Book Review: Dreams of the Dead

Dreams of the Dead by Thomas Randall
(Click on the cover to find a library copy, or ask me for a free one!)

SUMMARY: Sixteen-year-old Kara Harper is an outsider in Japan, but is doing her best to fit at the private school where her father is teaching English for the year. Fortunately she’s befriended by Sakura, a fellow outsider struggling to make sense of her sister’s unsolved murder some months ago. No one seems to care about the beautiful girl who was so brutally murdered, and the other students go on as if nothing has happened. Unfortunately, the calm doesn’t last for long. Kara begins to have nightmares, and soon other students in the school turn up dead, viciously attacked by someone . . . or something. Is Sakura getting back at those she thinks are responsible for her sister’s death? Or has her dead sister come back to take revenge for herself? (from the back cover)

OPINION: This book combines Japanese culture with horror and suspense, all from an American perspective. Even though she has spent years studying Japanese language and customs, Kara is still gaijin, a foreigner, to the other students at her private school. Kara's outsider status is a challenge, particularly after the nightmares and killing begin. As the story progresses, there is a shift from realism as a supernatural element is introduced. This shift is a little rough at times, and the story looses some of its momentum. However, because the supernatural element was culturally authentic, I remained intrigued. The ending felt a bit rushed after all of the explanation, but it was a thrilling ride and the final scenes with Sakura were particularly intense. If you are a Japan-obsessed manga reader, this is a novel for you! I also think older teen readers of horror, suspense, mystery, or supernatural books would be interested in this title. There are two more books in the series, called Spirits of the Noh and A Winter of Ghosts, so be sure look for those if you like Dreams of the Dead.

A NOTE ABOUT THE BOOK AND THE AUTHOR: This book was written by Christopher Golden, using the pseduonym of Thomas Randall. It was originally the first book in a series called Gaijin Girl, but was repackaged to focus more on the supernatural horror elements. It was given a new cover and a new series name (The Waking) for hardcover publication, but the book title remained the same. The paperback version of the book will be released on August 31, 2010, and the cover is completely different. It's so confusing!!

RANDOM FACTS: I researched the setting of this book a little bit, and found that Amanohashidate, Japan, is a real place. The beautiful bay and sandbar are exactly as described, and people really do view it through their legs to see it as a bridge to heaven!