Reviews for Dormia

The average rating for Dormia based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2010-03-10 00:00:00 Charlotte Shirley Reviewed by Theresa L. Stowell for TeensReadToo.com Alfonso Perplexon is not just any kid. He does things in his sleep that most people can't do. For example, he wakes up in the top branches of a tree. Unfortunately, he has a harder time getting down when he is awake than he had climbing it when he was asleep. One morning, when he climbs down from his tree, he meets a stranger named Kiril, who understands his sleepwalking abilities and warns him of an adventure that he may soon undertake. Not long after this strange visitation, Alfonso's uncle, Hill Persplexy, shows up at the greenhouse owned by Pappy Eubanks, Alfonso's grandfather. Uncle Hill tells Alfonso a tale of a lost city that needs a very special, one-of-a-kind plant that Alfonso has grown. If Alfonso does not deliver the bloom to the mysterious city of Dormia, the city and its inhabitants will wither away. This bit of news begins Alfonso's journey to find the mythological city. Along the way, he meets a number of strange and amusing characters, including one old woman who sleeps in a casket for long periods of time and a pair of old ladies who act only on the advice of their cat. He and Uncle Hill also run into a number of dangerous situations that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Alfonso must learn to trust his own judgment about who is on his side and who is really out to harm him and destroy his bloom. Readers will enjoy traveling alongside Alfonso in this quest to not only save a city but to find his heritage in this unique story. Halpern and Kujawinski have created a quirky set of characters and a fascinating place that readers will want to return to time and again.

Review # 2 was written on 2012-05-18 00:00:00 Kelly Clak For most people, sleeping is, well, sleeping. Not much happens besides an occasional mumble and a strange dream. But for 12 year old Alfonso Perplexon, its when he sleeps that he truly comes alive. He climbs trees, grows peculiar plants, and many other things his waking self could never do. Alfonso soon discovers he's a Dormian--an ancient race of extreme sleep walkers. His journey back to his ancestor's land of Dormia is filled with action, puzzles, and plot twists. The only reason I gave this book three stars instead of five is due to the writing. Dormia is told in third person omniscient, semi-understandably (Things happen while Alfonso is unconscious, so I guess I can see why). BUT the constant head-hopping really took me out of the story. Which is a bummer because the plot is so great. Now don't get me wrong. I LOVE, I mean LOVE third person novels with multiple perspectives. But switching POV mid scene makes me cringe. Also, the authors spent a great deal of time telling me how things happened rather than showing. The lengthy data dump had me skimming until I got confused enough to backtrack. However, if you can handle the prose, Dormia is a very enjoyable read. I adore puzzles, and this book is chalk full of them. The characters are distinct and lovable. Some elements may be hard for a skeptic reader to handle, so leave your disbelief at the door. This is a middle grade fantasy, not a history book. All in all, I enjoyed it immensely, and will be picking up the second in the series. -Lyndsey