The Waking: Dreams of the Dead

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Author(s)

Thomas Randall

Publisher

Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

Genre(s)

Horror

Age Range

12+

Release Date

September 29, 2009

ISBN

1599902508

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Kara’s afraid to go to sleep—until the nightmares come when she’s awake . . . . Sixteen-year-old Kara Foster is an outsider in Japan, but is doing her best to fit at the private school where her father is teaching English for the year. Fortunately she’s befriended by Sakura, a fellow outsider struggling to make sense of her sister’s unsolved murder some months ago. No one seems to care about the beautiful girl who was so brutally murdered, and the other students go on as if nothing has happened. Unfortunately, the calm doesn’t last for long. Kara begins to have nightmares, and soon other students in the school turn up dead, viciously attacked by someone . . . or something. Is Sakura getting back at those she thinks are responsible for her sister’s death? Or has her dead sister come back to take revenge for herself?

This first book in a frightening new trilogy will have teens glued the page and scared to go to sleep.

Editor reviews

2 reviews

Be careful of your dreams! They might come true!

October 05, 2009 (Updated: June 28, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

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Kara Foster has dreamed of coming to Japan. Then it happens. She attends a new private school in Japan. She knew shed stand out as the lone American. Quickly she gets the nickname Bonsai, an outsider. But like the bonsai, she is determined to show shell stand and grow strong.

On her first day of school she meets Sakura, a fellow student, who is trying to make sense of her sisters unsolved murder. An altar is placed next to the place where her sister was killed. While there Kara witnesses something strange and creepy. Later that night Kara starts having nightmares. What makes it even worse is that students are showing up dead. And others are having nightmares too. No one wants to sleep, feeling what will happen. Kara doesnt know whats going on but Sakura is hinting that her dead sister is striking back against those who killed her. Kara doesnt believe this but she cant make sense of the strange things that are happening. One thing she does know, whatever is responsible for the nightmares and murders might be coming for her next.

I really enjoyed this story! The surreal world of dreams merging with reality is haunting. I loved the whole Japanese urban legends twist. Kara struggles with very real issues such as dealing with the death of a love one. Then when she comes to Japan and yet more death surrounds her, I couldnt help but wonder how she could deal with it. But she does. The writing is lush with descriptions of the Japanese countryside and language. I also liked how the whole bullying issue is addressed.

This is the first book in a trilogy that Im sure will show readers more Japanese urban legends that come to life. I cant wait! And Im sure readers wont either. For fans of THE RING, this is sure to be a hit.