Awake and Dreaming facts for kids
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| Author | Kit Pearson |
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| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Viking Canada |
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Publication date
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1996 |
| Pages | 240 |
| ISBN | 978-0-670-86954-1 |
Awake and Dreaming is a children's book written by Canadian author Kit Pearson. It came out in 1996. The story is about a quiet nine-year-old girl named Theo Caffrey. She doesn't have much money and dreams of having a "real" family.
Contents
Story Summary
Theodora, or Theo, loves to read. She lives in Vancouver with her young mom, Mary-Rae. Mary-Rae isn't always the best at taking care of Theo. Theo often imagines a different life for herself. She dreams of perfect families, just like the ones in her books.
A New Home and a Dream Family
Theo's mom, Rae, starts dating a man named Cal. She decides to move in with him. Theo is sent to live with her aunt Sharon in Victoria. On the ferry ride to Victoria, Theo meets a family called the Kaldors. They seem like the "perfect" family.
Theo quickly becomes friends with the Kaldor children. They play together on the ferry. Theo and the kids see a new moon. They all make a wish. Theo wishes with all her heart that she could be part of the Kaldor family. Then, she faints.
Living the Dream
Theo wakes up and finds herself living with the Kaldors. It's a mystery how she got there. She first thinks it's a mistake. But the Kaldors simply accept her as one of their own. Theo is so happy. She believes nothing can go wrong now.
Several months pass by. Then, Theo's new life starts to disappear. It's like it's fading away. Suddenly, Theo wakes up again. She is back on the ferry with her mom. It's the exact moment she fainted before. She is very unhappy.
Back to Reality
Theo starts living with her aunt Sharon. But she can't enjoy it. She keeps wondering if the Kaldors were real. Were they just a dream?
Theo eventually finds out that the Kaldors are real. But she is disappointed. They don't remember her at all. She becomes friends with them. Still, she's frustrated. They aren't "perfect" like in her dream. They have normal family problems. They also see her only as a friend, not as family.
The Ghostly Author
Meanwhile, Theo discovers a ghost in the Kaldor's house. It's the spirit of a dead author named Cecily Stone. Cecily lived in the house her whole life. She can't move on until she finishes an idea for her "great novel." She never wrote it when she was alive.
Theo is shocked to learn Cecily's idea. It's about Theo coming to live with the Kaldors. Cecily explains that she saw Theo on the ferry. She imagined a better life for Theo. But her idea faded because she couldn't think of an ending. It seems Theo's wish for a family and Cecily's book idea came together. They created Theo's dream. When Cecily's idea faded, so did the dream.
Facing the Future
Rae's relationship with Cal doesn't work out. So, she comes to live with Sharon and Theo in Victoria. Theo starts to enjoy her real life. It's not just her imaginary one anymore.
But then, Rae decides to go back to Vancouver. Aunt Sharon doesn't want her to go. Theo is very upset. She goes to Cecily for advice. Cecily understands how Theo feels. But she knows she can't do anything to change it. Instead, Cecily gives Theo advice on how to live her life. Cecily now feels ready to move on. She asks Theo to plant a white rose on her grave after she leaves.
Theo goes home. She stands up for herself. She refuses to leave Victoria. She tells Rae to get her life in order. She insists Rae take care of her properly. Rae is surprised, but she agrees.
The story jumps forward several weeks. It's Theo's tenth birthday. She and Rae now live in a clean, comfortable apartment. Rae has a good job. She is taking care of Theo. It seems Theo's life is finally getting better. She enjoys a birthday party with her friends, the Kaldors, and her family. She accepts that she doesn't know if this good life will last. But she will enjoy it while she can.
Stage Adaptation
The book was turned into a play in 2009. Megan Mackenzie and Cassie Silva adapted it for the stage. The play was put on by The Abbotsford Children's Theatre. This was in Abbotsford, British Columbia.
Real-Life Places
Some places in the book are real. The Ross Bay Cemetery is a real cemetery. It is located in Victoria, BC. The house described in the book is based on a real house in Victoria. Many other places in the story are also real locations.
