River of Dreams

May 15, 2020
A 16-year-old girl must venture into the unpredictable and perilous dream world to rescue her comatose brother. One morning, Noah Driscoll didn't wake up--that was nine months ago. Presently, Noah remains unconscious at home, under the care of his older sister Finn (short for Fionnuala) and their Nana, while their mother, Julia, is working on a project in Norway. Since Noah fell into his coma, Finn has distanced herself from classmates except for Jed, her best friend and, unbeknownst to Finn, admirer. Nash's debut begins with Finn waking from a nightmare; Noah was drowning and begging for her help. What Finn assumed was a reminder of how helpless she is to save him turns out to be a family secret: Finn and Noah are Dreamwalkers--warriors who save people in their sleep so they can find peace in their real lives. Nana gives Finn Noah's notebook, which is filled with strange drawings and notes about something dark and sinister he's been investigating in the River of Dreams. Finn and Jed's convenient blooming romance acts as a sweet balm to the menacing mystery behind Noah's comatose state. Nash presents perplexing questions about the dream world, deliberately weaving shamanism and alchemy into the story, but does not provide enough answers. Despite the slow and uneven pace, there is enough here to keep readers hooked. The Driscolls are Irish American; the cast is mostly white. A fantasy with a tantalizing cliffhanger ending. (Fantasy. 13-17)

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