Title: Awake and DreamingAuthor: Kit Pearson
Publish Date: September 2008
Publisher: Penguin Group
Pages: 240pp
ISBN: 0143056379
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Annotation: Nine-year-old Theo in Vancouver, Canada and desperately wants a new family, in fact she dreams and wishes for one, and one day her dreams and wishes come true.
Plot Summary: Theo is nine years old and lives with her mother in Vancouver, Canada. They are extremely poor and Theo is often neglected by her immature mother, so she decides to go live with her aunt in Victoria. While aboard the ferry, Theo falls into a deep sleep. When she awakes, she finds herself in a big comfortable bed—in a big comfortable house with a wonderful and nurturing family with four perfect siblings who are always happy. At first, Theo is confused, but eventually she becomes accustomed to this new life with her new family—all her dreams came true and she has everything she ever wanted. Until she is awaken by a strong gust of wind, and her dreamworld is gone. Theo feels she cannot live without her new family and decides to go searching for them and is amazed at what she finds.
Personal Response: A beautiful story about finding happiness wherever you are. Kit Pearson does a fantastic job at weaving fantasy into reality. Theo is a charming character with applicable emotions. I found the prevalent theme of finding happiness wherever your at to be a wonderful message for youth and young readers may learn from Theo’s experiences.
~Reader’s Advisory~
Themes: Be thankful for what you have. No matter how bad your situation is, there is always someone in a worse situation.
Age Range: 9-12
Subjects: Adventure, Identity, Family Relationships, Dreams, Imagination, Poverty, Contentment
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