Synopses & Reviews
Ever since returning from Dormia, Alfonso has enjoyed sleeping in a bed like a
normal person. No more waking up at the top of a tree or the edge of a cliff. In fact,
no sleepwalking at all. But then, while visiting France on a class trip, Alfonso feels that strange and
familiar pull of sleep. Upon waking, he finds himself in the belly of a ship headed
to Egypt. In his backpack are a few old books and a vial of medicine he stole while
asleep. Something is calling Alfonso back to Dormia. Perhaps its the Founding Tree? Or
perhaps it's the man he sees in his dreamsthe one who looks just like his deceased
father? Whatever it is, Alfonso is powerless to resist. Storytellers Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski take Alfonso on another fantastical
quest to Dormiaand beyondto a vast underground world that holds the answer
to a terrifying message: Let me tell you of a dark shadow tree and the world's end.
Review
"In the fine tradition of Tolkien and George Lucas, the authors spin a hero tale in the midst of a mysterious land where characters make difficult decisions motivated by myriad causes. . .This second cliff-hanger tale of Dormia will delight fans of the first book and leave them chomping at the bit for the next installment."—
VOYA"The mystery of a sleep-walking hero and his missing father,
World's End will keep you wide awake, turning pages late into the night. Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski have fashioned a globe-trotting adventure filled with the kind of masterful plot twists and nail-biting suspense that young fantasy readers dream of."—Katherine Marsh, author of the Edgar-award winning
The Night Tourist "Readers, teachers, and parents, get on board! Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski take
their characters on another wild ride in the second installment of the Dormia series
entitled Worlds End. If you loved the first book, the second book is going to blow your
mind! The stakes are higher, the powers are more spectacular, and the journey brings
you to breathtaking lands that are sure to delight the imagination. For readers of the
Dormia series, this return visit with old friends is a welcome reunion to be cherished and
celebrated with the addition of more eccentric characters that will make you laugh out
loud! For new readers, this series will have you hooked as you are whisked away to far
away places on an epic expedition that gets more thrilling with the turn of every page.
For reluctant readers, the action-packed, intense plot twists and turns until you feel like
you are living an extreme sport with the characters. For teachers who are searching for
models of setting description, they are sure to find descriptive narratives that will inspire
and thrill their students. Halpern and Kujawinski are masters of description! As you
can see, there is something in this book for everyone. And as you draw nearer to the
conclusion of this book, you will find yourself begging for more!"—Rick Hribko, 6th Grade Language Arts Teacher at East Shore Middle School
Review
" . . . nonfiction writer Halpern and debut author Kujawinski offer some compelling battle scenes. Alfonso's quest believably demonstrates that the path home can be the most trying."--Publishers Weekly ". . . this is an adventure yarn that takes its time, building mild suspense that does not overwhelm the progress of the tale. It is old-fashioned storytelling, ably done, where action supports story development rather than substituting for it. This fantasy is a wonderful intergenerational read-along and is a strong choice for readers still mourning the end of the Harry Potter books."--Booklist "Middle school students who enjoy a good fantasy romp full of adventure and suspense will enjoy Dormia. The amusing, colorful cast of characters, the suspense throughout the terrifying journey, the exotic lands, and the ever-evolving powers of Alfonso combine to create a page-turner of a tale. Put this one on the shelf next to D. J. McHales Pendragon series or Angie Sages Septimus Heap books."--VOYA (4Q4P)
Synopsis
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 Alfonsos door, claiming to be Alfonsos long-lost uncle Hill. This uncle tells a fantastical tale: Alfonsos ancestors hail from Dormiaan ancient kingdom of gifted sleeperswhich is hidden in the snowy peaks of the Ural Mountains. According to Hill, Dormia exists thanks to a tree known as the Founding Tree, with roots that pump life into the frozen valley. But the Founding Tree is now dying, and in a matter of days, Dormia faces an icy apocalypse.
Dormias salvation lies with the Great Sleeper, who possesses the special powers to enter a sleep trance and grow a new Founding Tree. Hill suspects that Alfonso is just such a person. In fact, Alfonsos sleeping-self has already hatched this tree. Now the question is: Can Alfonso and his uncle deliver it in time? They must hurry, but they also must be careful not to be followed by Dormias age-old enemy, the Dragoonya, who are always hunting for one of the secret entryways into Dormia.
Alfonso agrees to take the tree to Dormia, and thus begins one of the greatest adventures a twelve-year-old boy could ever wish for.
As he woke up from a late afternoon nap, Alfonso blinked open his eyes and discovered that he was perched at the top of a gigantic pine tree some two-hundred feet above the ground. The view was spectacular. Alfonso could see for miles in every direction and he could even make out his house in the distant hamlet of Worlds End, Minnesota. Unfortunately, there was no time to enjoy the view. The small branch that Alfonso stood upon was covered with gleaming snow and creaked dangerously under the pressure of his weight. Icy gusts of wind shook the entire treetop. Alfonso looked down grimly at the ground far below. If he fell, he would most certainly die.
Oh brother,” muttered Alfonso to himself. Not again.”
Synopsis
When Alfonso Perplexon sleepwalks, he accomplishes great feats, until one night a man shows up claiming to be Alfonso's long-lost uncle. He tells Alfonso about Dormia, a land hidden deep in the Ural Mountains, and that it's his destiny to save Dormia.
Synopsis
Something is calling Alphonso back to Dormia! Ever since he returned from Dormia, Alfonso Perplexon has enjoyed sleeping like a normal person. No dropping off to sleep in the middle of school. No waking up at the top of a tree. In fact, no sleepwalking at all. But on a class trip to France, his sleeping self takes over and he finds himself doing things his wakeful self would never do—like stowing away on a ship headed for Egypt. Something is calling him back to Dormia. With only a backpack, some books, and a feeling of dread, Alfonso sets off once again.
About the Author
Jake Halpern is a journalist and author born in 1975. His book, Braving Home was a main selection for the Book of the Month Club by Bill Bryson and was a Library Journal Book of the Year. He is a contributor to NPR's All Things Considered and This American Life. He has written for The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, Sports Illustrated, The New Republic, Slate, Smithsonian, Entertainment Weekly, Outside, New York Magazine, and other publications. He is a fellow of Morse College at Yale University, where he teaches a class on writing.
When he isn't writing, Peter is a Foreign Serice Officer with the U.S. Department of State. Over the last ten years, he's lived in Israel, Haiti, and France. Currently, he is assigned to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York. Peter attended both the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference and the Iowa Writers' Workshop and has published commentary in the International Herald Tribune. He lives in Brooklyn, NY.