The Daydreamer

THE DAYDREAMER chronicles the stories that go on in the head of 10-year-old Peter Fortune--a boy destined to be misunderstood by adults made nervous by his quiet demeanor as he floats off on great mental adventures. In these daydreams, which fluidly merge fantasy and reality (part of the pleasure of this book is figuring out which is which), Peter experiences life as his old pet cat, does battle with his sister's bad doll, eliminates his bothersome family by applying vanishing cream, and defeats a bully just with his insightful words. The experienced and likable Simon Prebble brings much insight to this narration. His skilled reading reveals Peter's sense of humor and compassion--as though he understands what it's like to be completely absorbed in fantasy, sometimes at the expense of reality. J.C.G. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

December 16, 2002

Most grownups think that 10-year-old Peter Fortune is a difficult child because he is so quiet, but through his daydreams he learns to see the world from numerous points of view. In a starred review, PW
said, "McEwan's vivid and poetic writing reveals a profound understanding of childhood." Ages 8-up.