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113th out of 155 books
—
455 voters
Dormia (Dormia #1)
Introducing Alfonso Perplexon, hero of the epic fantasy tale Dormia!
Alfonso Perplexon is an unusual sleeper. He climbs trees, raises falcons, even shoots deadly accurate arrows, all in his sleep. No one can figure out why.
Then one evening a man arrives at Alfonso’s door, claiming to be Alfonso’s long-lost uncle Hill. This uncle tells a fantastical tale: Alfonso’s ancestors...more
Alfonso Perplexon is an unusual sleeper. He climbs trees, raises falcons, even shoots deadly accurate arrows, all in his sleep. No one can figure out why.
Then one evening a man arrives at Alfonso’s door, claiming to be Alfonso’s long-lost uncle Hill. This uncle tells a fantastical tale: Alfonso’s ancestors...more
Hardcover, 528 pages
Published
May 4th 2009
by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
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12-10-12
Dormia
A while back I read a book called Dormia by Jake Halpern. In the book Alfonso Perplexon is an weird sleeper. He climbs trees, tightrope walks, and shoots arrows all in his sleep. No one can figure out why. Then one day a man arrives at Alfonso’s door, saying he's Alfonso’s dads brother and his his long lost uncle Hill that he never knew about. Uncle Hill tells him the reason he does amazing things is because Alfonso’s ancestors come from a magical land called Dormia. A long forgott...more
Dormia
A while back I read a book called Dormia by Jake Halpern. In the book Alfonso Perplexon is an weird sleeper. He climbs trees, tightrope walks, and shoots arrows all in his sleep. No one can figure out why. Then one day a man arrives at Alfonso’s door, saying he's Alfonso’s dads brother and his his long lost uncle Hill that he never knew about. Uncle Hill tells him the reason he does amazing things is because Alfonso’s ancestors come from a magical land called Dormia. A long forgott...more
Reviewed by Theresa L. Stowell for TeensReadToo.com
Alfonso Perplexon is not just any kid. He does things in his sleep that most people can't do.
For example, he wakes up in the top branches of a tree. Unfortunately, he has a harder time getting down when he is awake than he had climbing it when he was asleep. One morning, when he climbs down from his tree, he meets a stranger named Kiril, who understands his sleepwalking abilities and warns him of an adventure that he may soon undertake.
Not long...more
Alfonso Perplexon is not just any kid. He does things in his sleep that most people can't do.
For example, he wakes up in the top branches of a tree. Unfortunately, he has a harder time getting down when he is awake than he had climbing it when he was asleep. One morning, when he climbs down from his tree, he meets a stranger named Kiril, who understands his sleepwalking abilities and warns him of an adventure that he may soon undertake.
Not long...more
12 year old Alfonso sleep walks, but he doesn’t do normal sleepwalking things like walking into closets or making himself a sandwich. When Alfonso wakes up from sleepwalking he can be miles from his house, he can even be at the top of a tree precariously balanced on branches not meant to support his weight. It’s Alphonso’s challenge when he wakes up to figure out where he is and how to get home…without breaking any bones or getting arrested.
Alfonso also has a green thumb. He’s been tending a mys...more
Alfonso also has a green thumb. He’s been tending a mys...more
Alfonso Perplexon has lived in the tiny, average town of World's End, Minnesota his entire life, with his mother and grandfather. He's not your average kid, though -- every time he goes to sleep, he ends up climbing trees or power lines. Alphonso's Uncle Hill appears, and tells him a wild story about the tiny and gravely endangered kingdom of Dormia, hidden deep in the Ural Mountains of Europe. Dormia is home to those who have "wakeful sleeping" abilities, and it is dependent upon the existence...more
I came across Dormia because my friend Dan Kujawinski (he went to high school with Joan), is the brother of one of the authors. And i'm so glad I did because this was such a fun book. I couldn't put it down and finished it in two days!
Dormia has everything you could want in a young person's book: adventure, imaginative worlds, and subtle, yet powerful moral lessons. The writing also flows incredibly well - an amazing feat for a co-authored book.
Dormia evokes classics like Lord of the Rings (the...more
Dormia has everything you could want in a young person's book: adventure, imaginative worlds, and subtle, yet powerful moral lessons. The writing also flows incredibly well - an amazing feat for a co-authored book.
Dormia evokes classics like Lord of the Rings (the...more
Alfonso walks in his sleep and climbs trees and does amazing things. He never knows where he is going to wake up. One day a man shows up at Alfonso's home in World's End, Minnesota claiming to be his long lost uncle Hill. Hill tells Alfonso that he comes from a people who lives deep in the Ural Mountains in a place called Dormia. In Dormia everyone does things in their sleep. And they are all dependent on the Founding Tree to survive. The Founding Tree is dying and Alfonso just happens to have g...more
The cover art is wicked awesome; the book was not so much. It was a pleasant read, but not a particularly compelling one and I felt that there were too many plot holes and elements that weren't thought through all the way (Ash granules that will dissolve into your eye, but can be kept safely in a pocket--wouldn't the ash just mash into the fabric? A river big enough to row a boat on, inside a tree root? I mean, I wasn't a biology major and I know this is a magic tree, but...and how could the roo...more
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For most people, sleeping is, well, sleeping. Not much happens besides an occasional mumble and a strange dream. But for 12 year old Alfonso Perplexon, its when he sleeps that he truly comes alive. He climbs trees, grows peculiar plants, and many other things his waking self could never do. Alfonso soon discovers he's a Dormian--an ancient race of extreme sleep walkers. His journey back to his ancestor's land of Dormia is filled with action, puzzles, and plot twists.
The only reason I gave this b...more
The only reason I gave this b...more
Of the five recently published youth fantasies that I have just finished reading in tandem, this one demonstrated the most imaginative strides away from the norm. The authors (and there are two despite what the heading I'm looking at now indicates)imagine a society that has learned to draw upon the power of sleep. Their protagonist, Alfonso, is faced with a quest that takes him halfway around the world to face an extraordinary heritage. In a situation where he is told to trust no one and where f...more
This gave the feel of something along the lines of the Secret of Droon series (remember that?), complete with interesting weapons (bouncy ball of dooooom!) and funny names (Purcheezie!). But all in all, this is a book aimed at middle-schoolers, and I think it does a smashing job of it.
First of all, this book is about how cool some people are in sleep. They enter this state where they're more agile and stuff. So if you don't like reading books in which the coolest things happen in sleep, forget a...more
First of all, this book is about how cool some people are in sleep. They enter this state where they're more agile and stuff. So if you don't like reading books in which the coolest things happen in sleep, forget a...more
The author of this book came to visit our school a few years ago, but I couldn't find this book at the library and forgot about it. Finally got a copy a few weeks ago and dug in.
What I loved about this book was how different it was from other fantasy books. As with many fantasy adventures, there's a quest to a far-off place and some backstory mythology along the way, but the far-off place was quite unusual, and the skill that the inhabitants of this place share is an original one. The book start...more
What I loved about this book was how different it was from other fantasy books. As with many fantasy adventures, there's a quest to a far-off place and some backstory mythology along the way, but the far-off place was quite unusual, and the skill that the inhabitants of this place share is an original one. The book start...more
Dormia is a story about a boy named Alfonso and is by Jake Halpern. Alfonso finds that his dead father is from a place in the Ural Mountains on the other side of the world called Dormia when his long-lost uncle Hill comes to his house. Alfonso has a strange ability to do things nearly impossible for any ordinary human...while asleep. He can tightrope walk along a telephone pole wire and climb a 50-foot tall tree when he is asleep. For some reason, though, he has no control over what his sleepin...more
This is an definitely absolute must read for every age from 5 years to 105!!!!!
I just got done with this Book and I have to take a Breath and say ...WOW...& Double WOW :D
Each new twist of the story took me further into a magical world that you will not want to leave not even for a moment. You'll wish for the ability to read & Function in your sleep kinda like Alfonso does in this book. Just to keep from putting it down when your eyelids start to droop. The tale will suck you in and the...more
I just got done with this Book and I have to take a Breath and say ...WOW...& Double WOW :D
Each new twist of the story took me further into a magical world that you will not want to leave not even for a moment. You'll wish for the ability to read & Function in your sleep kinda like Alfonso does in this book. Just to keep from putting it down when your eyelids start to droop. The tale will suck you in and the...more
It is a really interesting book
This is a fun fantasy adventure with plenty of action and an interesting premise. Young Alfonso doesn't just sleep walk, he performs amazing feats of acrobatics in his sleep. When his long-lost uncle shows up, he learns that he is a descendant of Dormia, a magical kingdom hidden in the Ural mountains where the inhabitants perform best in their sleep. Dormia's fate is in Alfonso's hands and he sets off to save his homeland from destruction. Overall this was a fun, creative ride. My only problem w...more
I thought that Dormia was a really good book with its fun characters like Alfonso, his long lost Uncle Hill, Bilblox, the Longshoreman, Rezusa, Spack, and Kiril making it all the more suspensful apart from there being feirce battles, death, and in my case, well, it didn't take very long to read because it was so great. Also, by the end of the book, I thought more about the City of Somnos, which is located inside Dormia, and with the people there that Alfonso's adventures are not at end like all...more
Wow. This was a really good book. I would label it as fantasy, though that's rather obvious, and also some mystery. In this book, we follow Alfonso through his journey to save Dormia. Though there used to be 11 cities, there is only one remaining.
The book is great. Lots of plot twists and characters coming and going, at a fast rate. I personally like books where it gets a little confusing at times, and you have to flip back, to look back at stuff.
With it's few mistakes, plot holes, repeated voc...more
The book is great. Lots of plot twists and characters coming and going, at a fast rate. I personally like books where it gets a little confusing at times, and you have to flip back, to look back at stuff.
With it's few mistakes, plot holes, repeated voc...more
So I randomly picked this book up from the AU library and boy am I glad I did. I thought the cover looked interesting enough, and I know... you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but in this case I'm glad I did.
I thought this book was great! I have read all of the Harry Potters, and as far as the writing goes, I think this book is right up there with them. I like Harry Potter better for the story in and of itself, but the writing in Dormia is fairly exquisite. It flows well and the st...more
I thought this book was great! I have read all of the Harry Potters, and as far as the writing goes, I think this book is right up there with them. I like Harry Potter better for the story in and of itself, but the writing in Dormia is fairly exquisite. It flows well and the st...more
Dormia by Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski is a fantasy book about this boy named Alfonso and he does really strange things in his sleep. One of these is breaking a maraca and planting the seeds of a dormian bloom. So his long lost uncle arrives and tells Alfonso all about Dormia and being the Great Sleeper. They fly a plane to Fort Kransik and then a boat to Barsh yin binder. The big question is will Alfonso and his uncle make it to dormia ? So many dangers lie ahead the strazydlo forest, free...more
Alfonso is a 12 year old who does amazing things when he sleeps. He finds out his dead father is from a mythical land called Dormia, where all the people can do things while they sleep. In his sleep, he has planted a seed and gathered all the things needed for this plant to grow. It turns out that the Founding Tree in Dormia is dying, and that is why his sleeping self planted the seed. He travels from Canada to the Ural mountains in Russia to find Dormia with his Uncle Hill, and Bilbox. They hav...more
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I am currently reading Dormia by: Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski. It is a extremely good book so far. I really like Alfonso because he does really weird things in his sleep like climbing a 50 ft tall tree. He does that because part of him is dormainian. Dormia is a place where people cook great food, do chores fast, and stuff like that in their sleep. I was surprised when a guy named Hill put a wilted plant with a dormainian bloom and the wilted plant turned green and bloomed. Alfonso is kind...more
1/30/2013
I recently read Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski's Dormia. This book is about a young boy named Alphonso. There is an ancient city called Dormia and the Dormians live by a Founding Tree. If the Founding Tree is burned down, it makes a purple ash. If you put the purple ash in your eyes you can look in the future and you get addicted to it. Then the tree never grows bacck and all the people who live in that area freeze and die. If I was in the city and someone burns down the tree and I...more
I recently read Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski's Dormia. This book is about a young boy named Alphonso. There is an ancient city called Dormia and the Dormians live by a Founding Tree. If the Founding Tree is burned down, it makes a purple ash. If you put the purple ash in your eyes you can look in the future and you get addicted to it. Then the tree never grows bacck and all the people who live in that area freeze and die. If I was in the city and someone burns down the tree and I...more
http://yearningtoread.blogspot.com/
Alfonso has never really fit in at his hometown of World's End, Minnesota. While other kids are nestled in bed, sleeping soundly, Alfonso is asleep, but, well...he sleep-walks. He could walk a tight-rope in his sleep, or climb the tallest tree in hundreds of miles, or fix a broken clock. Or randomly put together a complicated concoction to grow a plant that has color changing leaves. He's done all of these things, including the last one. And that seems to be th...more
Alfonso has never really fit in at his hometown of World's End, Minnesota. While other kids are nestled in bed, sleeping soundly, Alfonso is asleep, but, well...he sleep-walks. He could walk a tight-rope in his sleep, or climb the tallest tree in hundreds of miles, or fix a broken clock. Or randomly put together a complicated concoction to grow a plant that has color changing leaves. He's done all of these things, including the last one. And that seems to be th...more
What do you do in YOUR sleep? Do you sleep soundly? Do you dream? Do you sleepwalk? Do you fix clocks? If it's the last two, then perhaps you are a Dormian-in-waiting... perhaps you might even be the next Great Sleeper.
Dormians are best noted for their abilities while sleeping. They don't waste time, as soon as they are asleep their sleeping selves get busy with their own specialties. They are just as productive when they are awake. In fact they make the rest of us look like sloths. Alfonso know...more
Dormians are best noted for their abilities while sleeping. They don't waste time, as soon as they are asleep their sleeping selves get busy with their own specialties. They are just as productive when they are awake. In fact they make the rest of us look like sloths. Alfonso know...more
I read this book shortly after it was published because Halpern was speaking to my students (I worked at a middle school). The book was engaging and keep me interested to the very last page. I have the second one in the trilogy on my self to read this summer. Halpern was an amazing speaker and story teller in person as well. He kept and assembly of 200 middle schoolers entranced for an hour and a half. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a thoughtful and exciting adventure!
Mar 29, 2012
Owen
added it
I just started Dormia and can already tell why people have said it is a really good book. I was really surprised when Alfonso didn't even sell one of his flowers for the gold. I know I would have sold the flower especially because his mom has no work and they don't make enough money. Even though it was odd that he had white eyes and the flower was all he had of his dad I think he should have at least told his mom and grandpa about the man that wanted the flower.
My son, Thomas begged me to read this YAL title, and I was due for a good one as I am knee-deep in teaching dystopian fiction and have needed an escape. What a fun read! A hero's journey of a young boy in search of his deceased father's legacy. Packed with strong characters, wonder, and friendship, this book is a delightful read. I am not going to pick up the sequel, but I think of dreaming differently having read this well-titled and interesting book!
I'm reading Dormia by Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski so far, the main character Alfonso has woken up in a pine tree in the middle of a forest swarmed with falcons. i love this book because it has the perfect amount of fantasy where it dose not make any sense (example:flying unicorns eating a rainbow)but just enough to be fun. so far this book is very fast paced with Alfonso learning that he is the only person who can save this place called dormia, and this unusual man who wants his plant.
This is a fairly good book, but I won't give it more than that. The authors obviously had a lot of fun writing it, but it was also written rather awkwardly. I'm sorry, but the whole thing with Alfonso and Resuza liking each other totally failed, and the dialogue was stiff and unrealistic. Also notice that whenever the characters run into a poblem, there just happens to be a convenient solution. There was very little feeling, too. As for the whole sleep walking thing, it was fascinating, but it w...more
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| Dormia: have you read the book or want to read it? | 10 | 5 | Dec 17, 2011 03:20pm |
