School of the Ages: Level Three's Dream (School of the Ages Series) [Kindle Edition]

 

 

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This is a highly entertaining, fast paced and irresistible read. Matt Posner's descriptions are almost palpable, and although his attention to detail is impeccable, it's the nuances sprinkled within the narrative that really bring his second installment of School of the Ages to life. That being said, the author appears to have an ingrained sense of respect for the reader, doling out the perfect amount of detail without imposing himself on the imagination of his audience.
The characters in Level Three's Dream are believable, and the plot is refreshingly realistic given its genre.
I'm confident this book will be met with enthusiasm by a wide range of readers, and that Mr. Posner's talents will come to be appreciated by all.

I think the concept of linking up Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland world to the (very dangerous) imagination of Level Three (the autistic character) is superb!

As a reader, I love crisp and clean dialogue (it's one of the fundamentals of a good story for me). This was something that featured throughout Level Three's Dream (all of the dialogue reflected the personalities of each character, so that none of them were cliched or "tired one-dimensional flat cardboard characters").

I found the multicultural cast to be engaging and refreshing (in terms of individuality / expression / action / motivation), and certain serious themes were handled in an insightful way (without ever getting too long-winded, draggy, or heavy). These themes include friendship, love, death, and the family (to name a few). Simon's internal struggle with his feelings over Leah's death were some of the best portions of the text (for me), and how these feelings were presented naturally and sensitively/compassionately from the POV of a fourteen-year-old boy.

Sexuality is also handled realistically (in a way that isn't lewd or explicit) -- I think this is also something that is so important (I for one am very tired of the same old hypersexualized scenes in the mainstream mass media). This also adds an element of depth and realism to Simon and the story on the whole. I particularly enjoyed the scene where he "loses his innocence" -- while the scene was in no way graphic, it made me reflect on my own experiences [and how it must be like to feel; in my case, I don't recall any exact moment/s where I felt I had lost my childhood innocence (hmm!)...but still, it made me think about the shame/guilt involved, and how different I might feel before and after the event, were I in a similar situation as the character relating it]. Sex and sexuality are a part of human life; just because it's not thought or talked about doesn't mean it can be conveniently swept under the rug. This is precisely why I always enjoy work that doesn't commoditize and/or trivialize sex + love + relationships.

The magic in the School of the Ages series is also unique in the sense it's more cerebral than orthodoxically fantastical. The characters in this series don't rely on an array of magic wands, potions, and flying broomsticks -- not that there's anything wrong with those elements per se, but presenting magic in this form adds a new dimension to the concept of magic itself (and makes it all the more believable where we question the real world we're in, and what's real and what isn't).

There are some chapters just before the end that closely reflect the bizarre and wonderfully strange/illogical world of "Alice in Wonderland" -- I greatly enjoyed these chapters (and the poetry -- while some were slightly lengthy, they were well-written and incredibly fun! There's a play on a classic Nirvana song too *hint hint*). I felt these chapters balanced out the earlier chapters, some of which contain select passages from Lewis Caroll's "Alice in Wonderland," which contribute to the "puzzles" feel and structure of the story.

One final note about the pencil drawings included throughout the text of the various different characters. I thought this was a little unusual at first, but I think it kind of gave a personal and realistic touch to the story (visually).

A lot of hyped products today are based on "sensationalism" (because of the actual lack of meaning in the actual product?) -- Matt Posner's writing is very different and unique in that aspect. This is not to say that Mr. Posner's writing is boring or lackluster -- it means that Matt Posner handles universal themes within the context of a tale that's imaginative, yet grounded in reality. I think this is one of the strongest aspects of his writing(s), and something he should be lauded for being dedicated to with his work that's accessible to a wider audience, which includes younger readers.

Perhaps it is partly due to this trend of "sensationalism" that a lot of teen books today have a shallow appeal, so it's nice to see one that talks about serious themes in a thoughtful way that can make a difference for readers in the long term (i.e. compare this with the lusty paranormal romances packaged to tweens/teens as "fate" and "true love" -- which contributes more value to society?).

A school of magic, kids with supernatural abilities, and... Lewis Carroll? I admit that when I read the blurb I didn't think I would like this story. After all, many books out there deal with schools of magic and children with magical abilities.

But I was wrong.

The blurb frankly does not do this wonderful novel justice. My initial reservations evaporated after the first page. Written in the first person from the point of view of Simon Magus, a teenage boy, in a clear, strong voice, the story draws the reader into a realistic and yet fantastic world. Although I haven't read Book 1 in the series, I had absolutely no trouble following everything that took place in Level Three's Dream.

Simon, the protagonist, is a believable and likable character. His sorrow, his maturity, his worries and questions about the future, all serve to make him real. His interactions with his parents and friends ring true, while his preoccupation with doing the right thing and his fear of becoming dangerous to others through his powers hint at his powerful internal struggle.

The author is able to render a full characterization of not only Simon but also of all the other characters surrounding him and does so with easy, bold strokes, through the way they speak, their actions and gestures. You will find no lengthy descriptions or unnecessary details. The writing is stripped down to its bare essentials so that it shines in its simplicity. This polished style, coupled with lots of action and suspense, makes for a fast pace.

The author's wit and humor shine through every page of this book. Not only are the dialogues natural-sounding and funny, the world inside Level Three's head, based on Carroll's stories, remains true to the original's surreal, irrational feel, while the play on words and expressions is dazzling. If you are a lover of Carroll's wit, then this is certainly a book for you.

I was glad to see that, instead of an all-white Caucasian cast, the author included different ethnicities, marked by their beliefs and mode of speaking, both in their syntax and vocabulary choices, a fact that not only added to the character's three-dimensionality, but to that of the created world as a whole.

The depth of emotion described and evoked was a pleasant surprise and one of the strengths of this story. My sympathy was with all the characters - Simon, fighting his sorrow over Leah's death, Mermelstein fighting his fear of emotions he cannot yet understand, Level Three trying to figure out what makes him do the mean things he does, and all the other characters having their internal struggles.

Furthermore, although I was initially unhappy with the way the topic of autism was treated not only by Simon and his friends but also by the school teachers, I was pleased with the resolution of the matter.

However, I did have a few issues with the novel. Although the bare style works well, a couple of times I wished for more description. That was my problem especially toward the end of chapters. In general, I believe some more description would have grounded the story more and helped the reader visualize this magical world.

Another issue I had was with the overuse of the `Alice in Wonderland' theme. Although I expected this theme to run through the novel, I thought the excerpts from Carroll's books at the beginning of each short chapter weren't necessary - indeed, they were distracting and I admit I skipped over all of them, after I had read the first one.

On this same topic, I found that there were too many poems in the book. These are modified versions of the poems found in Carroll's books, but, although they are quite funny and witty, I also stopped reading them after a while. However, I can imagine that young teens may enjoy them more than I.

Finally, at various points, the book also contains illustrations done in pencil and I don't think they were really needed in a book for young adults.

To sum up: Level Three's Dream is a well-written story, fast-paced and witty. Well edited and formatted, penned with sincerity and feeling, it addresses not only teenagers but public of all ages. The novel asks essential questions about death and the immortality of the soul, sexuality and religion, cultural xenophobia, love and sorrow. If you are a fan of urban fantasy, of Lewis Carroll or are just looking for a good, gripping tale, I highly recommend Level Three's Dream by Matt Posner.

(for Good Book Alert)

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