Wake

Reader reviewed by Amanda

Wake was full of what I like to call "sort of mystery" You're not exactly unsure about what is going on but you have a lot of unanswered questions, which isn't a bad thing. We know Janie get's sucked into dreams but we're not sure how exactly she's supposed to help people or the consequences. I'm really liking where Janie's story is going. She's actually accepting the amazing gift she has and was even able to help her love interest Cabe. Cabe oh Cabe, I'm not exactly sure about how I feel about you. He seemed pretty average and was kind of pissing me off until he revealed what he was part of. Thank god. An honest character! Cabe went above and beyond to earn Janie respect which is something I like to see in a character. I just wish that Janie was more open about her gift and would be open to her friends about it.

McMann writes in such a cryptic fashion. I was able to feel the emotion of Janie while she is experiencing the dreams. Goosebumps were being brought to my skin. Overall Wake was a new twist to the ever growing fantasy genre that kept my attention from beginning to end. I can not wait to read the second book in the trilogy, Fade.

Reader reviewed by desi

this book oh my god is it wonderful!!! i loved the plot twist to. can you say uncalled for! it was just such great book that it left me speech less and the i told my friends "hey this book is amazing read it!!" the read thae back and thought it sounded good so the read it and was blown away as was i. :) thanks for reading what i thought. :DD ^.^

Reader reviewed by Lizzie

Janie doesnt dream. Well not exactly anyway. When someone around her falls asleep, she is sucked into their dream. She cant control it and its getting annoying. When one of her favorite residents at the nursing home she works at dies and leaves her a mysterious note, Janies life is turned up-side down. Janie goes on a school trip to Canada and has a seizure on the bus. This forces her to reveal her secret to her crush, Cabel, who then admits that knew she was in his dream. Janie then goes on an adventure to discover her true powers and take hold of her life. But can she juggle being a catcher, her crush Cabel who is apparently selling drugs, and getting into college all at once?


At first I thought Wake was the perfect YA novel. It wasnt scared of swearing, and tackling hard subjects. It was fast-paced and fun. But at the end it got really corny. The sex scenes were unbearably cliché, and the story-line became even more unrealistic than it already was. The author definitely did her research on dreams, but it didnt have that paranormal feel I was hoping for. It was an OK quick read, and Ill probably pick up the sequel at the library when it comes out, but I wouldnt recommend it.

Reader reviewed by The Book Girl

Janie gets sucked into peoples dreams. It's a real setback when she's in class or driving home seeing as the worse the dream the harder it is for her not to shake and seizure. The thing is, there's nothing she can do about it. And nobody she can tell who can help her. That is, until Cabel came along. But then again, Cabels got some secrets of him own.

This is one of the best books I've ever read. The idea is so unique, and it's so well written, you can't help but be drawn in. The romance between Janie and Cabel is sweet. Janie herself is sarcastic and funny. There are so many memorable scenes that will pop into your head at the most random times and make you smile. An overall amazing book that anybody can get into.

Reader reviewed by Kristin

At first glance and the excerpt on the back, I was a bit skeptical and kind of scared, to be honest, but as usual, I was proved wrong.

This book is like no other. The chapter headings, plot, characters, etc. Everything was short and concise, which made the book very powerful. I really liked the main character Janie because she is the girl I want to be--hard-working, strong. However, one attribute I wanted to change was she would not wait for an explanation of events that seemed weird or messed up. I know it's probably something I would do, but her relationship with Gabe kept going back and forth for a very long time, which got me a little bored.

Although I predicted Janie and Gabe's relationship, the rest of the book was quite unpredictable, which kept me on my toes.

I really enjoyed this book, but I read it in one day, which made me lose some sleep. Ironic, much?

Reader reviewed by Tasha

Usually when parents tuck their kids in at night they tell them to have sweet dreams, right? According to Janie that's wrong. She can't remember ever having a dream. Instead she falls into other people's dreams. Some may think this is really neat, but for Janie it's horrible. Janie can't spend the night at other people's house, and when people fall asleep at school she's also sucked into their dreams. Janie's been having this problem since she was eight years old. Now she's seventeen and a senior in high school, and the whole dream thing is getting very old. The worst thing is she can't tell anybody in fear that they'll think she's crazy. Lately it seems all the dreams are the same, being naked in front of a crowd or falling into an endless pit. Then she starts falling into the same dream, actually more of a nightmare that hits way to close to home. She can't really make sense of it, but she hopes it will soon stop. Aside from the dreams though her life seems to be looking up. Her grades are good, she has an amazing boyfriend who understands her and knows her secret, and her alcoholic mother mother has started to be a little more motherly. Just as life is looking up, a cloud comes and rains on Janie's happiness. Her and her boyfriend Cabel have an unofficial break up, and her favorite patient at the nursing home she works at, Ms. Stubin, dies. Then Cable is all of a sudden dating rich girl Shay and Janie doesn't understand this at all, and it seems that everything else is confusing her. Will Janie find some answers to her confusion, or will she plummet into darkness with only other people's dreams to keep her company?


I. Loved. This. Book. Wake gives the term "page-turner" a whole new meaning. From the moment I opened the book it was glued to my hands and I was on the edge of my seat, anxious to read what happened next. The story was completely original and was absolutely fascinating. There were so many twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very last sentence. Even then it wasn't enough, there are still so many questions buzzing around my head. It is so not fair that the book had to end! The characters were also amazing. Janie was great and I am so jealous of her relationship with Cabel, for the most part! To me all the characters had their own unique personality which made the book have great depth. What stunned me even more about this book is that Lisa McMann is a first time author. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next, especially the sequel to Wake, Fade which comes out next year.

Reader reviewed by Elle

I (being the way I am) LOVED this book. It was unexpected and I was seriously sucked into it. IT was an emotional (I KNOW ITS A PUN AND OVERUSED BUT IM SAYING IT ANYWAY) roller coaster. I loved it SO MUCH!

Wake is about a girl named Janie who is sucked into other people's dreams. She lives in a bad neighborhood in Michigan and goes to a public school. She is determined to go to college and save herself from her life.

So, in Wake, Janie is sucked into other people's dreams whenever there is someone in the room she is in that falls asleep. She doesn't know why she has this gift, but is given a clue when an old woman at the nursing home she works at dies and leaves her money and a note.

Janie meets Cabel because he goes to her school, but she is also sucked into many of his dreams. Throughout the book, the get to know each other and end up dating.

Throughout the book there are many twists and turns as Janie is sucked into an entirely new reality of what her life really is. She is sucked into Cabel's life as well, and he REALLY takes her on a ride of her life.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. Seriously, I read it 3 times in one day. And then again the next. You (or me) can really feel the characters. Lisa McMann really develops her rising action well, and her characters are very life-like and very lovable.

I suggest this book for 14+ years because of the explicit content throughout the book, but otherwise it's AMAZING.

Reader reviewed by the book muncher

Ever since she was eight years old, Jamie Hannagan has been falling into other peoples dreams. She cant help it; no matter what she tries, she cant escape them. Now that shes a senior in high school, shes starting to get sick of experiencing other peoples dreams and nightmares. But since a lot of people sleep in school, its a challenge for Jamie to not get sucked into dreams.

All Jamie wants to focus on is completing high school and working her job to fund college. But things get harder when she falls into Cabel Strumhellers nightmares. These are more terrifying than all the others shes experienced. And whats even more surprising is that Cabel sees her in his dreams seeing him. Soon, they develop a relationship, but it is plagued with arguments and misunderstandings over trust.

Wake was truly everything I was expecting in a good novel and more. The idea behind the story was extremely unique. I also liked how the plot was never quite what I was expecting. But mostly, I thought it was amazing how Lisa McMann could create so much emotion with only a few words. That takes a lot of talent. Lastly, Cabel is probably my new crush. Besides the physical attributes and sexiness, he was willing to give up his job because he didnt want to lose Jamie. Many times throughout the book, I found myself being jealous of Jamies relationship with Cabel. She is such a lucky girl.

I highly recommend this incredible novel to all eager readers, and even to the reluctant ones. It is seriously one of my new favorite books. Everyone should immediately go out and pick up a copy for themselves before theyre sold out.

reposted from thebookmuncher.blogspot.com