The Dreamwalker's Child by Steve Voake

Hi, this quarter I read an amazing book called The Dreamwalker’s Child by Steve Voake. It is about a lonely kid named Sam Palmer, who is obsessed with bugs. One day he sees a swarm of wasps and can not help himself and follows them. All of sudden he feels a stinging sensation on his neck and everything goes black. When he wakes up he finds himself in some kind of marshland getting chased by strange dogs. Soon he gets picked up by some people and they take him and put him in prison. In prison he meets Skipper, a small-yet-spunky female pilot who is trying to save Sam and she shows him he is in a strange world called Aurobon. The people of Aurobon actually take care of Earth on insects, that to them are the size of airplanes, that they can drive and when they get to Earth and kill flies, heal fish, and take care of the planet in many other ways. The two nations of Aurobon, Vermia and Vahlzi, are close to war again after ten years from the last war. Vermia wants to take over Earth by using a horrible virus transmitted by mosquitoes and the Vahlzi are trying to stop them. The Vermia heard a prophecy that said when the Dreamwalker’s Child walks in the Aurobon the East, which is Vermia, shall rise and a plague shall descend on the Earth, but the Dreamwalker’s Child shall rise up against the Darkness. Sam Palmer’s mother is the Dreamwalker, so Vermia has taken Sam and is going to win, unless Sam and Skipper stop them. You will have to see what happens in this exciting 320 page fantasy thriller. Will Sam and Skipper stop the Vermia from killing everyone on Earth?

I really like all the characters. Sam throughout the book has decide where he belongs and if he can be brave enough save Earth. I like Skipper because she is a fearless, funny, and nothing gets in her way. I really love everything in this book. Everything includes the description of the tiniest details to that Steve Voake explains how when you see a bug doing military missions and is controlled by some one inside it. I also love a book that has a map in it because it gives you a sense of where the character is. This book has a map so I enjoyed it all the more.

VOYA says that “...Sam and Skipper are boy and girl protagonists with whom all young teens can identify and cheer on.” I agree with that and I would like to say that it is for any reader who likes action and adventure with a bit of humor will love this book. The recommended reading age for this book is 12 years and up.

“Ingenious premise, relentless pace and a sprinkling of thought-provoking philosophy – I loved it.” said Herbie Brennan, author of Faerie Wars. I have read Faerie Wars and I think it is a lot like this book. I think this because it has people from one world going to Earth and when they get to Earth they shrink. It is also has war in the non-Earth world. It is an okay book, but no where near as good as The Dreamwalker’s Child. I think Steve Voake is like Eoin Colfer because he puts a bit action, a dash of humor, a flick of fantasy, and makes a great book with a lot of different characters that everyone will like.

“Relax. They're not going to kill us. They're going to TRY and kill us. And that is a very different thing.” Skipper is saying this after she and Sam are up against hundreds of enemies. I like this quote from the book because it shows a little bit of humor and how in this book they always up against unlikely odds. This book has been shortlisted for Stockton Children's Book of the Year Award and Concorde Book Award. Others books by Steve Voake are The Web of Fire (The School Library Association included The Web of Fire in its list of "Top books for boys"), The Starlight Conspiracy, shortlisted for Concorde Book Award, Blood Hunters (selected for National 'Booked Up' Scheme 2009, Shortlisted for Manchester Book Award, Shortlisted for Leeds Book Award, shortlisted for Cheshire Schools Book Award), Fightback, Won the Bolton book Award, Dark Woods, Insect Detective, Daisy Dawson series for young children, and Hooey Higgins also for young children. I hope you all choose to read this book and find out if Sam and Skipper can save the Earth and humankind!

Recommended by Carl Schneider