"Dream walking" is something Joshlyn has done all her life, but when confronted by mysterious forces within the Dream, she is called to fight an evil that threatens to tear the world apart. Josh leads dual lives: one at school and another at home, where her family and others collaborate to assist dreamers in ending their nightmares. These dream walkers uncover long-kept secrets when a pair of gas-masked men gain the ability to escape the Dream itself. Alloway's characters leap off the page, especially Josh and her apprentice Will Kansas. One minute they are scanning the databases on the top-secret dream walker website, and the next they are resisting their undeniable attraction, while delving into the technology that killed Josh's loved ones. With backstory aplenty and enough real science to intrigue fantasy newcomers, this will make readers look askance at teens they see yawning ve they been up all night battling the innermost fears of humanity? Here's hoping Alloway has a sequel close at hand.

Gr 9 Up-In this intriguing fantasy, unlikely heroine Josh Weaver is a child prodigy among the society of dreamwalkers of which she and many in her family and close friends belong. They have special talents and training that allows them to enter dreams to help stop nightmares, which if not checked, may have an emotional toll on the world. As she celebrates her 17th birthday, she is assigned an apprentice to train. Josh accepts the charge unwillingly since she made a mistake in the past that caused her to lose a loved one, and she's unsure if she can keep Will alive. The newcomer knows nothing and she must teach him how to resolve a nightmare, convince the dreamer to awaken, or to terminate the mission, all without being hurt or even killed. In their travels, the two enter into a nightmare where somehow the rules have changed and danger abounds. Will they discover what is happening, and combat the threat that is affecting many in their society or will evil prevail in this fast-paced fantasy? Alloway's writing is rich and vivid, and the dynamics within the close-knit cast of characters make the danger even more delicious as readers watch for the outcome. This title and the sure-to-be written sequels will be welcome additions to the fantasy section. Jane Hebert, Glenside Public Library District, Glendale Heights, IL

On her seventeenth birthday, Josh Weaver receives the scroll that prophesies her future as one of the dream walkers, nightmare conquerors who maintain balance among the worlds. According to the scroll, Josh's future includes an apprentice, and right on time, Will Kansas arrives at the front door. Will exhibits a natural ability for entering the Dream, but Josh is an unwilling teachershe feels responsible for the loss of her boyfriend, Ian, tragically left behind in the dream world. Josh's gradual coming to terms with her past is the plot's emotional focus; subplots include romantic triangles, political subterfuge, and a long-imprisoned villain who is key to Josh's destiny. When bad guys in trench coats breech the integrity of the Dream, Josh and her allies investigate, plunging themselves and the worlds into peril.Alloway's universe is simply but cohesively built, and the fast pace and clean writing move characters smoothly through both dream portals and plot developments. If the protagonist is earnestly one-note, the supporting playerstroubled siblings, former best friends, and potential love interestsadd engaging variety. Josh and Will's romance is foregone, but he is a winning character with a sympathetic backstory, and his gentle besting of Josh's habitual defensiveness is endearing. Tactile language adds tangibility to multiple world environments, and there is a satisfying emotional payoff when Josh uncovers Ian's fate. While there is room for a sequel, this first novel stands sturdily on its own.Janice M. Del Negro.