Dormia

For nearly all people, sleep is a time for our bodies to regenerate and regroup for a new day. Some may talk in their sleep, and in more extreme cases, sleepwalking can happen. Regardless, we are without conscious control during this time. Imagine, however, being able to perform extreme and unusual feats without fear, all while sleeping. Twelve-year-old Alfonso Perplexon experiences this on a daily basis, and he never knows where he'll find his sleeping self next: at the top of a 200-foot tree, walking tightropes, or shooting deadly accurate arrows. Lately these sleeping episodes have been occurring more frequently and have centered on caring for an unusual plant in Alfonso's grandfather's greenhouse. The plant's seeds originated from an old rattle passed from Leif Perplexon, Alfonso's deceased father, to Alfonso. The plant's flower changes colors frequently and has garnered much attention from the scientific world. It isn't until a man shows up claiming to be Leif's long-lost brother, Hill, that Alfonso learns the true nature of the plant. It is a rare Dormian bloom meant to be the salvation of the last remaining city of Dormia, a kingdom hidden in the Ural Mountains. Not only is Alfonso a descendant of Dormia, he's also one of the few chosen Great Sleepers equipped with special powers. Immediately Alfonso is launched into an incredible journey to save both the Dormian bloom and Somnos, the last city of Dormia, from total destruction. At first, Alfonso isn't sure who to trust. Is Hill really his uncle, or just someone claiming he is to get at the bloom? The longshoreman, Bilbox, can't be trusted since he has used some of the bloom's magical dust. Or can he? What about the mysterious street girl Resuza, who helps them navigate to the Ural Mountains, but then disappears completely? Alfonso also encounters numerous complications in the Dragoonya, Dormia's ancient and eternal enemy. They will stop at nothing to recover the bloom for themselves --- even if it means killing everything and everyone in their path. With time running out, Alfonso has no choice but to put his life, and the lives of Dormia, into the hands of his uncle and a way of life that he didn't know existed. Along the way he learns about the art of "wakeful sleeping" that the people of Dormia have mastered and the numerous powers of the Dormian bloom. His power as a Great Sleeper is tested in a climactic battle where the very survival of Dormia rests on Alfonso's shoulders. DORMIA presents a fascinating concept of wakeful sleeping and brings it to life with interesting characters, epic landscapes, and a storyline that keeps the pages flipping. In the back of my mind I knew what the ultimate outcome would be, but the journey was full of surprises with a few twists and turns mixed in to keep me thinking and reading. DORMIA also had me longing to do more when I sleep. The characters in the book are able to overcome their nagging fears while sleeping. I think we all might tackle cl

As the Chair of the Language Arts department of a middle school, I am always looking for a new book that will "hook" our adolescent readers. Dormia certainly is one of these books. It offers a look inside an alternative and hidden world that "blossoms" with possibilities. The characters are memorable and well-crafted, the plot has exciting twists and turns, and the final battle scenes certainly leave the reader wanting more. Dormia is an exciting but "safe" fantasy, appropriate to readers of every age. I have recommended it as one of our media center focus books for next year. Halpern and Kujawinski have crafted a unique world, and they carefully guide the reader from one adventure to the next with their puzzles and foreshadowing. It is a summer read that will keep kids engaged and looking for the next book.

I love books that appeal to 10 year olds and 90 year olds alike, so when I read Dormia I was in heaven! If you couldn't put down Harry Potter and The Dark Materials series, this is the book for you. The characters are really well developed and the book certainly makes sleep enchanting!

I really enjoyed this book. Dormia is a world like none other. I read the book in only a few days because there are twists and turns around every page. I could not put it down. There is adventure, fantasy, puzzles... The book is probably geared toward young teenagers, but I think anyone would love this adventure. I hope there are more Dormia books to come.

I didn't want to leave the world of Dormia! I'm 39 years old and got it for my son who is 12. But I definitely enjoyed it as much as he did. I was so scared when Alfonso and Resuza had to go through the Straszydlo Forest! What's great about this book is that it's very intelligently written. There are riddles and beautifully well-crafted characters that really draw you into the story. Not to mention, there's a song included at the end; the National Anthem of Dormia. How cool is that! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Harry Potter or the Lord of the Rings trilogy.