Janie Hannagan’s life is messed up. Not only is her mother a useless lush who has never shown her any affection, but Janie is also a dream catcher–a gift that is certainly as much a curse as it is a blessing. You see, Janie’s worst nightmares are not her own bad dreams but the dreams of others. Whenever anyone near her is dreaming, Janie falls into their dreams, regardless of the private nature or horror of their contents. In Wake, the first book in Lisa McMann’s series, Janie learns to control her dreams and eventually uses them to aid in criminal investigations alongside her boyfriend, the equally tortured Cabel.
Unfortunately, in Fade, as Janie puts herself in danger to capture sexual predators, Janie realizes that her gift is not free. I won’t spoil the details, but to put it mildly, her abilities certainly come with a price–physically, emotionally, and even romantically. In fact, Janie finds herself feeling more alone than ever in Fade, once she learns the realities of her future. However, with the faithful Captain and protective Cabe, Janie comes to realize that no matter what lies ahead, she will be all right.
I love everything about these books from McMann’s prose (which I had to get used to at first) to choosing the perfect closing words (which is always the hardest part for me). Plus, I love Janie and Cabel. These two characters serve as a testament that no matter where you come from in life, no matter what terrible things have occurred in your home, it is always possible to overcome your obstacles in a positive way. Cabel was abused as a child and bears the scars of his father’s brutal cruelty. For a time, he turns to drugs for comfort, but with the help of a second chance from Captain, he turns his life around and channels his negative energy into stopping people like his father.
Likewise, Janie comes from a dysfunctional home and also bears the burden of falling into the dreams of others. Instead of accepting her reality and doing nothing about it, Janie uses these dreams to help stop criminals. These two characters are refreshingly strong, refusing to succumb to depression or to allow their circumstances to hinder their desire to succeed and contribute.
Fade is an awesome read, and I eagerly await the third book in the series, Gone, which is expected to hit shelves early next year. When I first read Wake, I didn’t think I would like the sequel as well, but McMann certainly managed to outdo herself with Fade. I was hooked from the first page and was intrigued by the plot line, which unfortunately, is all too realistic in today’s society. There are way too many predators out there who lurk in our schools, taking advantage of the vulnerability and insecurity of teens. On the flip-side, however, as a high school teacher, I must also commend those dedicated educators out there who come to work every day with the higher purpose of bettering the lives of students. Thank you for all you do. Don’t let the Durbins of the world discourage you!
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