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Into the Dream
Paul has a recurring nightmare, about a small boy in awful danger. When he learns that his classmate Francine has it, too, the two of them join forces to solve the mystery and save the boy--before their bad dream becomes a terrifying reality. "Tightly woven suspense and an ingenious, totally involving plotline make this a thriller of top-notch quality." --Booklist
154 pages, Paperback
First published June 5, 1979
11 people are currently reading
414 people want to read
About the author
William Sleator
49 books323 followersWilliam Warner Sleator III was born in Havre de Grace, Maryland on February 13, 1945, and moved to St. Louis, MO when he was three. He graduated from University City High School in 1963, from Harvard in 1967 with BAs in music and English.
For more than thirty years, William Sleator thrilled readers with his inventive books. His House of Stairs was named one of the best novels of the twentieth century by the Young Adult Library Services Association.
William Sleator died in early August 2011 at his home in Thailand.
For more than thirty years, William Sleator thrilled readers with his inventive books. His House of Stairs was named one of the best novels of the twentieth century by the Young Adult Library Services Association.
William Sleator died in early August 2011 at his home in Thailand.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
September 7, 2011
This has always been a long time favorite of mine from when I was younger. I even still have my original copy. It is is dog-eared and worn from frequent reading. I'm not sure what it is about this one that has always stuck with me. After reading it as an adult, I still love it!
The author throws you right into the story and it doesn't slow down until the end. Every night, Paul has started to have the same weird dream that haunts him during the day. He then finds out his classmate, Francine, is having them as well. The two form an uneasy friendship as they search for answers to explain their shared dream. They also find out that they can read each other's minds. I don't want to give away too much of the plot as I think it would spoil it for you.
As I was reading, I kept wondering how different this would story would have been had it been written now. With the change in technology, the kids would have been able to do their research much faster. Instead, they have to rely on the library archives. Remember when there was no Internet? Since I read my older copy, I don't know if the author has updated the later versions. I hope not, I think it would change the story too much.
I look forward to sharing this with my kids when they are middle school age. I found nothing that wasn't appropriate for the middle grade level. Share it with your kids. I hope they love it as well!
The author throws you right into the story and it doesn't slow down until the end. Every night, Paul has started to have the same weird dream that haunts him during the day. He then finds out his classmate, Francine, is having them as well. The two form an uneasy friendship as they search for answers to explain their shared dream. They also find out that they can read each other's minds. I don't want to give away too much of the plot as I think it would spoil it for you.
As I was reading, I kept wondering how different this would story would have been had it been written now. With the change in technology, the kids would have been able to do their research much faster. Instead, they have to rely on the library archives. Remember when there was no Internet? Since I read my older copy, I don't know if the author has updated the later versions. I hope not, I think it would change the story too much.
I look forward to sharing this with my kids when they are middle school age. I found nothing that wasn't appropriate for the middle grade level. Share it with your kids. I hope they love it as well!
June 2, 2014
I first read this book when I was eight years old, and absolutely loved it. It had everything: telepathy, telekinesis, UFOs, kids on the run from evil government agents, and a psychic dog! I reread it a few years ago, and it still holds up.
December 18, 2009
This book has haunted the back of my mind for years. The idea of shared dreams, the haunting black and white image of the Ferris Wheel in the distance, and the word Stardust have popped into my head randomly over the years. I could never remember more, like the image of a dream chased away by morning. Very unlike the circumstances in this book, as it happens.
I suppose that this is just a child's book about a couple of kids given telepathy by a UFO that appeared behind a motel while they were sleeping. But the gradual unfolding of the mystery, the overall tone of the book, and the sweet revelations make something far more. Yes, it's a book for children, but it's significantly better writing than you'll find in most books for adults.
I suppose that this is just a child's book about a couple of kids given telepathy by a UFO that appeared behind a motel while they were sleeping. But the gradual unfolding of the mystery, the overall tone of the book, and the sweet revelations make something far more. Yes, it's a book for children, but it's significantly better writing than you'll find in most books for adults.
April 23, 2016
I read this book some 35 years ago, when I was just 12. I remember liking it very much. Then the years passed, I forgot about it, almost entirely. I had this itch to find it again, but I couldn't remember the title, or much else about it, except Stardust Motel. That wasn't much to go on for sure, and I probably would never have found it again, if it weren't for this goodreads group discussion:
- What's The Name of That Book??? - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Then it all slowly came back to me. I checked it out from my library and gave it a long awaited 2nd read. And, the thing is, the first half is pretty much as I recall it, but the 2nd half is not at all as I remember. In my memory, the kids hop on a bus and travel to Lake Tahoe to visit the Stardust Motel in search of answers. I think that I got half way through and then let my imagination make up the rest.
Come to think of it, I may not have even FINISHED the book all those years ago... and that is why it has been nagging at me all these years to find this book again... TO FINISH IT!
In any event, I'm happy to have FINALLY finished it. Although the ending of the book was not as sophisticated as I remember it being, It was still fun.
- What's The Name of That Book??? - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Then it all slowly came back to me. I checked it out from my library and gave it a long awaited 2nd read. And, the thing is, the first half is pretty much as I recall it, but the 2nd half is not at all as I remember. In my memory, the kids hop on a bus and travel to Lake Tahoe to visit the Stardust Motel in search of answers. I think that I got half way through and then let my imagination make up the rest.
Come to think of it, I may not have even FINISHED the book all those years ago... and that is why it has been nagging at me all these years to find this book again... TO FINISH IT!
In any event, I'm happy to have FINALLY finished it. Although the ending of the book was not as sophisticated as I remember it being, It was still fun.
December 29, 2008
i've been asking people if anyone remembers this book for months and just found out about a group on goodreads called "What's the Name of that Book?" http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1...
and it was solved within hours! how exciting. i'm going to check it out from the library and read it again soon. i remember it being really good.
and it was solved within hours! how exciting. i'm going to check it out from the library and read it again soon. i remember it being really good.
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July 1, 2023#BogiReads Patreon | Twitter | Mastodon | Instagram | Facebook | Website
Several people told me to read William Sleator when I asked for vintage YA SFF. Some of them specifically recommended the Boxes duology, I thought because of the queer representation? But it turned out they recommended it because of the telepathic crabs. Ok then! XD
I haven’t written about the Boxes books yet; this is my third Sleator title in rapid succession.
Into the Dreamis a science fiction / horror / paranormal adventure from 1979 – it’s fast-paced and sometimes genuinely terrifying. While reading, I felt that the author’s fears more closely paralleled mine than is the usual case with horror. I had just been thinking about this re: video games – I found Subnautica relaxing because I’m not afraid of the ocean. I’m also not afraid of the dark, which makes a lot of video-game scary vibes not-scary, in general. Here on the other hand, we have terrifying things like A FERRIS WHEEL. Noooo!
The back cover text only mentions that two kids realize they have the same nightmare, and they decide to investigate. This is indeed how the story starts, but it ends up having many unexpected and entertainingly bizarre elements, breakneck chase scenes, and more. Also, if you’ve been a kid in an adult library, it will be relatable too 😀 I don’t want to spoil the plot any further, it has multiple offbeat turns.
One thing to consider for present-day readers is that out of the two kids, the boy has rather misogynist attitudes about the girl – which are proven mostly wrong during the course of the book, but this means that readers will still have to read and be frustrated with all that. I’m an adult and understand the context of the late 1970s, and also the vaguely learning-experience-y aspect of this subplot, but younger readers might be more annoyed.
Off to read more Sleator!
_____
Source of the book: Book swap
Several people told me to read William Sleator when I asked for vintage YA SFF. Some of them specifically recommended the Boxes duology, I thought because of the queer representation? But it turned out they recommended it because of the telepathic crabs. Ok then! XD
I haven’t written about the Boxes books yet; this is my third Sleator title in rapid succession.
Into the Dreamis a science fiction / horror / paranormal adventure from 1979 – it’s fast-paced and sometimes genuinely terrifying. While reading, I felt that the author’s fears more closely paralleled mine than is the usual case with horror. I had just been thinking about this re: video games – I found Subnautica relaxing because I’m not afraid of the ocean. I’m also not afraid of the dark, which makes a lot of video-game scary vibes not-scary, in general. Here on the other hand, we have terrifying things like A FERRIS WHEEL. Noooo!
The back cover text only mentions that two kids realize they have the same nightmare, and they decide to investigate. This is indeed how the story starts, but it ends up having many unexpected and entertainingly bizarre elements, breakneck chase scenes, and more. Also, if you’ve been a kid in an adult library, it will be relatable too 😀 I don’t want to spoil the plot any further, it has multiple offbeat turns.
One thing to consider for present-day readers is that out of the two kids, the boy has rather misogynist attitudes about the girl – which are proven mostly wrong during the course of the book, but this means that readers will still have to read and be frustrated with all that. I’m an adult and understand the context of the late 1970s, and also the vaguely learning-experience-y aspect of this subplot, but younger readers might be more annoyed.
Off to read more Sleator!
_____
Source of the book: Book swap
December 15, 2017
Probably the most powerful takeaway from William Sleator's, Into the Dream, is his insightful look into how a person views others and themselves, and how those views may change. The telepathic link between two characters serves to illuminate this even more strongly. While readers may be intrigued by the sci-fi/fantasy of the telepathy and UFOs, or horrified by the recurring dream had by the main character, Paul, and foreboding something terrible, or enraptured by the pseudo romantic comedy as you follow the conflicted relation between Paul and the second main character, Francine, it is the way the two characters change in their regard for one another that is most intriguing and insightful. Shortcomings aside, there is plenty to admire in this short YA novel.
Paul has a nightmare that he doesn't understand, except that it makes him more and more frightened each time he views it. It feels so real, like a warning. In the dream a young boy appears to be in danger, but doesn't realize it, as hulking beasts surround him. Each time Paul dreams it, he discovers something new. The problem is, nobody understands him when he explains this dream. A dream is always more meaningful to the dreamer than it is to somebody listening to you explain the dream. It frustrates Paul the way his friends and family either shrug off the dream as if to say, "It's just a dream," or the way they try to interpret it by discussing how it shows Paul's mood or state of mind. It's more than that to Paul. It's real, and soon he withdraws from the world because nobody will listen to or understand him.
Until Francine, that is. Francine is a girl in Paul's school, but the sort of girl who doesn't interest Paul - a "silly" girl. She hangs out with other "silly" girls, girls who aren't interested in academics like Paul is. Francine is the type of girl Paul would never talk to if it weren't for a special connection (and here it's tough to avoid spoilers). They discover a telepathic link to each other, catching occasional glimpses into each other's thoughts or mood or life. Each time Paul learns something new about her, he grows to like her a little more. Seeing a new part of her, such as where she lives, catching a glimpse of her family's poverty compared to his life of luxury, in comparison, takes him away from his own egotistical world and allows him to empathize with Francine. The same is true of her. While telepathy is not possible in the real world, Sleator is showing how people can let go of animosity if only they take time to understand one another. When nobody understands him, Paul pulls away from the world, but when he finds somebody who grows to understand him and who he grows to understand, he becomes happier and better connected. The way Sleator shows this is quite powerful.
While Sleator nails the human element, especially in that middle school age range, the plot staggers at the end. For about three-quarters of the book, the plot moves along nicely, with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing and the pages turning. It's peppered with humor, particularly the tense exchanges between Paul and Francine. And the reveals get more and more interesting, seeming to lead up to something big. I don't want to spoil anything, but more than likely you will find the ending disappointing, anti-climatic, like Sleator could have done more with his short little novel but ran out of steam far too early. The ending makes sense, of course, and fits in the world of magical realism that Sleator establishes, but for all the hype and tension the end fizzles rather than erupts. And yet, in many ways this is a book that will stay with me for some time to come.
Paul has a nightmare that he doesn't understand, except that it makes him more and more frightened each time he views it. It feels so real, like a warning. In the dream a young boy appears to be in danger, but doesn't realize it, as hulking beasts surround him. Each time Paul dreams it, he discovers something new. The problem is, nobody understands him when he explains this dream. A dream is always more meaningful to the dreamer than it is to somebody listening to you explain the dream. It frustrates Paul the way his friends and family either shrug off the dream as if to say, "It's just a dream," or the way they try to interpret it by discussing how it shows Paul's mood or state of mind. It's more than that to Paul. It's real, and soon he withdraws from the world because nobody will listen to or understand him.
Until Francine, that is. Francine is a girl in Paul's school, but the sort of girl who doesn't interest Paul - a "silly" girl. She hangs out with other "silly" girls, girls who aren't interested in academics like Paul is. Francine is the type of girl Paul would never talk to if it weren't for a special connection (and here it's tough to avoid spoilers). They discover a telepathic link to each other, catching occasional glimpses into each other's thoughts or mood or life. Each time Paul learns something new about her, he grows to like her a little more. Seeing a new part of her, such as where she lives, catching a glimpse of her family's poverty compared to his life of luxury, in comparison, takes him away from his own egotistical world and allows him to empathize with Francine. The same is true of her. While telepathy is not possible in the real world, Sleator is showing how people can let go of animosity if only they take time to understand one another. When nobody understands him, Paul pulls away from the world, but when he finds somebody who grows to understand him and who he grows to understand, he becomes happier and better connected. The way Sleator shows this is quite powerful.
While Sleator nails the human element, especially in that middle school age range, the plot staggers at the end. For about three-quarters of the book, the plot moves along nicely, with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing and the pages turning. It's peppered with humor, particularly the tense exchanges between Paul and Francine. And the reveals get more and more interesting, seeming to lead up to something big. I don't want to spoil anything, but more than likely you will find the ending disappointing, anti-climatic, like Sleator could have done more with his short little novel but ran out of steam far too early. The ending makes sense, of course, and fits in the world of magical realism that Sleator establishes, but for all the hype and tension the end fizzles rather than erupts. And yet, in many ways this is a book that will stay with me for some time to come.
August 23, 2014
One of my favorite books as a kid. (This is a re-print. I think it had a different title when I bought it from Scholastic in school.) It was creepy and fascinating and I LOVED the ambiance the author set. It really fired my imagination. This author has a disturbing knack for throwing your center of gravity off just a bit. I’ve always wanted to spend a night in The Stardust motel. Perhaps “they” will contact me. ;)
January 21, 2018
Read this book when I was a kid and it absolutely hooked me. How much did it hook me? Well, I'm now 41 years old and still think of it once in a while. Being a big dog lover may help, but the book is just a roller coaster story with great emotion and lots of "cool" aspects for a kid to fawn over, like telepathy.
April 11, 2022
I love William Sleator, but... no. This is bad. Bad. It's possible that it would be less bad if I were a child and couldn't actually see all the plot holes and ridiculous leaps this book makes, but that's a bummer too, because kids don't deserve poorly written books just because they're kids.
(I actually finished this a few weeks ago, so pardon my forgetting all the characters names.)
So Boy Protagonist has a recurring dream that gets worse - more vivid, more terrifying, more realistic - every night. He can't talk to anyone about it, BECAUSE WHO TRUSTS OR CARES ABOUT KIDS, AMIRITE? Instead, he sulks, withdraws, lets all of his schoolwork slip, and ditches his friends. And no one notices or really cares, because KID.
There's a girl he can't stand at his school, for no good reason. She's blonde and talks too much, or something? Guess what, BP - you've met Girl Protagonist! Suck it up, Buttercup.
BP and GP have been having the same dream, but instead of talking about the dream, they fight about who had the dream better. In fact, they spend most of their "collaboration" time being sullen and actively withholding information from the other, then getting upset when the other one withholds information. This is how kids communicate, I guess? Good thing they've figured out that the dream, and the circumstances leading up to the dream, have made them telepathic. Not particularly talented at it, but still. A little bit. Let's use this is a cover for our poor communication skills.
Eventually they venture to a library (this is pre-internet-days) to do some actual research on what little they know about their dream. The library is apparently straight out of Welcome to Night Vale, and the librarian is real angry that there are KIDS who want to KNOW THINGS and instead of offering to help in any way at all, she makes them feel bad for being there in the first place, and for not knowing how different parts of the library work/have changed since the last time they were there.
Wee pause for weird elevator chase scene.
There are some Men in Black, who BP and GP assume are government agents, but this is actually never confirmed. They're just shady dudes who are stalking them.
Anyway, BP and GP use their illicitly obtained library knowledge to track down the other people in their dream (good thing everyone lives in the same small town, right?), a woman whose sad grownup brain won't allow her to follow accept the extrasensory abilities they were all exposed to.
Oh, yeah, hi, did I forget to mention? It was aliens. Dunno what aliens, or why aliens, but aliens. And a big glowing orb that gave everyone near it mutant-y powers, and the younger you are when you're exposed to the orb, the better your powers are.
So the woman has a four year old kid, who is mute, but guess what? He's only mute because his telepathy is so good! Also, he's telekinetic. Also, he has a dog. Also, his dog is also telepathic. Also, his telepathic dog is the one who is sending this dream, and getting everyone together, and super overprotective, and, apparently, precognitive? Because the dog is sending BP and GP not only dreams of the past, but also dreams of the future. Because she loves her little boy so much. And is afraid of the Men in Black.
So there's a chase scene, and the weird nothing town that these people live in apparently has GREAT public transportation, and subways, and subways that drop you off right at the base of a poorly run year round amusement park that doesn't take tickets or check if their rides might be in need of repair, so the little boy learns how to harness his powers all at once at the top of a broken ferris wheel, which a local news station just hanging out at the year round amusement park happens to catch on film, and now everyone is safe and the dog is happy, because if EVERYONE knows about these three telepathic children and their dog, then no government can steal them and use them for sadtimes.
Or something.
So, that's a thousand or so words that should really just be "read House of Stairs instead."
(I actually finished this a few weeks ago, so pardon my forgetting all the characters names.)
So Boy Protagonist has a recurring dream that gets worse - more vivid, more terrifying, more realistic - every night. He can't talk to anyone about it, BECAUSE WHO TRUSTS OR CARES ABOUT KIDS, AMIRITE? Instead, he sulks, withdraws, lets all of his schoolwork slip, and ditches his friends. And no one notices or really cares, because KID.
There's a girl he can't stand at his school, for no good reason. She's blonde and talks too much, or something? Guess what, BP - you've met Girl Protagonist! Suck it up, Buttercup.
BP and GP have been having the same dream, but instead of talking about the dream, they fight about who had the dream better. In fact, they spend most of their "collaboration" time being sullen and actively withholding information from the other, then getting upset when the other one withholds information. This is how kids communicate, I guess? Good thing they've figured out that the dream, and the circumstances leading up to the dream, have made them telepathic. Not particularly talented at it, but still. A little bit. Let's use this is a cover for our poor communication skills.
Eventually they venture to a library (this is pre-internet-days) to do some actual research on what little they know about their dream. The library is apparently straight out of Welcome to Night Vale, and the librarian is real angry that there are KIDS who want to KNOW THINGS and instead of offering to help in any way at all, she makes them feel bad for being there in the first place, and for not knowing how different parts of the library work/have changed since the last time they were there.
Wee pause for weird elevator chase scene.
There are some Men in Black, who BP and GP assume are government agents, but this is actually never confirmed. They're just shady dudes who are stalking them.
Anyway, BP and GP use their illicitly obtained library knowledge to track down the other people in their dream (good thing everyone lives in the same small town, right?), a woman whose sad grownup brain won't allow her to follow accept the extrasensory abilities they were all exposed to.
Oh, yeah, hi, did I forget to mention? It was aliens. Dunno what aliens, or why aliens, but aliens. And a big glowing orb that gave everyone near it mutant-y powers, and the younger you are when you're exposed to the orb, the better your powers are.
So the woman has a four year old kid, who is mute, but guess what? He's only mute because his telepathy is so good! Also, he's telekinetic. Also, he has a dog. Also, his dog is also telepathic. Also, his telepathic dog is the one who is sending this dream, and getting everyone together, and super overprotective, and, apparently, precognitive? Because the dog is sending BP and GP not only dreams of the past, but also dreams of the future. Because she loves her little boy so much. And is afraid of the Men in Black.
So there's a chase scene, and the weird nothing town that these people live in apparently has GREAT public transportation, and subways, and subways that drop you off right at the base of a poorly run year round amusement park that doesn't take tickets or check if their rides might be in need of repair, so the little boy learns how to harness his powers all at once at the top of a broken ferris wheel, which a local news station just hanging out at the year round amusement park happens to catch on film, and now everyone is safe and the dog is happy, because if EVERYONE knows about these three telepathic children and their dog, then no government can steal them and use them for sadtimes.
Or something.
So, that's a thousand or so words that should really just be "read House of Stairs instead."
November 24, 2014
one of my favorite childhood books...gave it to my daughter to read and she loved it too. I read it again in one night.
August 12, 2016
I have been trying to find this book for years despite only remembering fragments of the story. Clearly it made quite an impression when I was a child!
March 26, 2022
Ordinarily, I would find a book about two kids who can't stand each other until they find out that they can read each other's minds and have to work together for the common good to be absolutely gripping and wonderful. But it seems like the rest of the story kind of falls apart; like it was meant to be support for that goal, and the author couldn't quite figure out how to make it work, but decided that, since it was mainly background, it didn't matter.
At any rate, we have a 4-year-old child who is in imminent danger, and two kids trying to save him, without either of them really understanding what they have to save him from. There are two secret agents following him, and they decided that that's the danger he needs saved from, so they kidnap him and take him on a wild run, ultimately winding up putting him into the actual danger. But everything turns out. . . well enough.
Still, the agents are still treated as the bad guys, with only the vague explanation that they would have been bad for the little kid, because they would have kept his powers secret from the whole world. They also make sure that his powers are exposed to the whole world, and that he becomes an overnight celebrity, at 4 years old. No one seems to care that this will actually attract all sorts of negative attention, and that, since he's not wealthy, his mother can't afford to hire bodyguards or anything for him, so basically, he's exposed to all sorts of threats much worse than government agents, but we're all just going to ignore that, because this is "better" than being studied quietly in a lab. Typical 80s-90s attitude about this sort of thing.
Also, there are absolutely no dads in this book, which I find a little bit weird. True, Paul and Francine's parents are divorced, and they live with their moms. Francine's mom doesn't even get alimony, so there's a good chance that her dad is never in the picture, but Paul's parents are "on good terms", yet he doesn't seem to be a part of Paul's life, and Noah's mother is known as "Mrs. Jaleela", yet there is no husband anywhere to be seen, and no explanation as to why that is. This seems especially weird, since the author is a man.
However, I loved the way that Paul and Francine's friendship develops throughout the book, and that they unite to try to help a kid they don't even know. And it's also kind of important that the book shows us that often, in running from perceived danger, we run into real danger.
I'm sorry that my review is almost as long as the book. . .
At any rate, we have a 4-year-old child who is in imminent danger, and two kids trying to save him, without either of them really understanding what they have to save him from. There are two secret agents following him, and they decided that that's the danger he needs saved from, so they kidnap him and take him on a wild run, ultimately winding up putting him into the actual danger. But everything turns out. . . well enough.
Still, the agents are still treated as the bad guys, with only the vague explanation that they would have been bad for the little kid, because they would have kept his powers secret from the whole world. They also make sure that his powers are exposed to the whole world, and that he becomes an overnight celebrity, at 4 years old. No one seems to care that this will actually attract all sorts of negative attention, and that, since he's not wealthy, his mother can't afford to hire bodyguards or anything for him, so basically, he's exposed to all sorts of threats much worse than government agents, but we're all just going to ignore that, because this is "better" than being studied quietly in a lab. Typical 80s-90s attitude about this sort of thing.
Also, there are absolutely no dads in this book, which I find a little bit weird. True, Paul and Francine's parents are divorced, and they live with their moms. Francine's mom doesn't even get alimony, so there's a good chance that her dad is never in the picture, but Paul's parents are "on good terms", yet he doesn't seem to be a part of Paul's life, and Noah's mother is known as "Mrs. Jaleela", yet there is no husband anywhere to be seen, and no explanation as to why that is. This seems especially weird, since the author is a man.
However, I loved the way that Paul and Francine's friendship develops throughout the book, and that they unite to try to help a kid they don't even know. And it's also kind of important that the book shows us that often, in running from perceived danger, we run into real danger.
I'm sorry that my review is almost as long as the book. . .
June 11, 2025
This story gave me an "Are You Afraid of the Dark" kind of vibe.
That said, I feel I need to precede my review with, "Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society...". All that's missing is the campfire and the handful of non-dairy creamer to toss into the flames in order to achieve that magical "POOF" effect (). Because it was the 90s and CGI was not what it is today.
Gotta say up front: I really enjoyed this one! I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It was kind of dated. My copy was published in 1979 and I'm sure recent editions have been updated to appeal to new audiences. But I seriously hope not. Because it's the old-schoolness of the dated bits that added to the story and moved it along. I mean, can you imagine Paul and Francine pulling out their Smart Phones and Googling what they needed to know instead of going to their local public library and breaking into the archive room like a couple white & nerdy gangstas? (cue appropriate Weird Al song) I don't think so.
The story centers on Paul and Francine, two kids (I imagined them to be in 5th or 6th grade) who discover they're sharing the same nightly nightmare. They're kind of enemies at first, or at least annoy the crap out of each other, but have to work together to unravel the mystery behind this dream. Because it's not just ANY dream. And they, and they alone, have the power to stop the horrible travesty that's about to go down. What follows is a fast-paced adventure that involves psychic powers, UFO encounters, ominous Men in Black, and a very smart dog who does NOT die at the end. And yes, sneaking into places in the library they're not allowed to be. It's the sort of Kids Against The Man plot that would be perfectly at home in an episode of AYAFTD. Probably a story Kiki or Betty Ann would tell. But that's only speculation based on the fact I own all the seasons on DVD and have recently binged them. Not to mention watched the show faithfully as a Gen X Teen.
But I digress... This is a surprisingly awesome story. Very short. But I couldn't put it down. And I would definitely recommend it!
p.s. Bonus points because the dog lives!
That said, I feel I need to precede my review with, "Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society...". All that's missing is the campfire and the handful of non-dairy creamer to toss into the flames in order to achieve that magical "POOF" effect (). Because it was the 90s and CGI was not what it is today.
Gotta say up front: I really enjoyed this one! I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It was kind of dated. My copy was published in 1979 and I'm sure recent editions have been updated to appeal to new audiences. But I seriously hope not. Because it's the old-schoolness of the dated bits that added to the story and moved it along. I mean, can you imagine Paul and Francine pulling out their Smart Phones and Googling what they needed to know instead of going to their local public library and breaking into the archive room like a couple white & nerdy gangstas? (cue appropriate Weird Al song) I don't think so.
The story centers on Paul and Francine, two kids (I imagined them to be in 5th or 6th grade) who discover they're sharing the same nightly nightmare. They're kind of enemies at first, or at least annoy the crap out of each other, but have to work together to unravel the mystery behind this dream. Because it's not just ANY dream. And they, and they alone, have the power to stop the horrible travesty that's about to go down. What follows is a fast-paced adventure that involves psychic powers, UFO encounters, ominous Men in Black, and a very smart dog who does NOT die at the end. And yes, sneaking into places in the library they're not allowed to be. It's the sort of Kids Against The Man plot that would be perfectly at home in an episode of AYAFTD. Probably a story Kiki or Betty Ann would tell. But that's only speculation based on the fact I own all the seasons on DVD and have recently binged them. Not to mention watched the show faithfully as a Gen X Teen.
But I digress... This is a surprisingly awesome story. Very short. But I couldn't put it down. And I would definitely recommend it!
p.s. Bonus points because the dog lives!
June 20, 2019
The first two thirds of the story is great. It then seems the author ran into a deadline and had to rush the final third of the story. For example, the dark hulking creature The final third is still good but seem sloppy.
As it's largely about human relationships, the story is not dated despite being 40 years old.
A modern edition would make Paul and Francine more equal in terms of gender behavior. Boys can get scared too and show it.
One aspect that bothered me is a librarian who is portrayed as being hostile to the kids when they were seeking information. The author could have made her a positive and supporting character which would not have changed the story arc.
As it's largely about human relationships, the story is not dated despite being 40 years old.
A modern edition would make Paul and Francine more equal in terms of gender behavior. Boys can get scared too and show it.
One aspect that bothered me is a librarian who is portrayed as being hostile to the kids when they were seeking information. The author could have made her a positive and supporting character which would not have changed the story arc.
October 28, 2018
A visit from a UFO gives three kids and a dog special powers, such as telepathy, telekinesis, and ESP. This was an interesting, fast-paced story. I liked the dynamic between Francine and Paul, how they were annoyed by each other at first, then their relationship evolved through this unusual connection. There were a lot of unanswered questions, which just seemed ignored out of convenience, rather than left open for contemplation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2017
I binged on William Sleator's books as a kid, and I honestly don't remember if I ever read this one. For a book involving UFOs, ESP, and a telekinetic kid, it's kind of forgettable and generic. I want to believe (!) that I'd have loved this as a kid, when these ideas were fresher, but it's just familiar enough to make me think I read it once and never bothered again.
March 17, 2024
Tracked this book down through the public library after finally remembering the title. This was one of my favorite books when I about 10. My childhood book had an alternate cover from apple paperbacks, and even that image brings back so many fond memories. I read this many times as a kid. Such a good YA book.
Read
December 30, 2019So I found this book in my basement and decided to read it before donating it and it took me... less than two hours. I haven’t read a children’s novel in a really long time so I don’t think I can accurately review this but it was interesting to say the least.
February 6, 2020
This was so so good! A friend lent me this following her rediscovering it, her favorite childhood book. Wish I had read it when I was the age of its target audience, but nonetheless, a great story, suspenseful, and well-written enough that bibliophiles can get into it!
December 17, 2021
I loved Sleator’s science fiction when I was growing up, but I’d forgotten how well he does horror. This is definitely not my favorite of his books, but I can start to see where he is moving towards the kind of stories I remember enjoying.
December 24, 2025
My rating is solely based on the fact that this is a book I read as a kid and LOVED but as an adult it just hits different. As a kid this storyline was so amazing to me but now it’s just not quite written for me. Would recommend to any young reader! And it was a great trip down memory lane.
November 30, 2018
was absolutely obsessed with this book as a kid. got me into sci fi
August 19, 2019
This book is a thriller and science fiction. It makes you want to read it completely before you put it down.
August 30, 2019
I really dug William Sleator and read a lot by him when I was ages 10-12ish. I know I read this one for pleasure in 7th grade because I mentioned it in my journal from that time.
October 31, 2019
Yay for YA revisitations! There were a few phrases that I realized I’ve stolen from Sleator for over 3 decades.
May 19, 2020
Very much a childrens'/YA book, but enjoyable for what it is. This was one of my favorite William Sleator books when I was in middle school.
October 24, 2020
I feel like October is my read books I would never in a million years read otherwise month
December 6, 2020
As the reader you had no idea where the book was going to go; that made me read until I finished it all. I liked how the mystery came about and how it was resolved. It was such a good book!
January 13, 2022
Well my mom told me to read this book and it was actually really good a lot of detail YEAAAAAAAAAA pogggggggggg
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