"Could it be that there is a reality beyond what we are familiar with?"
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The Dream Hiker by Padmaja Khanna
book review by Donna Smith
You've heard of a "stay-cation" how about a sleep-cation. After reading Chapa's book, you may decide to take a dream vacation instead of putting up with the hassle of flying or driving. Chapa writes about alternate realities, taking her characters to far-flung places like the Himalayas, Sahara desert, and a cloud rainforest topped with an active volcano. Of course their adventures aren't just sightseeing tours; danger and a quest are also part of the journey.
Jack Treole, a seventeen-year-old high school student, uses his dreams to travel. He meets two other teenagers, Selenia Broom and Eddie Chen, in his dreams, and together they embark on a mind expedition. A compassionate and knowledgeable man, Yuquoa, helps guide Jack through the obstacles he encounters, while an elusive villain named, Seitto, wants to take control of all the worlds.
Chapa is adept at keeping the storyline coherent, especially when it gets deep. For example, Yuquoa tries to explain to Jack that there is no reality. He says, "Let's just say this dream world is a collective illusion. Each individual illusion in its totality results in this dream world. So yes, you can say there is one big dream world from the point of view of the dreamers; but from the point of view of the one who is awake, the entire dream world is just an illusion."
In addition, the importance of thought is reinforced throughout the story with references to thought tunnels, thought messages, and thought currents. Jack learns that it's possible to jump from one dream to another. The story is entertaining and like Jack's father says, "The right company can do wonders to your thoughts… And remember that company is not just friends, but anything you spend time with… what you choose to read, hear, and see is all company."
RECOMMENDED by the US Review