Product Description

Children love getting a close-up look at fascinating creatures in the world around them.This series allows them to get up close and personal with some of these creepy creatures that they can find in parks, gardens and even their own home.Each book identifies the main physical features of each bug including what they eat, how they change, and how they reproduce.

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Customer Reviews (3)

Great Fun
I read a number of Monica Hughes' books back in 1999 because she is the favorite author of a friend. Though some were harder to find, I enjoyed all I could lay my hands on.

This is another wonderful book by Monica Hughes. It is about some Irish space tramps, Mike and Moira Flynn, a father and daughter and his attempts to swindle a backwater planet. He ends up leading the world with their pseudo god, the robot guardian.

It was a wildly fun book to read and is part of the Isis cycle. Well worth tracking down for the young readers in your life.

(First written as Journal Reading Notes in 1999.)

Great Fun
I read a number of Monica Hughes' books back in 1999 because she is the favorite author of a friend. Though some were harder to find, I enjoyed all I could lay my hands on.

This is another wonderful book by Monica Hughes. It is about some Irish space tramps, Mike and Moira Flynn, a father and daughter and his attempts to swindle a backwater planet. He ends up leading the world with their pseudo god, the robot guardian.

It was a wildly fun book to read and is part of the Isis cycle. Well worth tracking down for the young readers in your life.

(First written as Journal Reading Notes in 1999.)

I couldn't put it down!
This was one of the best books by Monica Hughes has ever written! I love the way she carries the story, much like her other books! I couldn;t stop reading once I started it! For any of you that hears about this-read it! It will me nost definately worh it! ... Read more

Product Description
A chilling account of life in 2154, when most jobs are done by machines. Lisse and her friends are unemployable after graduation, but the government gives them an abandoned warehouse in a bleak neighborhood to live in. Anxious to escape their dreary lives, the friends embrace "The Game," which takes them to paradise. But is this world real or only a computer simulation? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (73)

YA dystopian sci-fi at its best!
Whenever I read this book, I am reminded of the fact that short summaries, even the back of the book itself, simply do not do this story justice. It's one of the few books that I would recommend without hesitation to be on a school's reading curriculum, since not only does it tell an engaging story about unemployed life in a dystopian future, but it also has the thread of hope running through it that tells people that no matter what, they have useful skills, even if they don't yet know what use those skills are.

The story is told from the perspective of Lisse, who has just graduated from school and found herself with no employment prospects. This is far from unusual, as she came from one of the top schools in the country, which had a 10% job placement rate in a world essentially run by robots. Along with her friends from school, Lisse starts out her new life as an unemployed.

The world Hughes set up is an interesting one. Unemployed people are taken care of, in a basic sense, by the government, given shelter and enough credits to buy food and cleaning supplies. Anything else they want they must get by scrounging materials from garbage cans, anything throw away or to be recycled. They may not work, except at "indie" things like selling art to the employed who have money to spare. They may not travel, and they are limited to their Designated Area. Gangs essentially rule the streets, the goverment's first line of defense is the thought police, and overcrowding is a major problem.

Then when the tables turn and they find themselves in unfamiliar surroundings, they are forced to exercise every one of their individual talents to the utmost in order to survive as a society. That, in a nutshell, is what this book is about. Society, whether it be overcrowded and terrible or tiny and held together by only the bonds of friendship and necessity. What makes a society, and what makes a good or bad society? Monica Hughes is not afraid of asking the big questions, nor of posing them to young people who most of us would deem incapable of truly understanding such broad concepts. Most adults couldn't properly answer what makes a good or bad society, after all, and I enjoy coming across good YA novels that don't dumb the issues down for children, but instead present the questions in an entertaining and provocative way.

And like Michael Grant's Gone, this book doesn't flinch away from the fact that life involves death, killing, and other unpleasant things, especially when one is in exceptional circumstances.

I could read this book a hundred times over and never get bored of it. I highly recommend it to, well, just about anybody, really, be they young or old. It's the kind of book that makes you want to think, that makes you want to be productive, and makes you examine yourself and your place in the world.

I know I, for one, feel pretty confident that if I were in the same situation as Lisse, all my friends would have plenty of clothes to wear. Most people would consider skills like making a drop spindle, spinning yarn, and knitting to be quaint hobbies at best in this modern world, but when I read this novel, it's easy to remind myself that there are plenty of situations in which my "quaint hobbies" could be the difference between barely surviving the cold and being comfortable and warm.

Read this book for yourself and then take an inventory of your skills. You'll be surprised at what you don't even know you know.

Great book
I remember reading this book when I was 10 years old,
And Im 27 now,
And it was a really great book
I have been searching for this book for forever!!!
Now that Ive finally found it,
Im going to read it again

Review for Invitation to the game By: Monica Hughes
I liked the book 'Invitation to the game' because it was about what was going to happen in the future. The chances that you get a job are 1 out of 10. All the other jobs go to robots. Lisse and her friends try to make the best out of life until a strange letter appears from 'The Game'.
They are told that at the places to which they are sent they are to look for clues and if they win they will be given their hearts' desire. (If I sound confusing I am trying to make it sound as simple as possible for such a complex science-fiction novel.)
Soon though even when they are back home, in their assigned designated area (DA), their lives circulate around The Game. They get in shape for The Game. They read at the library for The Game. Sound boring? It isn't, you devour it and beg for more. The ending leaves you dangling on a hook, and that's the worst thing about 'Invitation to the Game' by Monica Hughes.

A Cautionary Tale
Invitation to the Game / 0-671-86692-3

I read this book as a little girl and spent the next ten years looking for it in book stores because it stuck with me so strongly. When I finally found it on Amazon, I couldn't buy it fast enough. And, if possible, I enjoy it even more than I did when I was a child.

"Invitation to the Game" is, in some ways, standard science fiction fare - the earth is overcrowded with unemployed people, none of whom can find a job because robots can accomplish most tasks more cheaply and efficiently than humans can. When a group of young adults - our protagonists - are dumped directly out of their high school graduation into the government run slums to "enjoy their leisure years" as unemployeds, they despair that they will ever be happy again. Their "leisure years" are anything but, as they stave off simultaneously crippling boredom and the perils of extreme poverty (as the workers keep objecting to having their taxes pay to support the unemployeds) in their "Designated Area" where gangs roam free at night and the other unemployeds party themselves into an eternal stupor to dull the pain.

When a mysterious organization - backed by the government? - offers the group a chance to participate in a virtual reality game for a mysterious prize, they leap at the chance, anxious to do anything to brighten their existence and bring meaning to their lives. Yet as the year goes by, and their visits to the gaming center become more frequent, they speculate as to the true motives of the government and what the real meaning of The Game truly is.

"Invitation to the Game" is a fascinating exploration of a future where inertia prevents the necessary changes to society that are so terribly needed, and where brilliant young minds are in danger of being wasted in order to allow the system to continue unchallenged. This is not "action sci-fi" - much of the book is devoted to daily scrounging and survival without the help of adults (a sort of futuristic The Boxcar Children (The Boxcar Children, No. 1), if you will) and to periods of discussion over the nature of society and their own uncertain fates and futures. Hughes does a remarkable job moving the story as a fast clip, and her contrasting drab future society and vibrant virtual reality escape are wonders to behold.

While the story sounds depressing and frightening, the Hughes maintains a light touch, providing nurturers among the group to act as a surrogate mother and father, and the young adults are remarkably self-sufficient and dedicated - teaching themselves karate and instituting a fun and healthy exercise regimen to protect themselves both within and without The Game. While their world has hardships and privations, these are seen as challenges to be overcome rather than impossible burdens. While the individual members of this thrown-together group often do not get along, they nevertheless learn to respect each other and they solve conflicts realistically. The end result is that the reader relishes in their small victories and the privations of the world around them only make the victories that much sweeter. And when the prize of The Game is revealed, we see that the solution to their problems is both bitter-sweet and exquisite.

Great Sci-Fi
As someone else said this is the only book I remember reading in Middle School.I by chance checked it out because we HAD to get a book from the library.I also started searching for this book (as someone else mentioned) when I was a little older.It was just now that I typed in a few different keywords that I was able to find it.Can't wait to read this again, it has a GREAT story. I'm into film making (although not actually in the industry) and I'd love to film/see an adaptation of this if I had the resources! ... Read more

Product Description
The Game is just the beginning…

It’s the year 2154. Lisse and her friends have been deemed unemployable in the eyes of society. Now they must scavenge the disintegrating city for food and shelter, just to make ends meet.

But their dismal existence starts to look up when Lisse and her friends are invited to participate in The Game, an experience highly regarded in their society. The Game is a virtual reality experience where they are challenged to survive. But as they spend more time in The Game, the line between reality and fantasy starts to blur. What started as a simple exercise quickly becomes a test of endurance, trust, and their will to live. ... Read more

Product Description
It was her tenth birthday on Isis. By Earth years, she would be sixteen. But Olwen Pendennis had never been to Earth. She had been born on Isis. And since her parents' death, she had lived there alone, manning the Isis Light -- a "lighthouse" in space designed to aid ships, and to bring settlers from Earth.And now, on the day of her tenth year, the settlers are coming at last. Olwen is ready to welcome them, but are they ready for her? She was once human, like them. But the harsh climate of the alien planet has changed her, transformed her into something else -- something the settlers could never be prepared for... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (29)

Good Story
I thought this was a great book! Well written and thought provoking. I think it should be read in schools. We all need to learn to be more open to differences in each other. I enjoyed how she grew up and changed throughout the book and am looking forward to reading the next book.

Love in Space
Olwen is sixteen by Earth years, but only ten by Isis years, which is more important to her.That makes sense, since she has lived her entire life on the planet Isis, far away from Earth.In a home carved out of the rocks she lives with her Guardian, who gives her everything she ever wanted, and her pet, Hobbit.Olwen's job is to keep the beacon, the light, up to date.It sends out signals to Earth about the planet, in case others from Earth ever want to colonize.Olwen is completely happy with her near-solitary life, and she feels grateful to have the entire beautiful planet of Isis to herself.

Then, shortly after her birthday, the settlers come to colonize.That is when the trouble starts.First of all, Olwen doesn't want anyone else on her planet.She is happy to live there just with Guardian and Hobbit.Then she begins to feel curious about these people, and she develops an attachment to one, a boy a year older than her named Mark.Olwen becomes frustrated with her solitary life and with the protective suit she has to wear whenever she is around any of the colonists.She is falling in love with Mark and would like him to be able to look at her face, rather than at a protective mask.

One day by chance, Mark and Olwen are together when she does not have her protective suit on.But it is not at all like Olwen imagined.Suddenly, she is forced to confront some scary truths about herself and for the first time she questions her Guardian about the reality she has taken for granted.

The descriptions of the planet Isis were really well done.It seemed very peaceful, yet strange that Olwen would not be lonely.I really liked the ending of this book.Olwen didn't do the thing I expected she would do, which pleased me.I was confused about Guardian, though.I wasn't sure who or what he was, since I only got hints about him from Olwen.

Just Read In English
Well, my 8th grade middle school class is reading this book,Keeper of the Isis Light. So far I am the only one who has actually finished it. I, personally, thought that it could have been a little better. The romance didn't fit all too well with this type of book. I see where Mz. Monica Hughes was going with the story but I think maybe she could have pulled it together a tad bit more.

Maybe the only reason I didn't like it very much was because I was forced to read it. I had to read Johnny Tremain too and wasn't too fond of it either. I guess this isn't much of a summery but oh well. Well, if you have read this, thanks.

Please remove that card catalog description!
Of the many books I have read in my life, a few made a truly unforgettable impression on the way I see the world.
This short novel is a true gem - a simple, entertaining, economically written story that delivers an emotional punch that leaves the sensitive reader reeling.
Unfortunately, if you have read the "card catalog description" above, I'm not sure if I can recommend the book asyou will have been robbed of much of the dramatic impact. That awful "description" is more spoiler dense than any almost any other sentence I can imagine.
Ms. Hughes, where are you? Please get them to at least hide that "card catalog description" from this site.
I'm so happy that I read this book years ago in another edition.

One of the best science fiction books I have ever read
I got all three of the Isis books about four years ago. My mom reviews books and we get a ton for free in the mail. I never really got into them, partly because mine had terrible drab and depressing covers and next to nothing on the back. The I found the first one at my cottage with an extremely interesting cover and I was hooked emediatly.

I love this book the best out of the first two I've read (I plan to finish the third today so I can't comment on it at present) because it is so unlike your usual romance imbedded in a science fiction or fantasy. Usually the plot is so complicated already that any romance works out perfectly. I not going to give any thing away but lets just say that some of the characters weren't what they seemed. I loved Guardien because he was so eager to please but so determined to do what he thought was right for Olwen at the same time. I liked Jody as well even though he didn't really act like a nine-year-old.

I have placed this book on the shelf with the rest of my absolute favourites and I hope everybody will get to read as good a science fiction as this. ... Read more

Product Description

Children love getting a close-up look at fascinating creatures in the world around them. This series allows them to get up close and personal with some of these creepy creatures that they can find in parks, gardens and even their own home. Each book identi

... Read more

Product Description
When the slaves rebel against the rigid social order imposed on the colony by the all-controlling computer, Tomi, the son of the colony Overlord manages to escape beyond the computer's reach and discovers what it is like to be free. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Wonderful book!
This was an unexpected find for me. I was in highschool, and wandering the library shelves for something to read. One of my habits at the library is to wander around and see what I can find. I have found plenty of good reads this way, and this book was no exception.

I've always liked sci-fi, so reading the inside of the book jacket intrigued me. I checked it out, and i was glad to. This was a idea that is unique today, even more so back then because computers weren't as much a part of life back then, so the idea is neat. Personally, I can only imagine how it would feel having something equivalent to a hard-drive plugged into my neck, although today, I'm sure the size of these plugs would probably be no more than flash drives (if that!)

It's nice to see that this utopia really is just a dystopia, because I was wondering how I could be happy like this. Likewise, the main character of this book seems happy at first, and is blissfully naive, but he notices little things that are wrong with this society. His adventures and what he learns along the way are realistic, and even a decade later, I remember this book fondly.

Pleasant post-apocalyptic dystopia
I first read this one about fifteen years ago and I was very impressed. There's always the risk when you revisit childhood favourites - you might find them utterly daft. Not this one! While the book is somewhat naive - it's a book for kids, after all - it was still quite charming.

After an apocalypse of sorts, group of people locked themselves in Arc One, trying to maintain knowledge through the dark ages. The society has become a rigid class society: lords on top, workers in the middle, slaves on the bottom with soldiers controlling them.

Main character Tomi is a son of a lord, part of the ruling elite. When he comes of age, he's given proper access to the information databases. Unfortunately there's a slave rebellion, which ends up with Tomi being tossed out of the Arc. What a strange world he finds outside!

It's a lovely, positive story. I'd recommend this to kids that are into science fiction without a doubt - and also to adults, looking for a quick and pleasant read. (Review based on the Finnish translation.)

Devil on my back- Simply outstanding!
I've re-read several times and I love reading evey word or punciation mark of it. The twists in the plot makes the classic sci-fi story oine an unbelievable read. It the kind of book that lingers in your head and mentailly forces me to write a sequal to "The Dream Catcher" and "Devil on my Back" with my mind; using he brillantly made characters in different situations with different characters. it's immense! I wish Monica Hughes could could develop a series of these Ark stories!

Gratefully Written by,

Caroline D.

Devil on my back- Simply outstanding!
Devil on my back- Simply outstanding!, June 22, 2005
A Kid's Review
I've re-read several times and I love reading every word or punciation mark of it. The twists in the plot make the classic sci-fi story line an unbelievable read. It the kind of book that lingers in your head and mentally forces me to write a sequel to "The Dream Catcher" and "Devil on my Back" with my mind; using her brilliantly made characters in different situations with different characters. It's immense! I wish Monica Hughes could develop a series of these Ark stories!

Gratefully Written by,

Caroline D.

read it!
this book was a really well written book.i am just starting to read her books and they are really interesting.i read the isis series and i recomend that to anyone who likes science fiction.i can't wait to readthe seqiul to this book! ... Read more

Product Description

A young child’s life is filled with many first time experiences. Whether it’s their first day at school or the birth of a new brother or sister, this series helps introduce them to the ways children feel about first time events and what is involved with ea

... Read more

Product Description

Children love getting a close-up look at fascinating creatures in the world around them. This series allows them to get up close and personal with some of these creepy creatures that they can find in parks, gardens and even their own home. Each book identi

... Read more

Product Description
One sad day, Grandmother died. "You cannot stay here," said the man who owned the land. "I have a family ready to move in."Young Concepcion has no choice but to move to the [barrio] of the nearby city. There she meets children who, in order to survive, must steal the good they eat. But Concepcion has a plan. With back-breaking work she plants a garden amid the rubble, using her grandmother's legacy: a handful of chili, corn and bean seeds. But her garden is destroyed. Will she have the strength to begin again?Monica Hughes's powerful story is complemented perfectly by the paintings of Luis Garay, a young Nicaraguan artist. Sharon, Lois and Bram provide a moving introduction. Published in collaboration with UNICEF Canada, A Handful of Seeds offers a message of hope on behalf of the thirty million children worldwide who live on the streets of their cities. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Your kids will love this!
This book has valuable lessons for a child to learn. The main character in the book loses her Grandmother and learns how to cope with the loss by helping others and sharing what little she has. It's a touching story and Iespecially recommend it to Latino parents and parents looking to add alittle cultural adversity to their child's reading. ... Read more

Product Description
A young child's life is filled with many first time experiences.Whether it's their first day at school or the birth of a new brother or sister, this series helps introduce them to the ways children feel about first time events and what is involved with each. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

First Visit to the Dentist
This is a great book for English Language Learners.The pictures and text are simple and clear.And, on top of everything, the dentist's ethnicity appears to be Indian and the young patient typical American.Great book! ... Read more

Product Description
Little Nippers features a collection of first information books for young learners offering quality non-fiction supported by clear photographic images. Capture the young learner's imagination with these "real" books designed with their needs in mind. Creepy Creatures introduces children to the world of minibeasts which they may have come across in the parks or gardens. The books help children to find out about and identify features of living things, objects and events they may observe. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great Book!
I loved this book!
It was so hard to put down.
Monica Hughes is a great storyteller, she kept me guessing almost to the last page.

I recommend this book for people who are 9 years old and up.
It was a great book and I think anyone who reads it will be satisfied.

The Maze- an INCREDIBLE book!
The Maze is one of the best books I have ever read. It's about this girl Andrea aged 15 who is bullied by a group called The Six.Crystal and Sabrina are the leaders of this group. She is new to Abbotsville High and has not a very good life at home or at school. Her mother doesn't live with them and her Dad will not let Andrea keep correspondence. Her Dad is very quiet and kind of sad. He makes Andrea do all kinds of chores and she always listens.He also makes her wear clothes that are very unfashionable when the have the money to buy nice ones. But then she walks into a shop to hide from The Six. The shop has amulets and things. The lady who works at the shop gives her this box with a maze and a little stone in the middle to help her in some way. A few days later Sabrina and Crystal get sucked into the maze and Andrea has to go ans save them but Crystal's anger is making it harder for Andrea to save her. This is a very interesting read that I enjoyed every word of. It has amazing twists and turns that you will not want to put down. The ending awesome too.I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an excellent read aged 10 and up. By the way, the maze surely does help Andrea!

Wonderful.... simply wonderful
The book begins with a chapter title of the name of the main character (oh dear, here we go... confusion), and many ive read that tend to jump from character to character reliving the same moment, either bore me from the same details (think "GO") or confuse me as I really dont know whats going on. Yet Monica Huges has managed to keep the balance right and not bore us with details, yet know exactly when to reveal others from another angle without the either of the two drawbacks that can occur. Her plot twists are astounding, and her attention to detail amazing as well.
Wonderfully written, I had this book pegged as one to read only on the bus, yet after the first ride, I had it done by the end of the night. I hope that Hughes will be continue to write as beautifully as she has in this 30-something publication. ... Read more

Product Description
Offers you comprehensive coverage of the required 5-14 targets, with levelled texts to ensure a steady progression in non-fiction skills. ... Read more

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Princess Rania is forced to leave everything she loves when she is apprenticed to a desert-dwelling ascetic, but she soon develops a love for her new life that will conflict with her eventual return to the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A great book!
The first time I read this book, I was in grade 7 or 8, and I loved it.I'm going to be graduating from High School this year, and I still love it.I must have read it about 30 times.In this sequel to Sandwriter, a youngprincess must travel to a strange land to learn the secrets of a mysteriousold woman.The descriptions of the land provide ample subject matter withwhich you can imagine anything, and the characters are realistic and easyto identify with.

An astounding sequel
Who can complain about this book? I can't say anything about it, it's just too good. Only read it. If you're looking for a book, read it. But read Sandwriter first. It's better, but this is a super runner-up. ... Read more

Product Description
Ruth is a misfit. Within the protective Dome of Ark Three, she alone disrupts the Web, the perfect formed by the psychic joining of minds. But other images fill Ruth's dreams, images of a red-haired girl from the far side of the eastern mountains. Could it be that other Arks exist? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Dream a Little Dream of Me . . .
"The Freedom Man danced out of the Ark/ Over the hills so shady/ Into the light and out of the dark/ To be with his red-haired lady."

It is a year in a far-flung future, when the survivors of mankind have retreated into small, isolated communities called Arks.Fifteen-year-old Ruth is a member of Ark Three, and can't seem to fit in or do anything right.Can this misfit find her place in the community?Monica Hughes is an accomplished author of Science Fiction for young readers, and knows her craft.This book is the sequel to DEVIL ON MY BACK, although the stories can be read independently of one another.Ms. Hughes sparks the imagination, creates compelling characters and leads readers on an adventure, not only in science fiction, but also of the heart.

The basic situation that underlies this story will be familiar enough.Ruth is the only one of her fifteen-year-old group that is strikingly different.She can't seem to do anything right, can't seem to fit in, can't seem to be happy.She keeps wondering what's wrong with her.Pretty much, this theme is a tenet of teen fiction, and Ms. Hughes knows this.But here's where the story changes: Ruth is part of a self-sufficient community that has developed psychic powers and links as part of their survival.At age fifteen, each child becomes an adult, joining the Web-the perfect pattern formed by the joining of minds of everyone in Ark Three.And every fifteen-year-old is given a vocation based on his or her talent.But Ruth has no talent; it seems, except for causing trouble, disrupting the web and generally being unhappy.But the fact is, Ruth does have a talent-a rare one.And it is her abilities that allow her to receive dreams that are being sent from another Ark.She will help spur her community into an exciting and dangerous journey through the outside to try and find this other Ark.But what they find may be the most dangerous thing of all . . . and it will take all of Ruth's abilities, along with those of her friends and new allies, to survive it and create a new future for all.

As with all of Ms. Hughes books, the author not only deftly threads the themes that are universal to youngsters and teens everywhere, but also maintains a social conscience about the kind of societies that are possible in this future.She looks at them critically, demonstrating their flaws, and their strengths, and proving that sometimes the most unlikely people can be the catalyst that changes society for the better.Ms. Hughes doesn't pull her punches when it comes to her characters; they wind up in real danger, and have to survive some true ordeals.But everything is coached in young reader terms, so older readers may find some of the events less sophisticated than they would like-this is not an adult reader's story and doesn't try to be.If your young teen reader is hungry for science fiction stories, and not quite ready to tackle the likes of 1984 or BRAVE NEW WORLD, then this kind of book is the perfect stepping-stone.

If you like this book, please be sure to check out DEVIL ON MY BACK, which this is a stand-alone sequel to.Also check out other books by Hughes like INVITATION TO THE GAME and KEEPER OF THE ISIS LIGHT.If you enjoy these sort of stories set in a post apocalyptic future, also check out THE CITY OF EMBER by Jeanette Duprau, OBERNEWTYN by Isobelle Carmody and THE GIVER by Lois Lowery.

Happy Reading! ^_^ Shanshad

review
Review
By Michal
There was this girl who always got in trouble she has no friends she would get teased a lot by other people. Thy would talk about her and she would always get upset about it.

Ruth was the main Character in this story. She is a little girl and the magic thing is that she would have a Dream about the outside world if she were bigger then she is. She would have red hair and someone who loves her, but he moves away.she wakes up screaming and the next day it really happens to her.

I liked this story because she is anice person to every body and her dreams come true.

review
Review
By Michal
There was this girl who always got in trouble she has no friends she would get teased a lot by other people. Thy would talk about her and she would always get upset about it.

Ruth was the main Character in this story. She is a little girl and the magic thing is that she would have a Dream about the outside world if she were bigger then she is. She would have red hair and someone who loves her, but he moves away.she wakes up screaming and the next day it really happens to her.

I liked this story because she is anice person to every body and her dreams come true.

Incredible!
It is often the case that a sequel can't be read without reading the book that precedes it. I had bought The Dream Catcher ...... at a book sale, not realising it followed Devil On My Back, (also a fantastic book) and loved it. It easily stands alone, and is even better after reading thefirst book about the Arcs. As soon as I finished it I rushed out to getDevil. . . and it enhanced Ruth's experiences even more greatly, clarifyingher dreams, etc. Both books are incredible, bringing forth an amazingworld, that, no matter how far-out, is totally believable, with charcatersI could happily relate to. Not only was the series enjoyable, I was touchedby many parts, especially Tomi's change, and the freedom song.

So thefreedom man danced out of the Arc

Over the hills so shady

Into thenight and out of the dark

To be with his long-haired lady

(I apaologiseif that's not correct, I'm going from memory.) I was especially touched bythe fact that this world does not exist, yetMonica Hughes has createdsuch a moving song of hope and pride, that I could picture the peoplesitting around a roaring fire, singing of their happiness and the dreams ofa "world made free" as another verse says. This is a beautifulbook.

An Amazing Sequel
It is a well known fact that sequels rarely reach the standards of their prequels. So, as Devil On My Back is my favourite book of all time you can imagine that whilst being very exicited I was also a little dubious when Ifound this book.

I shouldn't have been. It is truly fantastic. Once againthe characters come to life the minute you pick up the book, you canempathise with all of them and when Tomi first sees Ruth the pain he feelsat her not being Rowan is intense.

It is a completely original story initself whilst tying up Devil On My Back splendidly. The small amount ofhope that that book left me with in the midst of its despair is reasuringlyfulfilled here. Thank-You Monica Hughes for allowing Tomi to be free.

Ifanybody would like to write to me about this or any of her other books,please do. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fun Book to Read
When I read this for a sixth grade project I loved it.The mystery intrigued me and I grew attached to the characters.It isn't my favourite book, but I really enjoyed it.If you want an interesting book full of twists and turns to read while lounging around Stormwarning is a good choice. ... Read more