The Glitch in Sleep

October 8, 2007
Hulme and Wexler turn the intelligent design concept on its ear in their children's book debut, a kickoff to The Seems series. The premise: everything that happens in our world, from falling in love to the weather to time itself, is controlled by The Seems—“the place on the other side of the World responsible for generating what you see outside your window right now.” Twelve-year-old Becker Drane lives a double life, secretly working for the Institute for Fixing & Repair; when something goes wrong in The Seems, “Fixers” put the cosmic cogs back in working order. Becker's first mission as a Fixer is a doozy—find the glitch in the Department of Sleep that has turned everyone in the world into an insomniac. The authors use the conceit to the fullest, creating a complex and intricate world with a sometimes daunting array of gadgets, bureaucracy, vocabulary and capitalization (a glossary is included—and welcome). These details don't become overwhelming, fortunately, thanks to the book's consistently lighthearted tone (the Department of Sleep's radio station, WDOZ, broadcasts tracks like “The Hum of the Air Conditioner ” into humans' subconscious minds). The high sense of adventure and an abundance of goofball humor should appeal especially to boys. Ages 10-up.

March 1, 2008
Gr 4-8-Becker Drane has the coolest job. Hes a Fixer in The Seems where all the functions of the world are controlled, such as sleep, weather, and nature. Most of the time the departments control these function according to The Plan, but when there is a problem, a Fixer is called. Becker, 12, is the youngest of 37 active Fixers, and he lives an ordinary life with his little brother and parents in New Jersey until he is called to The Seems to undertake a mission: to fix a glitch in the Department of Sleep that threatens to destroy the workings of the world. Luckily, he has expert training, a tool belt full of helpful devices, and his seventh sense that will help him locate the fast-moving glitch. After many frustrating failures, including breaking the Rule of Thumb by interfering with someones dream, the boy is able to track down and capture the glitch with an invention he calls The Helping Hand. Oliver Wyman narrates all the voices, including several diverse foreign accents, in this science fiction novel (Bloomsbury, 2007) by John Hulme and Michael Wexler. There are many interruptions to the action, such as flashbacks and glimpses into what is happening to various people around the world, sometimes making the tale drag a bit. Upper elementary and middle school science fiction fans will enjoy this light-hearted tale."Teresa Wittmann, Westgate Elementary School, Edmonds, WA"

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