Dormia (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Dormia Kate McDowell Halpern, Jake. Dormia; by Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski. Houghton, 2009 506p. ISBN 978-0-547-07665-2 $17.00 Alfonso has never understood the mysterious powers that emerge when he’s sleeping, powers that allow him to accomplish superhuman feats of strength and agility that he can’t remember when he’s awake. His long-lost uncle, who has suddenly turned up, explains to Alfonso that their family comes from the secret land of Dormia, hidden deep in the northern Ural Mountains. Also from Dormia, apparently, is the plant Alfonso has grown from a seed that was hidden in his baby rattle, which was a present from his father. Together, Alfonso and Uncle Hill set off on a quest to save the last great city of Dormia by planting the bloom in Dormian soil before it’s too late. Halpern and Kujawinski have created an original fantasy world of sleeping and magical plants, but the plot staggers under the weight of a host of characters who come with far more backstory than is needed. Still, there’s pleasure in the meandering journey toward Dormia through frozen landscapes, and there’s excitement in the battles with the evil Dragoonya, who want nothing more than to thwart Jake and Uncle Hill’s quest. Young readers who crave fantasies where every leg of the journey leads to collecting another hearty companion with a tale to tell may wish to join the adventure. Copyright © 2009 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois