Chan, Queenie. The Dreaming (Volume 1).
TokyoPop. 2006.
ISBN 1427800057
$7.99. Paperback. 192 pages.
Readers Annotation
Twin sisters, Amber and Jeanie, have been accepted into an exclusive Australian boarding school, but it comes with a warning – don’t go into the bush!
Plot Summary
When twin sisters, Amber and Jeanie arrive at their exclusive Australian boarding school, their aunt (who is leaving as they arrive) tells them to hide the fact that they are actually twins from the vice-principal. There are rumors that the school is haunted, but their new friends, Schala and Millie, assure them that the rumors are silly girl stuff. As the girls investigate their new home, mean Mrs. Skeener, the vice-principal, discovers them. The pair is warned never to enter the bush at night because students have disappeared. Amber, the more sensitive sister begins to have unexplained horrifying dreams that she is being pulled into the bush. In her dreams she encounters women in long dresses standing under bleeding trees. The dream is frightening, but soon the twins discover that they are dreaming the same dream. After performing a séance, and another encounter with Mrs. Skeener, Amber is ready to leave the academy. When their friend Millie becomes ill, the girls are worried. When Millie disappears from her bed, they are frightened. Weeks later, as they search the grounds, Amber begins to recognize the forest from her dreams. Amber stumbles upon a water hole. As her shoe dislodges a stone into the water, the body of Millie rises from the depths.
Critical Evaluation
Author Queenie Chan provides a wonderfully creepy manga horror novel. This is the first book in a trilogy. The story is original and the artwork is typical manga style. Chan has created an interesting look for this book. The school hidden deep in the Australian bush, the truly creepy paintings on the walls, the hidden doors, the tight-lipped teachers all add to the imagery. Chan gives her characters interesting costumes to wear. The schoolgirls aren’t relegated to uniforms as in some other manga I’ve seen. Yet the costumes worn by the dream women are whimsical, and do not represent any specific time period, and they have a distinctly gothic feel. I enjoyed this book. It left me wanting to complete the trilogy. This is a good book for reluctant young adult readers.
Genre
Horror, manga format.
Information about the author
Queenie Chan was born in Hong Kong in 1980. She immigrated with her family to Australia when she was six-years-old. Chan creates her drawings by hand, and adds tone using a computer. You can find out more about Chan here http://www.queeniechan.com/, although it doesn’t appear that the website has been updated since 2007.
Curriculum ties
None
Challenge Issues
None
Challenge defense ideas
There are no apparent challenge issues associated with this book. In the case that a challenge comes up, there are some things that you can do to start. You could read the book and become familiar with the content. Refer to the library collection development policy, and get reviews from reputable sources and teens that have read the book. You can find more information about this book on Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/Dreaming-Vol-1-Queenie-Chan/dp/1598163825/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258327844&sr=1-1
Booktalking Ideas
1. Discuss how the twins, Jeanie and Amber, come to be at the school.
2. Talk about the rumors of missing students.
3. Talk about the disturbing dreams the twins are having
Reading Level/Age
Young adult. Ages 14 and up.
Why I included this title
I wanted to add some manga titles to my list. I found this one at my local library.
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