The Seems: The Glitch in Sleep: The Glitch in Sleep

THE SEEMS As a grandparent thinking of books to fascinate the hearts and minds of grandchildren, "The Seems" is high on my list. Like Winnie-the-Pooh sixty or so years ago (I hate to admit it), this book has the capacity to feed the imagination of an entire generation of young people. And like Winnie the Pooh, behind the wondrous child's tale lies an adult perspective that is full of tender humor, irony, and an appealing philosophy of life. Becker Drane is a twelve year old boy from Highland Park, New Jersey who, having applied for the "Best Job in the World," finds himself a "Fixer" in the "Seems," the invisible world behind our own that keeps things here on earth running according to the "Plan." When a Glitch occurs in the Department of Sleep, and no one on earth is getting the shut-eye they need, Becker gets the call to "Fix" the situation. In the highly competent company of senior Fixer Cassiopia Lake, an engaging and gutsy twenty-some year old girl, he sets out to save the world. The adventure is fast paced and taut enough to keep young readers on the edge of their chairs. Adults will love the sophisticated humor, word play, and above all the deeper human values which, for a reader like me, are the book's strongest selling point. Tony Gaenslen

I had to sign some kind of form at the front of this book before reading it, so I'm not sure if I'm allowed to tell you any of this...but here goes. Imagine that The World we know is constructed somewhere else. The sunset is painted daily, the world's rain is regulated through a huge water tank, and a Good Night's Sleep is packaged, processed, and sent to you nightly, with a specially built dream enclosed just for you. Beyond the In-Between, every detail of the world is carefully fashioned by workers in The Seems. When Becker Drane was nine years old, he filled out an application for "The Best Job in the World" on a lark. Three years later, he's a newly promoted Fixer for The Seems eagerly awaiting his first mission. However, the one he receives is tougher than most--to fix a Glitch that is ravaging the Department of Sleep. The World is in peril as The Chain of Events that depends on the delivery of the night's dreams grows in danger of slipping. Becker must use all of his skills and training to find the Glitch before a Ripple Effect occurs, undoing all of the careful work of The Seems and ripping the very Fabric of Reality away. Humorous and exciting, this first book left me eager for more from this new series, and you can be sure I'll be reading the rest. As long as I can get past the red tape next time... Reviewed by: Allison Fraclose

First, a caveat emptor: I know the authors and count them as friends. That said, if I hadn't really enjoyed The Seems I simply wouldn't have written anything here at all. Luckily this was not the case. This a book with a grand and cinematic flare. Meet Becker Drane, he's a very cool kid who just happens to have the coolest job in the world that entails him using James Bond via Willy Wonka gadgets and the sage words of those that have trained him for the tasks at hand. Highly unpredictable, and full of skewed humor that made me laugh right out loud several times, the book is a great stepping off point with plenty of promise for what's to come in the series. Take a chance on this one...

I am over 60 and work in a school library processing books for an elementary school. When I processed THE SEEMS, the book jacket info caught my attention and I took the book home to read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I really got into the characters. The authors have done an excellent job of using familar words and making them tell THE STORY with capital letters in a most unusual way. I see a good versus evil theme working its way through the storyline. I enjoyed the positive slant to the story, how it was an adventure and fantasty all in one, and how I look forward to the sequel. Good reading for young and old.

A great first book that introduces a world I hope to have a chance of revisiting! The opening chapter grabs you, pulls you in and unveils a whole new world that you never knew existed. This is an amalgamation of Terry Pratchett, J.K. Rowling and Douglas Adams and yet manages to remain unique - not a "re-telling" to simply try and hitch a ride on the Potter bandwagon (I loved Harry Potter). The Seems will appeal to readers young and old alike. For the young it is a well told adventure / fantasy, for the older reader it has a story that keeps you turning the pages, with the added entertainment of some clever word play. If you have ever wondered what makes the difference between a good day and a bad day then you have to read this book!