The Dream Catcher [Hardcover]

Monica Hughes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1987 | Age Level: 11 and up

Ruth is a misfit. Within the protective Dome of Ark Three, she alone disrupts the Web, the perfect pattern formed by the psychic joining of minds.

Other images fill Ruth's dreams, images of a red-haired girl from the far eastern mountains. Could it be that other Arks exist?

Ruth must face a hazardous journey as she becomes involved in a dangerous rescue operation...

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9 Her unruly psychic powers make teen-age Ruth an outsider in the close society of Ark Three, but they allow her to receive thoughts from another post-holocaust community on the other side of the mountains. The Arks are domed communities set up when it became evident that America was on the verge of collapse, but, isolated thereafter for centuries, they have diverged greatly. Ark Three is a democracy based on psychic communion, but the Ark Ruth discovers has used technology to create a slave state. Ruth guides an expedition to this Ark and is instrumental in breaking the power of its totalitarian computer. Alienated teenagers who rescue everyone are always attractive protagonists to other teens, and this well-written story will be popular. The contrasting societies are starkly drawn but may stimulate thinking about good intentions producing evil results when those in power decide only they know what's best. This sequel to Devil on My Back (Atheneum, 1985) is not as powerful as Hughes' ``Isis'' books (Atheneum), but is well worth purchase. Carolyn Caywood, Virginia Beach Public Library
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 11 and up
  
• Hardcover
• Publisher: Atheneum (March 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689313314
• ISBN-13: 978-0689313318
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,135,982 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dream a Little Dream of Me . . ., March 3, 2005

By 

Shanshad "shanachie_shadowfax" (Discworld) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Dream Catcher (Paperback)

"The Freedom Man danced out of the Ark/ Over the hills so shady/ Into the light and out of the dark/ To be with his red-haired lady."

It is a year in a far-flung future, when the survivors of mankind have retreated into small, isolated communities called Arks. Fifteen-year-old Ruth is a member of Ark Three, and can't seem to fit in or do anything right. Can this misfit find her place in the community? Monica Hughes is an accomplished author of Science Fiction for young readers, and knows her craft. This book is the sequel to DEVIL ON MY BACK, although the stories can be read independently of one another. Ms. Hughes sparks the imagination, creates compelling characters and leads readers on an adventure, not only in science fiction, but also of the heart.

The basic situation that underlies this story will be familiar enough. Ruth is the only one of her fifteen-year-old group that is strikingly different. She can't seem to do anything right, can't seem to fit in, can't seem to be happy. She keeps wondering what's wrong with her. Pretty much, this theme is a tenet of teen fiction, and Ms. Hughes knows this. But here's where the story changes: Ruth is part of a self-sufficient community that has developed psychic powers and links as part of their survival. At age fifteen, each child becomes an adult, joining the Web-the perfect pattern formed by the joining of minds of everyone in Ark Three. And every fifteen-year-old is given a vocation based on his or her talent. But Ruth has no talent; it seems, except for causing trouble, disrupting the web and generally being unhappy. But the fact is, Ruth does have a talent-a rare one. And it is her abilities that allow her to receive dreams that are being sent from another Ark. She will help spur her community into an exciting and dangerous journey through the outside to try and find this other Ark. But what they find may be the most dangerous thing of all . . . and it will take all of Ruth's abilities, along with those of her friends and new allies, to survive it and create a new future for all.

As with all of Ms. Hughes books, the author not only deftly threads the themes that are universal to youngsters and teens everywhere, but also maintains a social conscience about the kind of societies that are possible in this future. She looks at them critically, demonstrating their flaws, and their strengths, and proving that sometimes the most unlikely people can be the catalyst that changes society for the better. Ms. Hughes doesn't pull her punches when it comes to her characters; they wind up in real danger, and have to survive some true ordeals. But everything is coached in young reader terms, so older readers may find some of the events less sophisticated than they would like-this is not an adult reader's story and doesn't try to be. If your young teen reader is hungry for science fiction stories, and not quite ready to tackle the likes of 1984 or BRAVE NEW WORLD, then this kind of book is the perfect stepping-stone.

If you like this book, please be sure to check out DEVIL ON MY BACK, which this is a stand-alone sequel to. Also check out other books by Hughes like INVITATION TO THE GAME and KEEPER OF THE ISIS LIGHT. If you enjoy these sort of stories set in a post apocalyptic future, also check out THE CITY OF EMBER by Jeanette Duprau, OBERNEWTYN by Isobelle Carmody and THE GIVER by Lois Lowery.

Happy Reading! ^_^ Shanshad

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars review, June 2, 2003

By 

michal (minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dream Catcher (Paperback)

Review
By Michal
There was this girl who always got in trouble she has no friends she would get teased a lot by other people. Thy would talk about her and she would always get upset about it.

Ruth was the main Character in this story. She is a little girl and the magic thing is that she would have a Dream about the outside world if she were bigger then she is. She would have red hair and someone who loves her, but he moves away. she wakes up screaming and the next day it really happens to her.

I liked this story because she is a nice person to every body and her dreams come true.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible!, July 21, 2000

By 

Alex - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dream Catcher (Hardcover)

It is often the case that a sequel can't be read without reading the book that precedes it. I had bought The Dream Catcher ...... at a book sale, not realising it followed Devil On My Back, (also a fantastic book) and loved it. It easily stands alone, and is even better after reading the first book about the Arcs. As soon as I finished it I rushed out to get Devil. . . and it enhanced Ruth's experiences even more greatly, clarifying her dreams, etc. Both books are incredible, bringing forth an amazing world, that, no matter how far-out, is totally believable, with charcaters I could happily relate to. Not only was the series enjoyable, I was touched by many parts, especially Tomi's change, and the freedom song.

So the freedom man danced out of the Arc

Over the hills so shady

Into the night and out of the dark

To be with his long-haired lady

(I apaologise if that's not correct, I'm going from memory.) I was especially touched by the fact that this world does not exist, yet Monica Hughes has created such a moving song of hope and pride, that I could picture the people sitting around a roaring fire, singing of their happiness and the dreams of a "world made free" as another verse says. This is a beautiful book.