Level Three's Dream

School of Ages #2

by Matt Posner

America's greatest magic school is back -- and fourteen-year-old Simon Magus, Goldberry, Mermelstein, and the rest of the team plunge into Lewis Carroll's Alice world to help the dangerous young magician Level Three to control his deadly power! Level Three is autistic -- but he's a magician, too, and there is no way to block his ability to trap people within his imaginary mental worlds. When magic doesn't work, and they have only their wits, how can the kids survive in the deadly realm of an unpredictable genius child? Thrill to a bloody and costly magical battle in Paris -- puzzle at the frightening mystery of why Mermelstein is stalking Level Three's sister -- and wonder at over a hundred pages of comedy, mystery, poems, songs, and logical puzzles as Simon and his friends struggle against all your favorites from Lewis Carroll -- and new creatures as well! Magic fans of all ages will never want to wake up -- from Level Three's Dream!Praise for The Ghost in the "...[T]he magic is impressive. I got the feeling I was attending the school by correspondence, and that the magic was authentic. A seemingly dull curriculum turns out to be otherwise. Simon has friends and enemies and aspires to romance as he struggles to make his way. This is good reading." -- Piers Anthony, world-famous fantasy authorFollowed by volume 3, The War Against Love (August 2012)Also read School of the Ages short fiction in my publications Tales of Christmas Magic and Sara Ghost.

Genres: Fantasy

307 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 12, 2011

About the author

I am a former novelist, no longer active in publishing. I continue to write when I can, but trying to sell writing is a tough gig -- maybe too tough for me.

Reviews

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

First read April 2012, rereading starting 8/8/13

Series Information: School of the Ages series
Book 1: The Ghost in the Crystal, review linked here
Book 2: Level Three's Dream, review linked here
Book 2.5: Sara Ghost, review linked here
Anthology: Tales of Christmas Magic, review linked here
Book 3: The War Against Love, review linked here
Book 4: Simon Myth, to be read
Please note that reviews linked are my original reviews done after my first reading and subject to minor change after re-reading. For latest review, see Goodreads
See also: Author interview linked here

Book Info: Genre: Fantasy/Magic
Reading Level: Young Adult
Trigger Warning: One character is, essentially, psychically raped

My Thoughts: Is now a good time to disclose that I’ve never read Alice in Wonderland or Through the Looking Glass? Of course I’m aware of the basics – it would be difficult not to be – and love the song “White Rabbit” by the Jefferson Airplane, which is somewhat remotely related to the story, but have never actually read the story itself, nor have I seen any of the movies related to them. So, I went into this book without that knowledge. As it turned out, it really wasn’t necessary, although I think I might have caught a bit more of the subtle humor if I had.

Not to say I was disappointed – far from it! This book was a great continuation of the story and I read it pretty much straight through (only pausing briefly to post a cover reveal). We learn a bit more about some of the characters, as well as meet some new ones. We learn more about the troubling events around the world that had been distracting Dr. Archer in the first book. The students advance in their studies, although there is really very little about the school itself in this book – there is more action outside the school than inside it in this book.

It was really weird how, after everyone went into the Lewis Carroll-based world, they all started to basically act like jerks to almost everyone they met. They had, after all, gone in for a reason, they had a plan, and it seemed like once they got there, they decided – somewhat arbitrarily – that most of the characters they met were unimportant to that quest. This is one thing that bothered me and it is never really explained, nor is there any real consequence for it. That surprised me.

Having spoken briefly to the author in between reading these books, I’ve learned that there are a number of books planned in this series: at least five in total, maybe more. The next book is to be called War Against Love. At this point I’m not sure when it is due out, but I am planning an author Q&A with Matt Posner coming up in the next week or so, so watch my blog for that the Q&A link is posted at the top of the review! I know I’ll be waiting for the rest of this series and picking it up as I can – great stuff!

Disclosure: I purchased this copy for myself, and am therefore under no obligation, but am happy to provide an honest review.

Synopsis: America's greatest magic school is back -- and fourteen-year-old Simon Magus, Goldberry, Mermelstein, and the rest of the team have to face the frustrating creatures in Lewis Carroll's Alice world to help the dangerous young magician Level Three to control his deadly power! Level Three is autistic -- but he's a magician, too, and there is no way to block his ability to trap people within his imaginary mental worlds. When magic doesn't work, and they have only their wits, how can the kids survive in the deadly realm of an unpredictable genius child? Thrill to a bloody and costly magical battle in Paris -- smile at a new love for elementalist Robbie Ravitz -- puzzle at the frightening mystery of why Mermelstein is stalking Level Three's sister -- and wonder at over a hundred pages of comedy, mystery, poems, songs, and logical puzzles as Simon and his friends struggle against all your favorites from Lewis Carroll -- and new creatures as well! Magic fans of all ages will never want to wake up -- from Level Three's Dream!

[Goldie Katsu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another one of those books that had me staying up until some ridiculous hour (I think it was 5am) because I wasn't willing to put it down till the end. (Luckily I was on vacation.)

This is the second book in the series about Simon Magus, his friends and the School of Ages. The research behind this one is as solid as the first one and the references (at least the ones I am familiar with) were all spot on. Also, as you will see from the very start there is a strong tie in to Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass which is apparent from the intro and the chapter quotes.

While I won't get into the details - you'll find out soon enough when you read the book - the writing and the poetry was absolutely brilliant.

I highly recommend this book if you are into Fantasy, especially fantasy that has a touch of reality to it.

[T.M. Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow Matt, your world inside Level Three's head... fabulous! Having an Autistic child myself (Asperger's as well) i loved the way you wrote Level Three. I liked the way you stayed with the realism with the characters; these teenagers are special, magical, have special gifts and abilities and yet, they are still your typical teenagers. First love, first crush, rivals, enemies, friendship, trust, honesty, bullies etc.. etc.. I can't wait for book 3! That sneak peak at the end, oh how my mind wandered! That could lead in SO many different directions... anticipation!!

[Matt Posner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote it, so I like it. You will too.

[Chrystalla · Rating 4 out of 5]

A school of magic, kids with supernatural abilities, and... Lewis Carroll? I admit that when I read the blurb I didn’t think I would like this story. After all, many books out there deal with schools of magic and children with magical abilities.

But I was wrong.

The blurb frankly does not do this wonderful novel justice. My initial reservations evaporated after the first page. Written in the first person from the point of view of Simon Magus, a teenage boy, in a clear, strong voice, the story draws the reader into a realistic and yet fantastic world. Although I haven’t read Book 1 in the series, I had absolutely no trouble following everything that took place in Level Three's Dream.

Simon, the protagonist, is a believable and likable character. His sorrow, his maturity, his worries and questions about the future, all serve to make him real. His interactions with his parents and friends ring true, while his preoccupation with doing the right thing and his fear of becoming dangerous to others through his powers hint at his powerful internal struggle.

The author is able to render a full characterization of not only Simon but also of all the other characters surrounding him and does so with easy, bold strokes, through the way they speak, their actions and gestures. You will find no lengthy descriptions or unnecessary details. The writing is stripped down to its bare essentials so that it shines in its simplicity. This polished style, coupled with lots of action and suspense, makes for a fast pace.

The author’s wit and humor shine through every page of this book. Not only are the dialogues natural-sounding and funny, the world inside Level Three’s head, based on Carroll’s stories, remains true to the original’s surreal, irrational feel, while the play on words and expressions is dazzling. If you are a lover of Carroll’s wit, then this is certainly a book for you.

I was glad to see that, instead of an all-white Caucasian cast, the author included different ethnicities, marked by their beliefs and mode of speaking, both in their syntax and vocabulary choices, a fact that not only added to the character’s three-dimensionality, but to that of the created world as a whole.

The depth of emotion described and evoked was a pleasant surprise and one of the strengths of this story. My sympathy was with all the characters - Simon, fighting his sorrow over Leah’s death, Mermelstein fighting his fear of emotions he cannot yet understand, Level Three trying to figure out what makes him do the mean things he does, and all the other characters having their internal struggles.

Furthermore, although I was initially unhappy with the way the topic of autism was treated not only by Simon and his friends but also by the school teachers, I was pleased with the resolution of the matter.

However, I did have a few issues with the novel. Although the bare style works well, a couple of times I wished for more description. That was my problem especially toward the end of chapters. In general, I believe some more description would have grounded the story more and helped the reader visualize this magical world.

Another issue I had was with the overuse of the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ theme. Although I expected this theme to run through the novel, I thought the excerpts from Carroll’s books at the beginning of each short chapter weren’t necessary – indeed, they were distracting and I admit I skipped over all of them, after I had read the first one.

On this same topic, I found that there were too many poems in the book. These are modified versions of the poems found in Carroll’s books, but, although they are quite funny and witty, I also stopped reading them after a while. However, I can imagine that young teens may enjoy them more than I.

Finally, at various points, the book also contains illustrations done in pencil and I don't think they were really needed in a book for young adults.

To sum up: Level Three's Dream is a well-written story, fast-paced and witty. Well edited and formatted, penned with sincerity and feeling, it addresses not only teenagers but public of all ages. The novel asks essential questions about death and the immortality of the soul, sexuality and religion, cultural xenophobia, love and sorrow. If you are a fan of urban fantasy, of Lewis Carroll or are just looking for a good, gripping tale, I highly recommend Level Three's Dream by Matt Posner.

[Jess Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the concept of linking up Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland world to the (very dangerous) imagination of Level Three (the autistic character) is superb!

As a reader, I love crisp and clean dialogue (it's one of the fundamentals of a good story for me). This was something that featured throughout Level Three's Dream (all of the dialogue reflected the personalities of each character, so that none of them were cliched or "tired one-dimensional flat cardboard characters").

I found the multicultural cast to be engaging and refreshing (in terms of individuality / expression / action / motivation), and certain serious themes were handled in an insightful way (without ever getting too long-winded, draggy, or heavy). These themes include friendship, love, death, and the family (to name a few). Simon's internal struggle with his feelings over Leah's death were some of the best portions of the text (for me), and how these feelings were presented naturally and sensitively/compassionately from the POV of a fourteen-year-old boy.

Sexuality is also handled realistically (in a way that isn't lewd or explicit) -- I think this is also something that is so important (I for one am very tired of the same old hypersexualized scenes in the mainstream mass media). This also adds an element of depth and realism to Simon and the story on the whole. I particularly enjoyed the scene where he "loses his innocence" -- while the scene was in no way graphic, it made me reflect on my own experiences [and how it must be like to feel; in my case, I don't recall any exact moment/s where I felt I had lost my childhood innocence (hmm!)...but still, it made me think about the shame/guilt involved, and how different I might feel before and after the event, were I in a similar situation as the character relating it]. Sex and sexuality are a part of human life; just because it's not thought or talked about doesn't mean it can be conveniently swept under the rug. This is precisely why I always enjoy work that doesn't commoditize and/or trivialize sex + love + relationships.

The magic in the School of the Ages series is also unique in the sense it's more cerebral than orthodoxically fantastical. The characters in this series don't rely on an array of magic wands, potions, and flying broomsticks -- not that there's anything wrong with those elements per se, but presenting magic in this form adds a new dimension to the concept of magic itself (and makes it all the more believable where we question the real world we're in, and what's real and what isn't).

There are some chapters just before the end that closely reflect the bizarre and wonderfully strange/illogical world of "Alice in Wonderland" -- I greatly enjoyed these chapters (and the poetry -- while some were slightly lengthy, they were well-written and incredibly fun! There's a play on a classic Nirvana song too *hint hint*). I felt these chapters balanced out the earlier chapters, some of which contain select passages from Lewis Caroll's "Alice in Wonderland," which contribute to the "puzzles" feel and structure of the story.

One final note about the pencil drawings included throughout the text of the various different characters. I thought this was a little unusual at first, but I think it kind of gave a personal and realistic touch to the story (visually).

A lot of hyped products today are based on "sensationalism" (because of the actual lack of meaning in the actual product?) -- Matt Posner's writing is very different and unique in that aspect. This is not to say that Mr. Posner's writing is boring or lackluster -- it means that Matt Posner handles universal themes within the context of a tale that's imaginative, yet grounded in reality. I think this is one of the strongest aspects of his writing(s), and something he should be lauded for being dedicated to with his work that's accessible to a wider audience, which includes younger readers.

Perhaps it is partly due to this trend of "sensationalism" that a lot of teen books today have a shallow appeal, so it's nice to see one that talks about serious themes in a thoughtful way that can make a difference for readers in the long term (i.e. compare this with the lusty paranormal romances packaged to tweens/teens as "fate" and "true love" -- which contributes more value to society?).

[Cynthia Echterling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simon, the fourteen year old narrator, and his friends at the School of the Ages start a new year and are asked to help a new student known as Level Three. Level Three is both autistic and a very powerful magician, but there is more to his background that makes him seriously dangerous. The friends don't find the answer until they travel through the Wonderland world inside Level Three's head. I recommend this book for both the 12+ young adult and adult audiences

The writing style of the story seems so true to how a fourteen year old would think as Simon and friends make those initial steps on their way to adulthood, making decisions about life, friendship, values and sexuality. Simon is also tormented by his own traumatic experiences -- the death of someone dear and being a witness to a destructive event. That is one of the unique characteristics of this book -- it's grounding in reality. The magic the students are learning at the School of the Ages, set outside New York City, comes from Kabbalah, tarot, astrology, medium-ship and divination as used throughout the centuries. Students also must practice meditation and visualization and develop their own techniques. Without it being too heavily laid on, the reader can learn much about magic and history from the facts that pepper this story. For example, that Isaac Newton was an alchemist.

As in real life, there is no clear division in this story between good and evil, no vanquishing the ultimate evil to prevent the destruction of all things good. The characters all seem to have their positive qualities as well as their flaws which is very satisfying to me. Even battling Level Three is done for the purpose of helping him and former foes join together for the task. I loved the diversity of the characters in terms of personalities and backgrounds. This is definitely a multicultural setting and not in a stereotypical way.

Traveling through Level Three's version of Lewis Carroll's classics was fun and not as I expected. Yes, all the characters from "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass" are there, but twisted by Level Three's perception and his own psychological issues. I particularly enjoyed the parodies of the songs and poems. Posner's ability to not just parody Lewis Carroll, but to do it to fit the personality and motives of Level Three is amazing. I particularly enjoyed "The Walrus and the Carpenter."

It all comes to a satisfying conclusion with promises of more adventures to come. As Alice said, "Curiouser and curiouser!"Lewis Carroll
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the first book of this series, and even though I had made commitments to other authors to review their books, I went straight from the first book to this second one. I didn't love it as much, but it is good.

It's longer than the previous one, and longer is not necessarily better. In fact, it reached the point where I felt less would have been more. Every part of it is well done, but some parts go on longer than I felt they needed to. The quotations from Lewis Carroll at the beginnings of most of the chapters didn't add as much as they might have, either. I kept looking for parallels between them and what happened in the chapter they headed, and there were some, but they were tenuous.

The author has a rare gift, though: an ear for language. Not only are the different dialects of the characters well done, but even the Lewis-Carroll-style poetry is well done, and that is hard to do. There was one poem that didn't quite work metrically, but the others (as far as I could tell, since I didn't know the originals of a couple of the songs that were parodied) were spot on.

There's an obvious affection for Carroll's work, and a large section of the book is set in a version of his imagined world. That was the part I felt went on too long. I like Carroll as much as the next person, and this is a well-done homage, but there didn't need to be so much of it. Nor, I thought, did there need to be such a large group of characters visiting that world, who were then split into four smaller groups to have fairly similar adventures.

Apart from that, I have only one quibble, which is disproportionately important to me because I'm a New Zealander. In a passing mention, the characters visit Australia in the past, and encounter moas, a bird native to New Zealand. New Zealand is not Australia, and is separated from Australia by hundreds of miles of ocean. It really annoys us when Americans don't know this.

Anyway, the relationships between the characters, and their knowledge of their world and their abilities, advance; seeds are sown for book three; and in general a fine book is had by all. Next volume already purchased.

[S.L. Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simon's second year at School of the Ages doesn't begin so well. He's still dealing with the aftermath (sorry, no spoilers) of what happened during his first year, their first field trip ends badly (and that's putting it mildly) and to top it all off, he and his study partner, Goldberry, have been assigned to help an autistic student control his magic. To make matters worse, Simon feels like his mother is watching his every move.

Matt Posner has a talent for writing kids well. His characters are unique and well rounded, and the imaginary world he has created feels real. In this book, he also includes quotes from Lewis Carroll that not only tie into the chapters they introduce but also fit in later as Simon and his friends venture into Wonderland. I do believe Charles Dodgson would be impressed with the twists and turns Posner has brought to life.

[Ella Hansing · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a great read! I really enjoyed the writing style - nice and neat, easy to follow - I liked all the different young characters - there is someone for everyone to relate to (and I like that one of the primaries is autistic! - a needed addition in today's literature) Also who doesn't like Alice in Wonderland?

I might have preferred if the illustrations matched the cover more, but other than that, this piece is imaginative, well constructed.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a brillant follow up to Posners first book. Can't wait for book 3 to see what adventures lay ahead for Simon and the gang!!!

Full review to follow.

~Jules