Simon's Dream

Thelonius große Reise #3

by Susan Schade, Jon Buller

Ratminks running amok in the City of Ruins! Evil mutant crabs building giant robots! What was this post-human world coming to?

Thelonious Chipmunk and his friends face a whole new series of adventures after they reach the mysterious Mattakeunk Institute and discover...a time machine! Will the time machine lead them to the answers they seek? Perhaps some of the answers will come when the animals' traveling companion, Bill the Human, regains his ability to speak. However, there is one pressing need above all others -- the need to save their beloved Fog Mound from the Dragon Lady herself, and her evil ratmink assistants.

The enchanting "Fog Mound" trilogy comes to a satisfying conclusion with this installment, as readers finally learn the truth about the past of the humans and animals alike.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Childrens, Comics, Juvenile

208 pages, Hardcover

First published May 6, 2008

About the author

Susan Schade is the author of over forty children's books, including the Fog Mound series, written in collaboration with her husband, Jon Buller. She lives in Lyme, Connecticut.

Reviews

[Clarabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une parfaite conclusion à une série qui a su séduire à la fois un public jeune et adulte, non seulement l'histoire est plaisante à suivre, les personnages sont attachants et surtout l'esthétisme de l'ouvrage force l'admiration. Toutes les réponses sont apportées, et notamment concernant le mystère de la disparition des humains et pourquoi les animaux parlent. Les vilains sont vaincus, de nouvelles rencontres ponctuent l'aventure, comme Upsilon, un homme-loup qui raffole de viande crue et de légendes. Et l'idée de présenter la naissance de cette série au sein de l'histoire elle-même est un clin d'oeil judicieux.

[Bobby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is the weakest book in the trilogy. It lacks the originality of the first book, the complexity of the second book, and overall felt a bit too gimmicky at times in terms of the twists and turns in its plot. Having said that, I think children (the intended readers of this book) will likely appreciate it more. My niece (10 years old) loved the first two parts so I'm curious to see if she will like this one just as much. A solid trilogy overall for children.

[Kira Nerys · Rating 3 out of 5]

My brother and I became big fans of the Fog Mound series early on, right after Travels of Thelonious came out. Somehow, in the year-long gaps between each book's release--and our persistent inability to read things as soon as they came out--I spread this trilogy out over more than three years. Spotting this third book in the library, therefore, brought back the feeling of needing to remember to read it eventually. And I was near the end when I finally realized I'd read it before.

The Fog Mound must've been a middle school read for me, but even then I felt slightly too old for it. Not the comic/drawn sections, but the written portions--the text felt simple. A decade later, I have a stronger sense of having outgrown the story. I still admire the science-fiction-y backbone of the story--I'm still amazed it took only a trilogy to find out what happened to the humans--and I still enjoy the fun, believable-ish (in the world) explanation at the end of this book. But I recently read Watership Down, and, as an adult, that story holds up better than this one. I suppose Travels of Thelonious could be recommended to a slightly younger audience, but I'm wary of any end-of-elementary-school read that doesn't feel capable of fulfilling a youthful adult.

This trilogy introduced me to the concept of mixing comic format with traditional written fiction, and I still haven't stumbled across many books that have broken convention in this alternating-chapters manner. One downside to it: I drastically prefer the illustrated bits to the textual ones. All the characters feel very unique and fun (very 5th-and-6th-grade humor), but reading this third book out of the blue, I'd forgotten who everyone was. My biggest piece of advice for any potential reader: go through the whole trilogy in a relatively short span of time. I'd forgotten plenty, and there's a large cast of characters. But I love reading Bill (and contemplating all he suggests), and I love reading books with animals as protagonists. I hope some young kids out there have their minds blown.

[alexander shay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought in the last book that they never got to Faradawn island, but apparently the crab invasion was Faradawn. That connected several dots for me. But this book felt a little heavy on convenience. There were instances in the previous volumes of such things, but not many and not very obvious. This one felt like it used too many coincidences because it would have taken too much time to get through things in a natural way. I know this is a kid's story, but it's definitely the weakest of the three. I feel like four books might have given the authors more time to delve into all the aspects of this post-apocalyptic world they created. The characters aren't even present at the big battle that culminates the series; they basically only do clean up. There is technically a "boss fight" scene, which was probably the most unique yet natural thing that happened in the story, but the rest, and the rushed, weird method of filling in Thelonius of the world as it was before the end was a bit too out there for me. It seemed catered to the reader rather than the characters.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the characters in this world. This book brings them back together, but the storyline is disjointed. There's a new wolf, there are some new insights into the past, but overall, the storyline feels basic. There are some things that are interesting, such as the flying couch, but it's surface level action. The story doesn't really go deep. They are able to save the areas from the villain, but the story ends, and I am not left savoring the story or feeling like I'm mulling over the characters. I really like Thelonius, and I think the characters are fine--but it just kind of left me hanging. I wish the story had gone deeper. I also thought it odd that the title of the book is Simon's Dream, but he's a lesser character that only appears in the end. He does have info, but I thought the title didn't fit the book. Would I read it with my class? Probably not. Do I recommend it? Yes, but it's not top of the line for me. 3 stars. Or maybe 3.5.

[Parker Piccolo Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly this series is so fever dream but u know what? Maybe it’s right. Maybe humans will all become chipmunks and animals will talk and all the animals will live together on self-sustaining mountain farms while mutant crabs fight it out in ruined cities.

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The overlapping of the end of this story with the start of the first book, was a nice surprise. I enjoyed reading this series and immediately shared it with my kids.

[Bern Kent]

It was a great easy read had so many things that i liked

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in the Fog Mound trilogy. Aternating chapters of comic book/graphic novel story w/regular storytelling. First tie i've read a hybrid like this, took some getting used to - why not either a novel or comic? Why both? Still don't know, but a pleasant read w/a v. good story. Didn't need to know the first two books, but i'm going to read them now. Maybe a good way to get unsure readers in reading "real" books.

The art reminds me of Crumb and other 60s/70s underground artists.

This would be great in an elementary or jr. high library.

[Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the idea of the flying sofa! It's a good book because mistakes turn out to be a good thing, and the animals are good at thinking and they have good legends. They're cool! Especially Wally, who is a porcupine. I think it's funny that they think the snapping turtle is a dinosaur. It's funny that there are good rats and bad rats.

Of the three Thelonius books, the second one was my favorite, but this one was good, too.

[Gphatty · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a strong beginning, and an uneven middle, this series ends mostly satisfyingly. At least, most of the major plot points are wrapped up. But this entry is the most far-fetched, largely due to the more fantastical revelations.

Children will still probably enjoy it unconditionally, but as an adult, I found one too many deux ex machinas.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a rather unsatisfying end to the series (or so I assume it to be the end of the series) as the story felt incomplete, but they tried to wrap it up in a sort of hasty fashion. Still a good read, but I would recommend it more as a single novel read instead of the final book of a trilogy.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just a great trillogy. I love the chapter book graphic novel combination and I have had great responses from every kid that I have suggested it to. I think it is a must read for anyone who is loving warriors, redwall or animal fantasy. Set in the future but still has that old feel. Definately read in order. Grades 3+

[Ingrid]

The final book in the Fog Mound triology and I really liked it. The series was fun and a little silly, but the format was so cool. The chapters switched between comic form and written text. The drawings were wonderful and the characters were well done. I mean the main character is called Thelonius Chipmunk!

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son (aged 10) loved this series - he received this book and the third in the series for Christmas after having read book one and enjoyed it. [close:] My son (aged 10) loved this series - he received this book and the third in the series for Christmas after having read book one and enjoyed it.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a rather weird conclusion to the series, complete with a time machine, a flying sofa, and a dream contraption. Whereas the other installments are presented more as fact, there is more here that is left open to interpretation.

[Kristen Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in a series that is part graphic novel, part actual novel. It continues the adventures of the talking THelonius and his friends, including the last human on earth.

[Cole Reece · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just like the second book. Veeeeeerrrrrrrryyyyyyyyy confusing.

[H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the strongest of the three books, but a satisfying enough end to this trilogy. As a point of interest - my son INHALED these three books in 2 days.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the best time meachine sequences in sci-fi.

[Luca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, I like it, it really got the action in everything. I am happy that Bill is able to speak now.

[AshleyDanny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked book three of the Travels of Theloneus series. I liked it because it was a fun book, it was filled with adventures, and it was awesome. My favorite character was the Whopper.
--Danny

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book but, the ending was kind of confusing and it happened too fast. It didn't satisfy me for the conclusion of the series, but it was still an enjoyable read.