare every night, where he’s standing at the edge of a vast empty field, trying to move toward a large, glowing sphere, a small boy is in awful danger, and Paul must save him. Paul’s convinced he’s losing his mind — until he learns that his classmate Francine Gill, who also lives with her divorced mother, has the same harrowing dream too. The two of them find that they have ESP and are determined to join forces, solve the mystery, and save the little boy — before their bad dream becomes terrifying reality.



     How should Paul and Francine go about finding the little boy?  If and when they find him, what can they do to keep him from falling into terrible trouble?  And who are those two strange men in dark suits following them?  Youngsters who like chilling, scary, even macabre thrillers will enjoy this book. There are some references to smoking cigarettes but nothing in it that is inappropriate.  The only other book by Sleator that I have read is The Boxes , which I did not really care for.  But Into the Dream is not too bad and seems to be written for a somewhat younger audience than much of Sleator’s work, but it is a good introduction to the genre for younger children, although there is enough suspense and action in the plot that it would still be interesting for older readers as well.