The Dream Catcher

Rating:
Summary: Dream a Little Dream of Me . . .
Review: "The Freedom Man danced out of the Ark/ Over the hills so shady/ Into the light and out of the dark/ To be with his red-haired lady."

It is a year in a far-flung future, when the survivors of mankind have retreated into small, isolated communities called Arks. Fifteen-year-old Ruth is a member of Ark Three, and can't seem to fit in or do anything right. Can this misfit find her place in the community? Monica Hughes is an accomplished author of Science Fiction for young readers, and knows her craft. This book is the sequel to DEVIL ON MY BACK, although the stories can be read independently of one another. Ms. Hughes sparks the imagination, creates compelling characters and leads readers on an adventure, not only in science fiction, but also of the heart.

The basic situation that underlies this story will be familiar enough. Ruth is the only one of her fifteen-year-old group that is strikingly different. She can't seem to do anything right, can't seem to fit in, can't seem to be happy. She keeps wondering what's wrong with her. Pretty much, this theme is a tenet of teen fiction, and Ms. Hughes knows this. But here's where the story changes: Ruth is part of a self-sufficient community that has developed psychic powers and links as part of their survival. At age fifteen, each child becomes an adult, joining the Web-the perfect pattern formed by the joining of minds of everyone in Ark Three. And every fifteen-year-old is given a vocation based on his or her talent. But Ruth has no talent; it seems, except for causing trouble, disrupting the web and generally being unhappy. But the fact is, Ruth does have a talent-a rare one. And it is her abilities that allow her to receive dreams that are being sent from another Ark. She will help spur her community into an exciting and dangerous journey through the outside to try and find this other Ark. But what they find may be the most dangerous thing of all . . . and it will take all of Ruth's abilities, along with those of her friends and new allies, to survive it and create a new future for all.

As with all of Ms. Hughes books, the author not only deftly threads the themes that are universal to youngsters and teens everywhere, but also maintains a social conscience about the kind of societies that are possible in this future. She looks at them critically, demonstrating their flaws, and their strengths, and proving that sometimes the most unlikely people can be the catalyst that changes society for the better. Ms. Hughes doesn't pull her punches when it comes to her characters; they wind up in real danger, and have to survive some true ordeals. But everything is coached in young reader terms, so older readers may find some of the events less sophisticated than they would like-this is not an adult reader's story and doesn't try to be. If your young teen reader is hungry for science fiction stories, and not quite ready to tackle the likes of 1984 or BRAVE NEW WORLD, then this kind of book is the perfect stepping-stone.

If you like this book, please be sure to check out DEVIL ON MY BACK, which this is a stand-alone sequel to. Also check out other books by Hughes like INVITATION TO THE GAME and KEEPER OF THE ISIS LIGHT. If you enjoy these sort of stories set in a post apocalyptic future, also check out THE CITY OF EMBER by Jeanette Duprau, OBERNEWTYN by Isobelle Carmody and THE GIVER by Lois Lowery.

Happy Reading! ^_^ Shanshad


Rating:
Summary: An Amazing Sequel
Review: It is a well known fact that sequels rarely reach the standards of their prequels. So, as Devil On My Back is my favourite book of all time you can imagine that whilst being very exicited I was also a little dubious when I found this book.

I shouldn't have been. It is truly fantastic. Once again the characters come to life the minute you pick up the book, you can empathise with all of them and when Tomi first sees Ruth the pain he feels at her not being Rowan is intense.

It is a completely original story in itself whilst tying up Devil On My Back splendidly. The small amount of hope that that book left me with in the midst of its despair is reasuringly fulfilled here. Thank-You Monica Hughes for allowing Tomi to be free.

If anybody would like to write to me about this or any of her other books, please do.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible!
Review: It is often the case that a sequel can't be read without reading the book that precedes it. I had bought The Dream Catcher ...... at a book sale, not realising it followed Devil On My Back, (also a fantastic book) and loved it. It easily stands alone, and is even better after reading the first book about the Arcs. As soon as I finished it I rushed out to get Devil. . . and it enhanced Ruth's experiences even more greatly, clarifying her dreams, etc. Both books are incredible, bringing forth an amazing world, that, no matter how far-out, is totally believable, with charcaters I could happily relate to. Not only was the series enjoyable, I was touched by many parts, especially Tomi's change, and the freedom song.

So the freedom man danced out of the Arc

Over the hills so shady

Into the night and out of the dark

To be with his long-haired lady

(I apaologise if that's not correct, I'm going from memory.) I was especially touched by the fact that this world does not exist, yet Monica Hughes has created such a moving song of hope and pride, that I could picture the people sitting around a roaring fire, singing of their happiness and the dreams of a "world made free" as another verse says. This is a beautiful book.

Rating:
Summary: review
Review: Review
By Michal
There was this girl who always got in trouble she has no friends she would get teased a lot by other people. Thy would talk about her and she would always get upset about it.

Ruth was the main Character in this story. She is a little girl and the magic thing is that she would have a Dream about the outside world if she were bigger then she is. She would have red hair and someone who loves her, but he moves away. she wakes up screaming and the next day it really happens to her.

I liked this story because she is a nice person to every body and her dreams come true.

Rating:
Summary: review
Review: Review
By Michal
There was this girl who always got in trouble she has no friends she would get teased a lot by other people. Thy would talk about her and she would always get upset about it.

Ruth was the main Character in this story. She is a little girl and the magic thing is that she would have a Dream about the outside world if she were bigger then she is. She would have red hair and someone who loves her, but he moves away. she wakes up screaming and the next day it really happens to her.

I liked this story because she is a nice person to every body and her dreams come true.

Rating:
Summary: Best fantasy book I ever read!
Review: This is a great book, about a life in the future. It has feeling and romance, the characters were so real. New technology and development in a new age. A awsome Fatasy book. I would recommand you to read it!

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Understanding of being Different
Review: This is, at it's forefront, a very human book. Ruth is a girl who does not fit in with the harmony and community of the Arc in which she is born. She, like her peers and all other residents, posseses psi-talents, but unlike them, her talents differ, causing disturbances in the smoothly running community. Ruth wants to fit in but finds her own personality rubs against the grain--she is the catalyst, the person who will require her entire community to change and to venture out into the world once more...

This is a beautifully written book, written as a sequel to DEVIL ON MY BACK but a work that can stand on its own as well. Monica Hughes creates a post nuclear world that we can visualize and speaks to us of the longings that underlie all human existence, that for freedom and acceptance. I read this book when I was 15 and identified with Ruth and her dreams and longings. I have read it frequently since. YA readers, particularly young women will likely enjoy this story and its themes.