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Raising Sleeping Stones
***Winner of a 2013 Newbury Comics Award!***
When sisters Kiva and DeeDee Stone discover a mysterious plot that threatens them and everything they care about, they have to take a crash course in the ancient art of DreamKeeping to survive. As two elder DreamKeepers lead them up the Varruvyen river to the Eyle of Return, they show the girls how to gain dream powers greater than anything they had ever imagined. But can they become strong enough to face the monsters that haunt their dreams at night, strong enough to fight the enemies that draw nearer each day? The answer lies somewhere in the broken history of Orora Crona, the Valley of Dreams lost centuries ago, and whoever can piece it together first will rule for centuries to come.
When sisters Kiva and DeeDee Stone discover a mysterious plot that threatens them and everything they care about, they have to take a crash course in the ancient art of DreamKeeping to survive. As two elder DreamKeepers lead them up the Varruvyen river to the Eyle of Return, they show the girls how to gain dream powers greater than anything they had ever imagined. But can they become strong enough to face the monsters that haunt their dreams at night, strong enough to fight the enemies that draw nearer each day? The answer lies somewhere in the broken history of Orora Crona, the Valley of Dreams lost centuries ago, and whoever can piece it together first will rule for centuries to come.
- GenresMiddle Grade
364 pages, ebook
First published October 31, 2014
5 people are currently reading
308 people want to read
About the author
P.H.T. Bennet
1 book163 followersP.H.T. Bennet began exploring his dreams when he was a child and has never bothered to stop. He had the good luck to have two daughters, Juliette and Paola, who not only served as the inspirations for DeeDee and Kiva, the main characters of Raising Sleeping Stones, but also helped him turn their family dreamwork sessions into this book. His lucky streak grew when he married his lovely wife, Mim, who tolerates his turning on a light in the middle of the night to write down ever-crazier dreams and talking about them in the morning as long as he lets her sleep in, first. His favorite dreams involve flying, visiting the dead, and replaying nightmares until they reveal their secrets. Pratt’s latest projects are editing Book Two of the Orora Crona Chronicles and hosting a summer dream camp with other authors of dream books.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 11, 2017
Kiva is such an amazing character.
Her journey was mesmerizing as well as her dreams were....
This book left me wanting for more and even-though it is for middle aged kids (and I am not) it didn't affect me at all...
Her journey was mesmerizing as well as her dreams were....
This book left me wanting for more and even-though it is for middle aged kids (and I am not) it didn't affect me at all...
May 31, 2016
Life is hard for Kiva Stone. She lives with her younger sister DeeDee and their mother in the dystopian town of Solasenda, where the daily grind is all work and no dreams, all structure and no play. Kiva, a curious intellectual, doesn't--can't--fit in. So as her peers surpass her in their rote studies and move on to seemingly higher things, Kiva and DeeDee suffer under the iron thumb of the vile Aunt Agnes, a toxic old crone who surged into their lives after Kiva's father left the family. When Kiva realizes just how dangerous Aunt Agnes really is, she and DeeDee flee to a world beyond the town, where dreams lead to freedom and mysteries to salvation. Could Kiva have found her true calling?
What kicks this book a notch or two above any other enjoyable middle-grade fantasy novel is the fact that here dreams are not a metaphor. In Solasenda, kids are literally not allowed to dream, and only after escaping the oppression of the town does Kiva learn to remember her dreams and use them in her waking life. Author Bennet has combined current science about dreams with a sprightly adventure that will give parents and kids a lot to talk about when the last page is turned.
What kicks this book a notch or two above any other enjoyable middle-grade fantasy novel is the fact that here dreams are not a metaphor. In Solasenda, kids are literally not allowed to dream, and only after escaping the oppression of the town does Kiva learn to remember her dreams and use them in her waking life. Author Bennet has combined current science about dreams with a sprightly adventure that will give parents and kids a lot to talk about when the last page is turned.
January 14, 2015
This is a wonderful adventure full of imagination, emotion, fun, AND lessons about dreaming and how to influence our dreams. Middle-grade kids will love following the two sisters Kiva and DeeDee as they struggle with life in Solasenda, and head out on new adventures with a fabulous cast of characters challenging and helping them along the way. Parents will enjoy reading along and discussing it with them. It's also a great book for a kids' book club with lots of opportunities to discuss many kids' issues! The ebook is a wonderful version with gorgeous illustrations, and the app (available for iphones & ipads) is an even more immersive reading experience with amazing original music scores throughout the book, rich and fun illustrations, and an extra bonus of challenges for kids to solve!
June 2, 2016
I'm reading this on my Kindle and I am burning through it! This story has strong intent to change the way children look at their subconsciousness and dream world. Kiva is my favorite character so far. She is young, brave and courageous. Kiva looks out for her younger sister even when it's tough knowing that their mother doesn't have the time to spare when she's working double shifts to support the family so they may "Move Up" into better dwellings. This book deserves an A+. I highly recommend to anyone looking to learn something new about dreams in an adventurous way.
October 25, 2016
Dystopic settings continue to be popular for teen and younger readers. I’m not usually a fan of grim, hopeless worlds, but these two books gave me a modicum of insight into why they appeal. In a society in which the normal pattern of childhood and adolescent/apprenticeship years has become distorted for whatever reason, young characters acquire agency (autonomy, responsibility, freedom to make choices and changes) they might not otherwise have.
Raising Sleeping Stones (The Orora Crona Chronicles, Book 1) begins with nicely-executed world-building and an appealing central character (and her annoying younger sister). With deft strokes that never overwhelm the action, Bennet creates a world dominated by Guilds, in which every effort is directed toward building the city further and further westward. Every “Move Up Day,” families pack up and move into new housing, their address determined by their contributions to the work. Children focus on narrowly work-related skills, aiming at admission to prestigious Guilds. Creativity and accuracy are sacrificed for speed. The culture hurtles to an unsustainable future as ever more pressure comes to bear on its fragile and fracturing human inhabitants. Of course, secrets lie buried in the direction of the abandoned husks, as our two children discover.
The skill of the world building and the dramatic twists kept me reading for quite some time. Another strength were the charming illustrations and sheer imagination. In the end, though, I found the story bogged down in long descriptions, characters telling one another what they already knew, adults talking like teens, and other aspects that might not be experienced as flaws for the intended audience. I suspect that younger readers will eat it up, however, and this book and its sequels will be excellent for reading and discussing together as a family.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Raising Sleeping Stones (The Orora Crona Chronicles, Book 1) begins with nicely-executed world-building and an appealing central character (and her annoying younger sister). With deft strokes that never overwhelm the action, Bennet creates a world dominated by Guilds, in which every effort is directed toward building the city further and further westward. Every “Move Up Day,” families pack up and move into new housing, their address determined by their contributions to the work. Children focus on narrowly work-related skills, aiming at admission to prestigious Guilds. Creativity and accuracy are sacrificed for speed. The culture hurtles to an unsustainable future as ever more pressure comes to bear on its fragile and fracturing human inhabitants. Of course, secrets lie buried in the direction of the abandoned husks, as our two children discover.
The skill of the world building and the dramatic twists kept me reading for quite some time. Another strength were the charming illustrations and sheer imagination. In the end, though, I found the story bogged down in long descriptions, characters telling one another what they already knew, adults talking like teens, and other aspects that might not be experienced as flaws for the intended audience. I suspect that younger readers will eat it up, however, and this book and its sequels will be excellent for reading and discussing together as a family.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
August 24, 2016
So this book was a harder read for me. I love books that grab you from the get go and keep you going until the last page. This was took me a while to get into. I don't think it was any one's fault, it was just not something I could get into. There were times when I had to go back and re-read something because I was confused. I know that fantasy novels are usually set in worlds far different from the one we live in, and I know this book is no exception. I think for me though, this took it beyond that fantasy level. When I am struggling to picture this world, or the things in it, that is a sign to me that I will have a hard time with the book.
Let me be clear, the book is very well written and the characters are thoroughly fleshed out. I think for me I just had a hard time putting myself into the story. And that is what I do, put myself into the story that I am reading. I picture myself as part of that world, it helps me connect with the whole book better when I can do that.
Kiva is a great character. She is strong, and knows what she needs to do in order to survive. She wants more for herself and her sister, and she will do what she needs to get those things. I love that she wants to learn more, to do more. I think that is a good thing to have in a book geared toward the middle school age. They need to see that they can push forward and get the things they dream of having.
The story we get in this book is great one. The girls have to leave the horrible conditions they are living in before they can start to reach for their dreams. They can't dream where they are and soon learn that the aunt they are living with is doing more harm them good to them while they are in the home. The girls are just not thriving in that environment, so Kiva takes her sister and they run off to see what they can find, what they can do outside of the city they live in.
While I struggled with this book, I can recommend it for others. The book is a great book, and I think the age bracket it is meant for will surely get lost in the story with the characters.
Let me be clear, the book is very well written and the characters are thoroughly fleshed out. I think for me I just had a hard time putting myself into the story. And that is what I do, put myself into the story that I am reading. I picture myself as part of that world, it helps me connect with the whole book better when I can do that.
Kiva is a great character. She is strong, and knows what she needs to do in order to survive. She wants more for herself and her sister, and she will do what she needs to get those things. I love that she wants to learn more, to do more. I think that is a good thing to have in a book geared toward the middle school age. They need to see that they can push forward and get the things they dream of having.
The story we get in this book is great one. The girls have to leave the horrible conditions they are living in before they can start to reach for their dreams. They can't dream where they are and soon learn that the aunt they are living with is doing more harm them good to them while they are in the home. The girls are just not thriving in that environment, so Kiva takes her sister and they run off to see what they can find, what they can do outside of the city they live in.
While I struggled with this book, I can recommend it for others. The book is a great book, and I think the age bracket it is meant for will surely get lost in the story with the characters.
June 5, 2016
"Life for Kiva Stone in the town of Solasenda is all about ‘Moving Up’ – everyone has their fixed place in a Guild of their expertise, toiling their lives away according to the rigid and mindless pyramid system that has been imposed on them. Grind and mastering a craft will let one climb the social and economic ladder. Failure means one will stay at the bottom of the social pyramid. When Kiva and her sister DeeDee discover a mysterious plot that threatens them and everything they care about, they have to take a crash course in the ancient art of DreamKeeping to survive and fight the enemies.
Raising Sleeping Stones (The Orora Crona Chronicles, Book 1) by P.H.T. Bennet is a great tale of coming-of-age and adventure, where one should learn to trust their instincts and the power of dreams. The premise is intriguing and original. Initially it took some time for me to grasp the world building, but when I did, the world that Bennet created is truly fascinating. Characterization is excellent; DeeDee is my favorite. The illustrations are vibrant and eye-catching. Bennet takes advantage of today’s ‘smartphones and apps’ trend by including fun puzzle solving and unlocking hidden illustrations with the Raising Sleeping Stones app. This certainly boosts the book’s appeal, not just to its targeted readers. All in all, Raising Sleeping Stones is a fun, interactive and creative way to tell a story. Both young and adult readers will definitely enjoy this series. I look forward to the next installment."
-Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite
Raising Sleeping Stones (The Orora Crona Chronicles, Book 1) by P.H.T. Bennet is a great tale of coming-of-age and adventure, where one should learn to trust their instincts and the power of dreams. The premise is intriguing and original. Initially it took some time for me to grasp the world building, but when I did, the world that Bennet created is truly fascinating. Characterization is excellent; DeeDee is my favorite. The illustrations are vibrant and eye-catching. Bennet takes advantage of today’s ‘smartphones and apps’ trend by including fun puzzle solving and unlocking hidden illustrations with the Raising Sleeping Stones app. This certainly boosts the book’s appeal, not just to its targeted readers. All in all, Raising Sleeping Stones is a fun, interactive and creative way to tell a story. Both young and adult readers will definitely enjoy this series. I look forward to the next installment."
-Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite
July 25, 2016
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/book-tou...
In Raising Sleeping Stones, 11-year-old Kiva Stone spends the majority of her time training for one of the five town guilds. She doesn’t have time to play, let alone dream. When Kiva and her sister DeeDee uncover a plot to get rid of them, their only hope is a mysterious group of people who get unimaginable powers from their dreams. As they are taught secret dreaming techniques that have been forbidden for centuries, enemies flock around them.
As in most fantasy books, the characters go on a quest of self-discovery and meanwhile explore the world around them. Despite that, the book feels very original, the world building is solid, and the characters are intriguing. Kiva, and also DeeDee, go through a lot of character growth throughout the book. They’re not the same people at the end as they were at the start. The proces is gradual, but as a reader, you can feel it.
The world building really impressed me. The writing was fast-paced and I was completely engrossed in the story from the moment I started reading.
The book is ideal for middle graders and young adults, and offers a rich, lush fantasy setting and engaging story.
In Raising Sleeping Stones, 11-year-old Kiva Stone spends the majority of her time training for one of the five town guilds. She doesn’t have time to play, let alone dream. When Kiva and her sister DeeDee uncover a plot to get rid of them, their only hope is a mysterious group of people who get unimaginable powers from their dreams. As they are taught secret dreaming techniques that have been forbidden for centuries, enemies flock around them.
As in most fantasy books, the characters go on a quest of self-discovery and meanwhile explore the world around them. Despite that, the book feels very original, the world building is solid, and the characters are intriguing. Kiva, and also DeeDee, go through a lot of character growth throughout the book. They’re not the same people at the end as they were at the start. The proces is gradual, but as a reader, you can feel it.
The world building really impressed me. The writing was fast-paced and I was completely engrossed in the story from the moment I started reading.
The book is ideal for middle graders and young adults, and offers a rich, lush fantasy setting and engaging story.
June 10, 2016
I have to admit I am an adult and even though this book is meant to be read by younger readers, I got pulled in and thoroughly enjoyed it. In the beginning one is introduced to the complex society and its structured ways, in which two sisters, Kiva and DeeDee need to find their way. The boundaries and strict rules threaten to pull them into a life of servitude but as kids they still have so much unexplored potential. I love how vivid and colorful the writing is that makes the many facets of this new world come to life. You really get engaged with the main characters, and along the way get to meet new, interesting personas, explore new environments, and think about how we live life ourselves. What potential within ourselves are we not tapping into. The interactive aspect of this online experience makes it even more fun, I love the music and the ability to not just read but to also play. All in all, I can't wait for the second installment in order to follow the adventure.
June 27, 2016
Read my full review at http://blackwords-whitepagesteenya.bl...
This book started out really slow for me and had me asking a lot of questions. As I progressed with the story, the more it picked up, yet it still had me guessing about my undying questions. The ending also left quite a cliffhanger and it was disappointing for me where the author left off. Of course, I am not big on cliffhangers. It was a great dystopian and a great debut but it just had some things missing for me. I loved the characters and left as if I could connect with them.
Over all, this story is really great for middle grade readers to read and I know they will enjoy it and I still highly recommend it.
The author provided me with a digital ARC copy of the book for review purposes only. No remuneration was exchanged.
This book started out really slow for me and had me asking a lot of questions. As I progressed with the story, the more it picked up, yet it still had me guessing about my undying questions. The ending also left quite a cliffhanger and it was disappointing for me where the author left off. Of course, I am not big on cliffhangers. It was a great dystopian and a great debut but it just had some things missing for me. I loved the characters and left as if I could connect with them.
Over all, this story is really great for middle grade readers to read and I know they will enjoy it and I still highly recommend it.
The author provided me with a digital ARC copy of the book for review purposes only. No remuneration was exchanged.
July 22, 2016
This is a book that is a great read for young teens who enjoy fantasy. I can say with 100% certainty that as a teen I would have loved this book. The whole idea of gaining power in one's dreams so as to beat the monsters is so cool. I really would have liked the fact that the main characters were not adults. The story line is riveting and keeps the reader on his or her toes as it is hard to predict what is going to happen next.
***Disclosure: I was sent this product for free for test and review purposes for only my honest and unbiased review; I was given no payment or any form of compensation for this review. These views are 100% my own and were not influenced by anything, but the product itself.I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
***Disclosure: I was sent this product for free for test and review purposes for only my honest and unbiased review; I was given no payment or any form of compensation for this review. These views are 100% my own and were not influenced by anything, but the product itself.I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
June 16, 2016
Great adventure tale that is both a coming-of-age story and testimony to the power of dreams. The protagonist, Kiva, is a wonderful heroine, a misfit who finds her strengths and self thanks to her mentors, Hilde and Marcel, who teach her, more than anything, to trust her instincts, and to attend to her dreaming - which is a dangerous activity in the society they inhabit - and must escape. Younger sister DeeDee is instrumental as well, not to mention as skillful as Kiva in her own way. Full of fabulous settings and a myriad of imaginative creatures, wonderfully described, the novel brings the reader into a fully-realized world that is both fantastic and real.
June 9, 2016
Raising Sleeping Stones is a beautiful visual/musical tale about confidence and creative thinking. We all dream of courage to empower us. This wildly imaginative and beautiful book brings us a tale that transports the reader and listener into a distant magical world where dreams are passwords to freedom. What is remarkable about Raising Sleeping Stones is that it appeals to young readers AND older generations on a variety of levels. This is no ordinary book…it is truly a unique modern reader experience that gets you hooked and hungry for the next installment.
June 11, 2016
This story would be fantastic if it were just a plain old book -- inspiring and courageous protagonist, well-paced plot of adventure and discovery, strong role models for girls and boys alike, and evocative, descriptive writing. But when you add in the fun and discovery of all the tips and insights it offers about dreaming, it becomes so much more than a good read. Everyone should get this for their kids.
July 20, 2016
What a fun read
I loved the characters in this book, the girls were great, Dee Dee I have seen in many little ones and the adults real as any good dream. I am so looking forward to book two and learn what comes next for the girls. What a fun ride
I loved the characters in this book, the girls were great, Dee Dee I have seen in many little ones and the adults real as any good dream. I am so looking forward to book two and learn what comes next for the girls. What a fun ride
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews