Sleepless
by Terri Clark

    SLEEPLESS by Terri Clark
    Category:  Paranormal
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 9+
    Release Date:  9/2/08
    Publisher:  HarperTeen
    Reviewed by:  Jaglvr
    Rating:  5 Stars


    SLEEPLESS is not your everyday piece of fluff.  Those picking up SLEEPLESS thinking it’s a typical teen summer
    romance will be quite surprised.  I know I was!  SLEEPLESS may just keep you up all night trying to avoid your
    dreams!

    Okay, I admit it, there is romance in this book, but that’s not all that it’s about.  There’s far more action and suspense
    going on beyond the attraction between Trinity and Dan.

    It’s the beginning of July and Trinity’s best friend, Coral, is about to leave for soccer camp.  It’s the summer before
    they start college, and Coral has given Trinity an assignment for the remainder of the summer.  Trinity is usually found in
    black.  Coral tasks her with buying a BLUE dress during the summer, a promise to get out more, and to actually go out
    on a date.  Trinity has no idea how she’ll accomplish any of these, but she vows to keep her promise.

    Coral leaves for camp and Trinity’s mother leaves for a long-anticipated art trip to Europe.  That leaves Trinity alone.  
    And then the dreams start to come.  Trinity has the unwanted media name “Dream Girl” stemming from the fact that
    others come to her in her dreams.  A young girl, Kiri, came to her over a year ago.  She asked for help, but in the end,
    Trinity and the cops were unable to save Kiri before it was too late.  Her murderer, Rafe Stevens, was sent to a mental
    hospital rather than prison.  Ever since she was unable to save Kiri, Trinity has tried to avoid her abilities and all
    reminders of the past.

    But now the dreams are back, and she fears that Rafe has escaped from the hospital and is coming for her.  Aided by
    Dan Devlin, the son of the defense lawyer that saved Rafe from prison, the two set off to find Rafe before he can find
    her.  Rafe has developed the ability to enter other peoples’ dreams and harm them in their sleep.  Dan believes in her
    and wants to keep her safe.  During the brief time they spend together, an immediate bond forms and they risk
    everything to finally put Rafe where he belongs.

    SLEEPLESS calls to mind the Nightmare on Elm Street movie series.  The action is just as fast-past and heart-
    pounding as any adult thriller you will encounter.  I hadn’t expected to have SLEEPLESS be such a pulse-pounding
    read, which was a really pleasant surprise.  Don’t get me wrong, I was looking forward to reading SLEEPLESS,
    thinking it would be a nice teen romance, but it was so much more than that.   Now, I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep
    easily tonight!  I’ll have visions of Rafe and the harm he tried to do to Trinity and Dan.

    SLEEPLESS is Ms. Clark’s first novel, and she’s written a real winner.  I eagerly await her future endeavors.

    Note to reader:  There is some violence and sexual situations in this story.