About This Book
A parent might reach for this book when their child is struggling with the social hierarchies of middle school or feeling like an outsider due to a unique personal struggle. Sam is a thirteen-year-old suffering from chronic sleepwalking, a condition that leaves her exhausted and isolated. When a sleep specialist's treatment allows her soul to detach from her body at night, she discovers a hidden world of SleepWakers. This secret nighttime society is divided into cliques, much like her school, and Sam must navigate the pressure to join the popular but mean-spirited Mean Dreams or forge her own path of integrity. While the premise is fantastical, the emotional core deals with the very real pressure of wanting to belong and the difficulty of standing up to a charismatic bully. It is a perfect choice for kids aged 8 to 12 who enjoy humor mixed with light supernatural elements. Parents will appreciate how the story models the importance of looking beneath the surface of others' behavior and finding strength in collective kindness rather than individual power.
