40. Wake by Lisa McMann

Wake by Lisa McMann

ISBN: 978-1-4169-5357-9

Simon Pulse, New York, 2008

210 p.

Plot Summary

Since she was eight years old, Janie Hannagan has been pulled into other people’s dreams.  Merely by being in the same room with someone dreaming, her vision darkens until all she sees is that person’s dream.  Now seventeen years old, Janie is tired of her inability to control this and get some sleep of her own and maybe even experience her own dreams.  For the most part, the dreams of her fellow students that fall asleep in study hall or during class are of the falling or naked without anyone noticing kind, but, when driving by a student’s house at night, thanks to an open window, Janie is pulled into a gruesome nightmare of a monster with knives for fingers attacking a man and decapitating him.  Also, many of the dreamers have been turning to her in their dreams and asking her to help them, but every time she tries, Janie finds that she cannot speak or move to protect them.  Tired from both her lack of sleep and the energy that entering dreams takes out of her, Janie is determined to figure out how to control her ability and how she can possibly help people with it.

Critical Evaluation

Wake is a suspenseful novel that blends together supernatural elements and the everyday realities of teen life.  In addition the Janie’s problem of not being able to control her ability, she faces issues in both her school and home life.  As one of the less affluent students at school, she is ostracized by the rich girls and only has one true friend, Carrie.  Also, she is dealing with having an alcohol mother and has learned how to take care of herself, forcing her to mature at a young age.  These problems are reflective of many teens’ problems around the world and help to establish Janie as a realistic and relatable character.  Even though she has supernatural powers, she is still very much a teenager as she deals with relationships and her insecurities, especially when it comes to her love interest, Cabel. 

In order to help the reader understand the chronology of the events, the author chose to break down each chapter by date and time, resembling diary entries.  At the beginning of the novel, when providing the reader with back-story about what happened to Janie and how she realized her ability, the segments jump from hours to years apart and it took a little while for me to get used to the writing style.  However, after a couple of chapters, I was hooked on the story and the numerous twists involved.  The novel is definitely one that I would recommend to young adults that are interested in mystery or suspense novels, as well as reluctant readers that need a novel with a story that sucks you in, just as Janie is sucked into the dreams. 

Reader's Annotation

Janie Hannagan has been sucked into other people’s dreams since she was eight years old, unable to control entering the dreams or offer help to those seeking it.  When one dream puts her face-to-face with a knife-fingered monster, Janie needs to learn how to pull herself out of the dreams and finally have some of her own.

Information About the Author

Born in Holland, Michigan, on February 27, 1968, Lisa McMann has known that she wanted to be a writer since the 4^th grade.  Now married with two children, McMann calls Phoenix, Arizona home.

McMann has published four novels to date, The Wake Trilogy and her newest, Cryer’s Cross.  In August, she will release a dystopian fantasy novel, The Unwanteds.  She has also published many short stories, including a creative nonfiction essay, “When You’re Ten,” and the award-winning short story, “The Day of the Shoes.” (information from author’s website: http://www.lisamcmann.com/index.html and Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_McMann)

Genre

Mystery/Psychological Thriller

Curriculum Ties

English - Reading Comprehension and Literary Response and Analysis

Booktalking Ideas

1. Retell Janie’s first experience being pulled into a dream.

2. Focus on Janie’s relationship with her mother.

3. Describe the friendship between Janie and Carrie.

4. Talk about Janie’s feelings for Cabel.

Reading Level/Interest Age

13+

Challenge Issues

The novel contains scenes of teen and adult alcohol and drug use, as well as a few descriptions of violence.

When confronted with complaints about this novel, librarians should become familiar with the material and its content.  Turn to reviews from publications such as Publisher’s Weekly, School Library Journal, and Booklist, as well as reviews from teens that have read it.  Also, it is beneficial for librarians to present reasons backed by the ALA in support of intellectual freedom.  As stated in the Library Bill of Rights:

I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.

II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.

Why Include Book in Selection? 

I first heard about this novel during the Author/Genre presentations and the premise of being pulled into others’ dreams intrigued me.