Review Detail

Cassie Aguayo

Wake Review

            In the book Wake, Janie is sucked into peoples dreams whenever there is someone sleeping around her. She cant control it, cant get out of it. She can hardly stay awake at school because there are constantly kids sleeping and dozing off during class. Stuck in this world that she cant escape, she eventually discovers that she has more power than she thinks she does. The book keeps you interested and always wanting to know what happens next. The teenage dialogue in the book makes the story believable like Janie is a typical high school student, but with a big secret.  

What I really liked about the book was that it goes back and forth from dream to reality, and it makes you feel the confusion Janie must feel. She can hardly grasp what is real-life and what is only a dream. Shes slowing slipping out of her reality and losing herself. The only thing to criticize in the book would be the ending, after everything, the ending is boring and tasteless. It lacks the need for more information and the wondering of what will happen in the characters lives next. The ending almost takes away from all the books good qualities. But, the constant twists and turns in the plot keeps it exciting enough to hold your interest enough to continue reading. It makes you feel vulnerable for Janie. Shes her own victim and keeps her problems bottled up inside her making you wonder when theyre all going to come out.

There a lot of small characters in the book that have a big impact on Janie. She is on her own until she starts talking to Cable, whose shes known of since she can remember. Thats when things really start to take a turn for the good. Janie will reveal her secret in the book eventually to the least expected person, which makes you wonder if she really does cherish her talent. Towards the end shell have a change of heart towards her ability to see peoples dreams. Its still unclear whether she accepts it for what its worth, or if she cant get past falling asleep unexpectedly. The inability to ever get rid of her talent makes you think throughout the whole book if anyone will ever accept her for who she is. It makes you curious if people really knew who she was if they would cast her out as a freak or invite her in and be supportive. Shes always spiraling out of control into another world. While keeping her secret she has to come up with excuses as to why she dozes off, paralyzed almost. This is probably the biggest hardship for her, becoming paranoid if anyone is suspicious of her, or if anyone is catching onto her sudden naps throughout her day at school. Wake is an enticing book that is definitely worth reading. The excitement never ends, and the drama crashes down on Janie constantly.