The Vault of Dreamers by Caragh M. O'Brien

Hi there!

Welcome back to another week here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers....the place where books come looking for a good home, and they are greeted with a red carpet roll out.

Today, we're diving right into the first book of a new Young Adult trilogy that celebrates its BOOK BIRTHDAY tomorrow(*mark your calendar*)!  From the mind that brought us the Birthmarked trilogy (if you've read it, let me know how it was!), comes a new venture into a not so distant future that will keep you on the edge of your seat.  Don't believe me?  Oh come now, have I ever steered you wrong?  Ladies and gents, be prepared to question everyone and every thing around you as we tag along to uncover just what is REALLY going on in front and behind the lenses in today's book of choice....

The Vault of Dreamers

by

Caragh M. O'Brien

9781596439382

Roaring Brook Press

About the book....

The Forge School is the most prestigious arts school in the country. The secret to its success: every moment of the students' lives is televised as part of the insanely popular Forge Show, and the students' schedule includes twelve hours of induced sleep meant to enhance creativity. But when first year student Rosie Sinclair skips her sleeping pill, she discovers there is something off about Forge. In fact, she suspects that there are sinister things going on deep below the reaches of the cameras. What's worse is, she starts to notice that the edges of her consciousness do not feel quite right. And soon, she unearths the ghastly secret that the Forge School is hiding — and what it truly means to dream there.

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I must admit, I was intrigued!

Just when I thought I knew exactly who was who, what was what, and where things were heading....BAM!  The author side swiped me with another idea....in the best way possible.

Here we have the story of a young girl given an opportunity to achieve her dreams...with about 50 MILLION (maybe more) people watching her...every...move.  That's not even counting the ones on campus that orchestrate everything....and I do mean EVERYTHING (< - yes, feel free to read that in a sinister tone).  Rosie is a smart girl with a creative eye to become a mogul of the film world should she choose, but she also has integrity, determination, and a desire to do the right thing, even if it means to the detriment of her own self.  All those traits are wonderful, but not in a school that has something to hide (possibly). 

What am I vaguely dancing around here?  Well, the sinister goings on at night at the school for starters....I mean just where ARE they taking the cells and for what purpose?  Why do they need them pretty much knocked out in order to do whatever they are doing?  Hmmm...one mystery to solve leads to another and another because as all spiders weave webs, this one is ESPECIALLY sticky because there are SO many players!  Thing is...you don't really know who is playing and who is being real.  I mean, I want to trust Linus because really, who WOULDN'T want to?  But...he DOES work at the school?  How much does he really know versus is pretending to NOT know?  Then there's Burnham who acts like a complete butt one moment, depends entirely too much on the opinion of his brother who isn't even there, and yet still comes through like a knight in slightly shiny armor.  Odd mix?  Yes, but still appealing.  The gal pals she makes at the school all seem genuine enough (interesting split between the way the teens were written...on purpose or just a byproduct of the story?  *ponders*)...those that are simply preening for the cameras are easily spotted while those that really want to perfect their craft, do. 

In conclusion, an intriguing start to a trilogy that promises to explore ideas you may not have considered but at the same time seem remarkably possible (Scary!).  I love the precarious role given to Rosie and yet the strength of character she shows.  I love how other characters both side and main surprised me time and again.  I love the sinister twist given to those who genuinely believe they are doing good as well as the conundrum it places the reader in to decide how THEY feel in spite of the events transpiring.  It explores the power of the mind to both provide us with the here and now as well as a world just beyond this plane while showing us that not only are our dreams attainable....they may be a way out. 

(Dun dun dunnnnnn....)  So, skip your nightly routine (you know...sleeping) and join the fandom already in progress...

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ARC for review courtesy of the fabulous folks at MacMillan Children's Publishing Group.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their growing catalog, be sure to stop by their official site, or connect with them via social media.  This title will release via Roaring Brook Press, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf near you or online retailer of your choosing.  Be sure to keep the conversation rolling whether it be about your own experience with this read or your desire to join the fans already out there by using the #VaultofDreamers hashtag on Twitter!

Until next time....happy reading!