I read this book out loud to my 10 year old son. This was a creative and engaging adventure fantasy. The style that it was written in made it incredibly easy to read out loud; I didn't find myself stumbling over strange speech patterns or awkward dialogue.

The story is based on the creative premise of a society that performs exceptional activities while they sleep; for them wakefulness is a state of laziness. It was interesting and full of a ton of adventure and excellent action scenes.

There are quite a few plot holes and inconsistencies throughout the story. However, those didn’t bother my son. So this is probably one of those reads that kids will really love but adults will only feel so-so about.

The story is a bit drawn out and at times it felt like there was too much detail. However, the whole family enjoyed this and my son would like to continue with the series.

Overall this was a fun middle grade adventure read. My whole family ended up enjoying it. There are some plot holes and inconsistencies throughout the story but these didn’t bother my son. Only other complaint would be that at points the story gets a bit long because there is too much detail. Generally this was a good read and I might continue on with the series if my son wants to. ( )

http://yearningtoread.blogspot.com/

Alfonso has never really fit in at his hometown of World's End, Minnesota. While other kids are nestled in bed, sleeping soundly, Alfonso is asleep, but, well...he sleep-walks. He could walk a tight-rope in his sleep, or climb the tallest tree in hundreds of miles, or fix a broken clock. Or randomly put together a complicated concoction to grow a plant that has color changing leaves. He's done all of these things, including the last one. And that seems to be the problem. A big problem. Alfonso learns from his long-lost uncle how important this little plant is - it's a rare Dormian Bloom - and Alfonso is to take it to the hidden land of Dormia to save the last standing city. Can he do it in time, or will traitors and wicked men stand in his way?
____________________________________________

My thoughts -
This is one of those books that I can totally see being a great action film. While I was reading it, I got all these crazy cool ideas of how it could be filmed or who could be in it and the like. It was really cool. Definitely a movie I'd like to see.

I didn't really think I'd like the book when I started it (I was coming out of a 4-5 day reading funk) and I had a hard time easing into it. The writing wasn't (and isn't) the best, but it's clear and gets across a nice picture. The story was good enough and already packed with interesting stuff and some action in the twenty pages, but I was skeptical. I almost gave up. I don't know why, because I was enjoying it at that time.

In any case...I'm happy I pushed through. And while it's not a great book, it was definitely good.

Character notes -
The first thing that struck me about Alfonso was how cautious he is about everything. A bit afraid at first, but he grows and becomes wise. I didn't totally get where or how this change happened, but I wasn't confused. I just...knew. Alfonso isn't the most consistent MC (none of the characters really were consistent), but he was likable all the same.

The characters are constantly caught in a game of deception in which no one knows who's good or who's bad. I guessed wrong. I couldn't believe it. Neither will you. That was probably the best twist in the whole story.

General Loxoc of Somnos and Spack of Barish-yin-Binder stand out to me as the strongest, most consistent characters. And Spack made me laugh - SO. HARD.

Story notes -
This story takes you from the US, to Canada, across the Atlantic Ocean, into the depths of an iceberg, to the worst city Russia, and up into the Urals. It was a fascinating journey, to say the least, with tons of action, deadlines, company, and clear descriptions. Sometimes I couldn't believe what was happened or what I was seeing. Intense, fun, or hilarious, it was all good.

What more can I say? This was some good story-telling, with some major twists and unsurities that will have you guessing until the end. And the Strazsydlo Forest - Spooky! I'm telling you! Spooooooky! I read part of this part at night and had to slam the book shut and quietly force my breathing back to normal...

Summing it up -
D. J. MacHale said it best - “It’s an imaginative quest through strange and exotic lands with an assortment of quirky, fun characters. Just when you think you know where it’s going, it goes somewhere else.” So I guess my one word would have to be quirky. Everything was unique and kept me interested even when I wanted to put it down. It's a great read for ages 10+, and while it's not a timeless classic that all adults will love, I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy reading about Alfonso and his journey with the Dormian Bloom!

For the parents -
Nothing! Ages 10+ ( )

Alfonso Perplexon has lived in the tiny, average town of World's End, Minnesota his entire life, with his mother and grandfather. He's not your average kid, though -- every time he goes to sleep, he ends up climbing trees or power lines. Alphonso's Uncle Hill appears, and tells him a wild story about the tiny and gravely endangered kingdom of Dormia, hidden deep in the Ural Mountains of Europe. Dormia is home to those who have "wakeful sleeping" abilities, and it is dependent upon the existence of the Founding Tree of Dormia. When a Founding Tree begins to die, a new Dormian Bloom plant grows outside of Dormia, and it must be delivered to Dormia before the Founding Tree is completely dead. Alphonso has unknowingly started growing a Dormian Bloom from seeds he found in an old broken maraca of his father's, and so he and Hill must deliver the new plant to Dormia. Except they have no idea exactly where it is... and there is an evil-looking white-eyed man named Kiril stalking their every move. Epic journey, lots of wild action and adventure! 6th grade and up. ( )

Interesting world where greed prevails. A tree needs to be planted to save a city but a greedy person whats to burn the leaves of the tree to live forever. Creative in having sleep be the time people have skills. ( )

One of my favorite books of all time. About a boy that can do amazing things when sleepwalking. Who saves the kingdome of Dormia. ( )