Sleeper Code

Sleeper Conspiracy #1

by Tom Sniegoski

When teenager Tom Lovett learns that his narcoleptic "fits" are really cover for his alter ego, Tyler Garrett, to commit coldblooded murder as a hired assassin, Tom vows to take down the evil agency that created him while also fighting the evil within himself. Original.

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Adventure, Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Espionage

278 pages, Paperback

First published July 20, 2006

About the author

Tom Sniegoski is the name under which Thomas E. Sniegoski publishes some YA and comics.

Reviews

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com

Welcome to the world of Tom Lovett. At sixteen, Tom is homeschooled, but not for the reasons that many students are. No, Tom is homeschooled because his parents don't believe that he can function in a normal high school. Because Tom has narcolepsy, a disease that makes him fall asleep at any moment, and sometimes for days at a time. These attacks, as he calls them, haven't happened in over two weeks, and he's determined to get his parents to let him attend a public school. But when he also mentions that he's stopped taking his medication that's supposed to help control his narcoleptic attacks, all hell breaks loose.

What's worse than losing days, though, is the very real dreams he's started to have about murder. More specifically, murders he's committing. At first Tom believes that they're just dreams, very real hallucinations made up by his miswired brain, tricks that are being played on him. Then Tom finds out that he's not really going crazy. Even worse, he really has committed murder--several times, in fact, since he's a trained assassin.

It seems that his narcolepsy isn't just a disease he was born with, but a carefully orchestrated part of a plot to keep his sleeping self away from his waking self. Suddenly the life he thought was looking up, especially since Madison Fitzgerald moved in next door, is going downhill fast. Unable to believe that he's two distinct personalities living in the same body, Tom is determined to prove his dreams are wrong. What happens instead, though, is a long descent into murder, destruction, and mayhem.

Mr. Sniegoski has taken a totally original concept and turned it into an action-packed story that will have you turning pages long into the night. Once you realize exactly who and what Tom is, you can't help but be equally horrified and interested in this young man. As Madison and her family also become targets for Tom's clandestine organization, as Tom learns that his parents aren't his parents but instead handlers, and as he becomes determined to break free from his other identity once and for all, the story takes on mythic proportions. Once you read SLEEPER CODE, you'll be dying to read SLEEPER AGENDA, the second book in the THE SLEEPER CONSPIRACY. This is definitely a book for all action-adventure lovers!

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fast faced, action packed, eye popping book about a 16 year old assassin. however, the boy does not fully realize that he is an assassin because his "killer" side is masked by the lies of his family(i know that sounds weird,but you'll understand if you read the book);He is told that he is simply a unlucky boy who has Quentin's narcolepsy, which is a genetic disorder that causes random blackouts, but is really a project specimen that had gone into the wrong hand; has a split personality; and can become Bruce lee x10 with the click of a button.luckily, he does eventually come to realize that his parents are not really his parents,and becomes desperate for the "truth".

[Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sleeper Code was written by Tom Sniegoski. It was published on July 2006 by Razorbill. In my opinion, I thought this book was fantastic. You could vividly imagine the characters in each place as the plot developed. Each character was overflowing with detail, and after awhile you feel like you know each character in a special way. The plot was fast paced and it felt like you had to keep turning the page to find out what came next. For example, there was a quote at the end of a chapter and after I read it, I could not stop myself from continuing. Here’s the quote: “If you shoot, you’ll die too.” Tom said. “There’s too much gasoline in the room, if you pull the trigger, we’ll all die.” “I know. But I’m willing to sacrifice myself, if it means killing you.” said Mason. The action and fighting scenes were incredibly choreographed and well written as well, plus it was not in a way where you did not understand what was happening. One of my favorite fight scenes was when Tom fought his father, which is what the previous quote was taken from. The book kept you locked in at all times, and you did not want to leave your seat.

The book is about a boy in his upper teens named Tom Lovett. He has a special form of narcolepsy called Quentin’s Narcolepsy, where he could fall asleep at a moment’s notice for days at a time. He seems to be living the most normal life a kid with narcolepsy could have, even meeting a very nice girl named Madison Fitzgerald. However, he’ll soon learn that life is not as it seems, and that the strange hallucinations he has been having about killing an innocent man, might actually be true. Unbeknownst to Tom, he is actually living with a second persona in his head. This persona happens to be a boy who looks just like Tom, but those are the only similarities. This boy is named Tyler Garett, a ruthless assassin created by the government and put in Tom’s head to take the lead when Tom is “asleep.” This idea was created by the Pandora Group, a top secret branch of the government that was trying to create the “perfect assassin” by putting a killer inside a normal child’s mind Therefore no one would suspect that a kid is harboring a murderer inside their head. . But when Tom comes to realize the disgusting truth, it’s already, “too late.” as Tyler would put it.

I loved this book and it truly sucks you in right from the beginning. The writing was phenomenal and you always felt something exciting was happening. It was very easy to picture each event unfolding because there was plenty of detail. There was one instance where Tom was in the “mental construct” of his mind, where the dormant persona would rest while the other is active. In this case Tom’s mental construct was a huge mansion. The book described the mansion with great detail and it was not difficult at all to picture. You could very easily find that one character that you could relate your experiences with theirs. (Although I hope you don’t relate your real life experience to you killing someone else!) I would definitely recommend this book to a number of my friends. The author nicely blends the genres of sci-fi and action-thriller together and adds some great twists and turns in the book that would never be expected. I would rate this book a 5/5. I really loved it, and I urge you to consider reading it if you’re a fan of these types of stories.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Sleeper Code" is a mix of a few sci-fi thriller premises with some interesting twists - some parts Bourne Identity, some parts "My Own Worst Enemy" (the Christian Slater series that was cancelled prematurely some time ago) - but intended for a young adult crowd. Tom is a home-schooled teen with a rare form of narcolepsy that disables him enough to sleep for days. But as he starts to test the boundaries of his condition and finally meets a girl his own age he likes, Tom realizes that his life isn't what it seems at all, and that the harrowing nightmares that he has in his hallucinations might actually be real. Tom assumes a double identity, and his other half is a ruthless assassin involved with government oriented projects.

It's a fast read once the story starts going, and I ultimately enjoyed watching it unfold until the very end. However, I thought the characters felt quite thin even for what is noted to be a chase/thriller story with some stark twists and turns. I did like the insight into Tom's narcolepsy to an extent (which is one of the reasons I found this book to read because I wanted to research how many fictional YA protagonists have been depicted with the condition), though I felt it could've been given a little more conviction in the story - more urgency. The plot moves quickly, and the reveals are timed well, but there's not as much development from the characters as there could be, and that's speaking also for the secondary cast of characters surrounding Tom. There's no doubt in my mind that Sniegoski has written an enthralling read for the target audience this book is meant for, but I think it still could've stepped up the emotional resonance and development a notch, to make it an even more distinctive read.

I'm definitely going to look into the follow-up of this series, and I would recommend it for those that like fast reads in the vein of sci-fi, espionage, chase thrillers where identity conflict plays a significant role.

Overall score: 3/5

[LadyTechie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sensational book! It embodies all that is great in an action book. Tom has a huge secret, one that even he is not aware of for many, many years. The people in his life are not who he thinks they are and his illness, a severe form of narcolepsy, is a bigger problem than he ever dreamed. Tom's narcolepsy has been exploited by some really bad people who are supposed to be the good guys. Just when he finds out the truth the lid is blown off the secret in so many ways.

Madison is the girl next door, literally. She is staying with her aunt and uncle because of some issues with her parents back in Chicago. She reaches out to him when he most needs it and has not had any friends his age in over 3 years. Tom and Madison are great young adults who have found each other right when they both needed a friend. Both of these characters are being bombarded with really adult issues and finding the people they have come to rely on are not quite stepping up to the plate.

My favorite part of this book, the fights scenes. The fight scenes explode off the page and yes, as a Jason Bourne fan, I was picturing just that level of action. The author did not disappoint. I have the first book in the other Sniegoski series but have been on a teenage secret agent kick for a few weeks and this one just adds to my love of this niche in the YA world. I have already bought Sleeper Agenda and will be tearing into it quickly.


Review can also be read at: http://ladytechiesbookmusings.blogspo...

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tom Lovett suffers from a rare form of narcolepsy. Whenever an attack hits him, he doesn’t know if he’ll be out for a few minutes or several days. Tom’s parents keep a close eye on everything he does since he never knows when he’ll have an attack. He is home schooled and doesn’t have any friends his own age. Tom is extremely isolated and lonely.

Tom can’t believe his luck when a beautiful girl moves in next door. Madison notices Tom too and doesn’t waste any time introducing herself. The two hit it off immediately. Everything seems to be going great for Tom until he realizes his life isn’t what he thinks it is.

Tom is a sleeper agent developed by a secret government agency. Whenever he has a narcoleptic attack, it is being triggered by a satellite that is sending him orders for his next mission. If he thought is narcolepsy was a pain - just wait until he starts dealing with the government!

Fans of espionage stories like the Bourne Identity will really enjoy this two part series. SLEEPER CODE (Book 1) and SLEEPER AGENDA (Book 2) are fast paced spy novels. The books are packed with action, advanced technology, and lies, lies, and more lies.

[Photina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Photina Haumschilt
Genre: Adventure

Tom Lovett has a rare disease known as Quentin's Narcolepsy. It can make him fall asleep for days at a time or have hallucinations that leave him in a cold sweat. The hallucinations and attacks have gotten worse and he starts thinking that something is wrong. All Tom wants is a normal life. Then he finds out his narcolepsy is a cover for a second persona that lives inside of him and that his hallucinations are real. Now he has to find out who or what he is while saving himself and Madison, the girl who just moved in next door with her Aunt and Uncle.

Sleeper Code was hard to get into and is slow to start but picks up a few chapters into the book with some interesting twists. While you are in the characters' heads and expect to connect with them it just doesn't happen. They are flat and nothing really sticks out with either Tom or Madison. It's an easy read with some good twists. There is a cliff hanger at the end that will have you wanting to find out what happens in the next book if you liked this one.

[Haaley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really really enjoyed this book. It honestly took me about 6 hours to read in one day once I got started I couldn't put it down. I could feel myself anticipating the sequel before I was even finished.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things don��t always go your way, and sometimes they can be life changing. This is the main theme in the story of adventurous fiction, “Sleeper Code,” by Tom Sniegoski. Tom is also the name of the main character. Tom is in almost every single part of the book, so the author does a good job describing him. Most important about Tom is that he has a severe sleeping disorder called narcolepsy, which makes him sleep for up to five days at a time. As a result of his narcolepsy, Tom starts having hallucinations, including one where he even killed a man. Tom struggles during the whole book to get a normal life. But he doesn’t always know what is real and what he is hallucinating, and this makes the book exciting. The story takes place in the United States in modern times. The author does a good job of making you feel like you are there because of the descriptive details he uses. Honestly, the beginning was very bad. I almost couldn’t read it because there was no action and the author spent too much time explaining Tom’s problem. If you like action and suspenseful scenes though, later on in the book it’s so exciting that you can’t put it down. For example, in the story it says, “‘we have to get out of here,’ he started firmly, pulling open the door and forcing her inside. She didn’t fight, sliding across to the passenger side.” (pg. 206) At this point I couldn’t stop reading and the suspense was high. I would recommend this book to people who don’t mind a bad beginning, and love an adventurous ending. .

[Elijah Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. Sleeper Code, by Tom Sniegoski, covered everything I enjoy reading. Sniegoski introduced each character at the perfect times and explained them well enough that I didn't get confused. The plot, even though it was really bizarre with the narcoleptic attacks, made sense. There was also more than enough action scenes to keep me reading and not get bored. The only thing I didn't like was how it ended on a cliffhanger, I understand there is a sequel but cliff hangers annoy me. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes action,plot twists, and good character personalities.

[P.M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a rather frightening premise - that scientists could implant a second personality into someone's mind. And, when that someone is a trained assassin and you are just a high school kid, the fright mushrooms exponentially. I've had this book for a while and I see that there is a sequel which I also have. Onwards.

[Dexter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never been a huge thriller person, but something about this duology really drew me in when I was a teen. Rereading it now there's nothing really wrong with it, and apart from the interesting idea of using narcolepsy to create assassins, there's just nothing super special about it either.

Interesting premise, mediocre execution. A quick read though, so if you're curious or into YA thrillers you might as well give it a go.

[KyleW · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel starts off in the world of Tom Lovett. A sixteen year old boy, Tom is homeschooled, but not for the reasons that many students are. Tom is homeschooled because his parents don't believe that he can work and be normal or acceptable, in a normal high school. Because Tom has narcolepsy, a disease that makes him fall asleep at any moment, and sometimes for days at a time. These attacks, as he calls them, haven't happened in over two weeks, and he is extremely determined to get his parents to let him attend a public school. But when he also mentions that he's stopped taking his medication that's supposed to help control his narcoleptic attacks, all of the worst things possible break loose. What is even worse than losing days, though, is the very real dreams he's started to have about murder. In these dreams he is committing murder constantly. At first Tom believes that they're just dreams, very real dreams, tricks that are being played on him. Then Tom finds out that he's not really going crazy. Even worse, he really has committed murder several times, in fact he is a trained assassin. It seems that his narcolepsy isn't just a disease he was born with, but a carefully put together part of a plot to keep his sleeping self away from his waking self. Suddenly the life he thought was looking up, especially since Madison Fitzgerald moved in next door, is going downhill fast. Unable to believe that he is two distinct personalities living in the same body, Tom is determined to prove his dreams are wrong. What happens instead is a long descent into murder, destruction, and mayhem. Tom Sniegoski has taken a totally original idea and turned it into an action-packed story that will have you turning pages long into the night. Once you realize exactly who and what Tom is, you can't help but be equally horrified and interested in this young man. As Madison and her family also become targets for Tom's clandestine organization, as Tom learns that his parents are not his parents but instead handlers, and as he becomes determined to break free from his other identity once and for all, the story takes on mythic proportions. I really enjoyed this books pace and plot. The theme of this novel is definitely that everything is not what it seems to be. I am so glad that I had this book over break because it really gave me something to enjoy. This is definitely a book for all action-adventure lovers! Also I recommend this book to anyone in middle school because it is full of excitement and the character is around the same age as us so you can sort of relate to an unrelatable character. My only complaint of the novel was that the beginning was a little slow but as soon as one event led to another we were rollin'. Overall this was a great book and I am sure the sequel is great too.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sleeper Code, by Tom Sniegoski was a pretty good book. When new characters were introduced I did not get confused, he explained them very well. The plot was kind of weird with the narcoleptic attacks. There was so much action, you could not get bored. The only thing I did not like about this book was how it ended, the book just left you hanging until you read the sequel. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes plot twists and action.

[Aelvana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tom Lovett has a rare form of narcolepsy that can incapacitate him for days at a time. Madison Fitzgerald is the new girl next door, who moved in with her aunt and uncle to wait out her parents' divorce. But Tom's nightmares have more of a basis in reality than he suspects, and when the killer that stalks his dreams turns up in waking life, he has no idea who he can trust. Because everything he's ever known is a lie. Including himself.

The prose is very tight, very focused on telling the story and not letting anything else get in the way. This works very well to keep tension skyrocketing. The book overall feels a lot shorter than its 278 pages. Tom feels a little younger than 16, but his sheltered life makes such a personality plausible. Tyler feels overpowered, but because he's generally not the one in control, it all balances out.

The prose does suffer from a few overused phrases that keep popping up. The plot includes all the tired elements of a typical thriller: evil government conspiracies, evil scientists doing experiments on humans, goons in black chasing down the lead and his girl, and so on. Read the back of the book and the first page and it's pretty clear the direction the whole book will take. If you like thrillers, this may not be a problem. If you want a book with a little more substance, you won't find it here.

And that, I think, is the only real problem. If Tom's condition were the result of something other than a government experiment, if his parents had some other role, if Madison was more than a prop, the book could've been somewhere interesting. I don't think this is a bad book. I just don't see anything that would encourage me to read it more than once. Neutral.

[Max P · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a poorly executed, Jason Bourne rip-off mess. I mean literally, some of the phrases from the book are actual lines from the movie, such as "the ultimate killer, one that doesn't know that they are one." And of course it's horribly paced. for a 275 page book with pt. 40 font, the action only starts on page 200. I mean really. If you're gonna have a short book, cut to the chase! Also, the characters are totally unlikeable, have no personality, and go through dramatic character changes without any forthcoming thought whenever the plot needs it. Seriously, I wonder if the author spun a wheel to "find out who saves Tom" and ec cetera. And notice that the second book says "part two." In other words, other successful books have "parts" in it, but they are in the same book. I would have liked it slightly better if it was one book. But if it was one, the author wouldn't get double the money from two teenage Jason Bourne rip-offs. In the end, we're looking at a reluctant reader scam with flat, unimportant characters that accelerates slower than a Mitsubishi i-MiEV SE.

[Lucy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tom Lovett has a rare form of narcolepsy that can knock him out for days at time. He can’t function normally, because he never knows when he’ll have a spell, and so he is homeschooled. He yearns for a normal life.

What Tom doesn’t know is that he is living a double life, and his narcoleptic spells are covers for his missions. Tom shares a body with Tyler Garrett, a sleeper assassin who kills professionally. But when the barriers in his mind between Tom and Tyler start to break down, Tom discovers the truth: his whole life is a lie.

Now, Tom is on a mission to take down the agency that created him, and to figure out who he really is and who he wants to be.

This book reads like a thriller. The action is well-written, but unfortunately, the characterization and dialogue, and everything else, is stale. Tom—and the girl next door, Madison—are flat stock characters, and even though we’re inside their heads, it’s difficult to really care about either of them.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting concept, no doubt. Original. The story was predictable in parts, and shocking in others. The characters were well done, believable, though they felt kind of '1.5-dimensional'- not quite making it to 2-dimensional.

Slow at points, the book is riddled with sporadic action that will have you gripping the book with white knuckles...It's not really a character story, more of an action/plot story that, when you've finished it, will leave you wanting to read something else, something that will have you rooting for the characters to succeed. I just didn't feel like Tom was any different from any other person I've read about. He wasn't unique enough for me to become invested in his world.

[Sanika Bhargaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was AMAZING! although the sequel is better I think. It had a great concept and idea and it was well written. Suspense galore!
The main character is a teenage boy named Tom Lovett. All his life he's suffered from narcolepsy which means he can fall asleep at any time. This disease has stolen days and even weeks of his life. He's tired of feeling helpless and tired of not being able to lead a normal life.
And then one day, his whole life changes. He finds out that his normal life as Tom Lovett is a lie and his disease is just a cover. Now Tom must learn the truth about himself. Dum dum dum...
I really liked this book. The characters are shaped extremely well and the suspense is a killer. Full of action. I would reccomend this to anyone!

[Everett · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I'm looking down at the reviews i'm thinking "I'm going to look like a total moron if even try to review this book" so dont laugh because there is a very large age differance between me and you. I went to the library in my town and picked out 5 books they were: The Hangman's Curse, Sleeper Code, I am the Messenger, Monster, The Hunger Games. So when I got home around noon I started to read and i literally read nonstop (extept meals)until i finished them at 9 the next morning thats how good they were. So if you were looking for so big deep review i'm very sorry i wasted but i'm a reader not a writer as much as i try. Thank you for your time.
P,S. If you read the review the other four books there all the same.

[May · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this because it was a gift, and I was sure it was going to be boring. It sure started out that way, the first couple chapters explaining nothing and mostly consisting of Tom, the main character, and Madison, his neighbor, angsting over there less-than-perfect circumstances. But a couple chapters in, it really started to pick up.

If you can get past the oh-so-slow beginning, the story becomes fast-paced and exciting, things finally becoming clear, questionings finally getting answered, and the tangle of characters finally making sense. I was sure at the start that I wouldn't care for the sequel, but the way the story ends, with a just-barely-not-a-cliffhanger, I don't think I would be able to not pick up the sequel.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom Lovett has always been told that he has a rare incapacitating form of narcolepsy. To his amazement, he learns that during the time he believes he is experiencing a narcoleptic coma state, he is actually split into another identity, Tyler Garrett, who works as an assassin for a government agency. Tome decides to take on the evil agency that has created and is using this split personality.
The book is a fast, enthralling read which is difficult to put down as it moves rapidly from one interesting scene to another.

[Sean Randall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to read this because a reviewer compared it to Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne novels. Whilst the concept is perhaps vaguely similar, the writing is clearly aimed at a much younger audience. The violence lacks aggression but the story isn't short of a few thrills, and the end is certainly left hanging so that I've got to finish up. A very short book, really - I started reading about 11:00 PM and was finished within a few hours.

[Marisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad at all -- lots of action, but not so much that it's hard to follow. I typically don't like action adventure type books, but this was quite enjoyable. Good boy book. I don't see myself taking the time to read the second part (The Sleeper Agenda), but I'll definitely recommend the series to patrons!

[Marya · Rating 2 out of 5]

It felt like I was reading a typical teen action movie. By that, I mean the action scenes were vividly described, the emotional moments were cheesy, and the dialog was pretty cliched. Also, high kicks feature prominently. To paraphrase Artemis Fowl, does that do anything except look flashy? But then, for readers looking for a good fluffy flashy read, this is it!

[Julia Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this - the plot is a little predictable but that doesn't detract from the enjoyment of reading a well-written story. It was good enough that I have now downloaded the second book in the series.

I read Sniegoski's fallen angel series a while back and Sleeper Code will appeal to anyone who liked those books.

[Alana Weafer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the whole idea for this book. It was a very unique idea and I think it was written extremely well.
This book is about teenaged boy, who suffers from something called "quintens narcolepsy". Normally, this doesn't phase him that much, until he learns what actually goes on when he's sleeping.
I highly recommend this book for people who enjoyed the CHERUB series by Robert Muchamore.

[Denae Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

These were fun. I do think a story is the best way to talk/learn about a condition. I don't know much about narcolepsy, but at least I know more than before I read the book. Even if it was fake narcolepsy.

[Shellie Brewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at the library it just looked interesting to me and it was a really good read with a lot of mystery but I missed my dark romance and fairys but will pass this one on to my son when he is older,

[Kitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's a bit too action adventurey for me. but i liked it enough to read the second one. the love story was better than the real plot to me... but it doesn't pass the Bectel test. still, interesting enough for me to read the next time.