Lair of Dreams: A Diviners Novel
CCBC Review:
In the second volume of the Diviners series, a mysterious and deadly sleeping sickness has hit New York City. Dreams turn to nightmares and, eventually, people never wake. The sickness first appears in Chinatown, and the city’s first response is to quarantine Chinese and Chinese Americans, although the sickness has already spread. Chinatown resident Ling and musician Henry both are dreamwalkers. They first meet in a dream and soon discover their dreamwalking powers are enhanced when they’re together. The more time they spend in dreams, the weaker they grow in the waking world. Still, they return again and again, especially when they begin to suspect the source of the sleeping sickness now gripping the city may be the ghost of a young Chinese woman they’ve encountered in their dreaming. Her tragic story of exploitation is a direct result of strict anti-Chinese immigration laws. This character-driven, supernatural, historic thriller examines social justice issues related to race, gender, immigration, and sexuality. The novel’s rich themes are expanded through the continuing stories of Evie, Sam, Memphis, Theta, and Jericho that Bray also develops, hinting at things to come while offering astute and thought-provoking commentary on the distortion of patriotism, religion, and science for power and control. ©2015 Cooperative Children's Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 13 and older
Age Range:
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
20th Century
Chinese and Chinese Americans
Dreams
Faith, Spirituality and Religion
Fantasy
Historical Fiction
Homophobia
Immigration and Immigrants
Racism
Science and Scientists
Sexism
Supernatural
Diversity subject:
Black/African
Publisher:
Little, Brown
Publish Year: 2015
Pages: 613
ISBN: 9780316126045
CCBC Location: Fiction, Bray