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Monday, September 26, 2011

Dystopian Fairy Tale Pick: A Long Long Sleep

A Long Long Sleep
by Anna Sheehan
Candlwick Press
2011
342 pages

Part fairy tale, part romance, part science fiction, part thriller, part dystopian fiction, A Long Long Sleep will seduce readers with its eerie concept. Rose Fitzroy has slept for the past 62 years in a chemical induced sleep in her stasis chamber, long forgotten in a sub-basement under a huge corporation until she is awakened by a stranger's kiss.

Rose slept through the Dark Times when the planet was besieged by plague and death that claimed her parents and her boyfriend's lives. Now she is awake in a new world and destined to take the reins of power of her parents' inter-planetary corporation. Some people see her as a threat to their own power; others see her as a freak or a liar. Rose just wants to find her way, and find a way of living without anyone. She barely gets through the days until she finds a friendship with Brendon (Bren) the boy who kissed her awake.

Someone has sent a Plastine, an engineered super-soldier, to kill her, and it will stop at nothing short of success. Rose realizes her father's reign of terror is far-reaching, even after his death.

Compelling and shocking, Rose's parents' actions are beyond abusive. They are power-hungry and selfish, bent on showing the world a "picture perfect" family while they steal their daughter's childhood one week, one year, two years, 62 years at a time. Rose remembers her early years and realizes that her parents sent her into stasis when it was convenient for them--when they needed to get away, to travel Europe, to take a second honeymoon, to throw a grown-ups only party. Her stasis tube became her womb-like babysitter--sometimes for years at a time. While the world changed and her friends grew older, Rose remained in stasis.

The shocking, yet satisfying ending came all-too-fast. The Long Long Sleep is a serious page-turner that mixes sci-fi with dystopian romance. Readers will practically weep for Rose with her child-like naivete and will later cheer her inner strength of character.

Highly, highly recommended grades 8 and up. No sex, no language. Some creepiness factor when Rose realizes Bren is the grandson of Xavier, her boyfriend of 62 years ago, and creepier still because Grandfather is still alive and Rose recognizes her childhood love. Remember she is sixteen and he is now in his eighties.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

21 comments:

  1. Wow! What an amazing review! I look forward to reading this one!

    Not sure if you remember me, but I actually met you at TLA in Austin earlier this yr. I was the girl in pink stalking Christina Mandeleski's booth for an autograph of her new book. Lol I got there super early to be the first on line. lol

    Anyhoo...I was cleaning out my room today , and found your info so I had to look you up! I started book blogging a few wks ago and am loving it!

    I hope I get to see you at TLA next yr! I've already made my plans to attend! lol Look forward to readidng more of your blog!

    Stop by and check mine out, and make sure to enter my giveaway! www.theprincessofstoryland.blogspot.com

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  2. A Long Long Sleep sounds like a wonderful read! There are so many layers to it. I can't wait to read it.

    scunningham@normanhoward.org
    Rochester, NY

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  3. Sounds like a fun book to add to a library! Looking forward to reading this one!

    rossj@emhs.net
    Harrisonburg VA

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  4. Sounds like a good read! Thank you for letting us know about it. :)

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  5. A Long Long Sleep sounds like something that would be well received in our library. I look forward to reading it.

    jerrilyn.miller@smcisd.net
    San Marcos TX

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  6. How fun! This looks perfect for our clientele. Thanks for making me aware of it as I am excited about sharing this new title.
    connie.spurlock@southwestschools.org
    Harrison, OH

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  7. I've started to read YA dystopian fiction and I'm very impressed by the quality of the writing as well as the excitement of the plots. This sounds like a great addition to the genre, and hopefully, with a romantic twist, we could get more girls interested too.
    MEdward11@schools.nyc.gov

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  8. This sounds a bit like Across the Universe by Beth Revis. I'm looking forward to seeing how they compare.

    sue.liacosdix@gmail.com
    Bear, DE

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  9. Our teens love distopian fiction. Thanks for the chance to get a free copy!
    Staffbha@cox.net
    Chesapeake, VA

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  10. Sounds Great! My students would love this book in our library. Thanks for the opportunity to win a
    copy!

    joywalker@centurytel.net
    Gays Mills, WI

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  11. I would love this book! My dedicated book club members 7-9th grade would eat it up! Thanks for the opportunity!

    lhare@caravel.org
    Bear, De

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  12. I can't keep dystopian titles on my shelves, and would love to add this to my collection!

    Maureen Squier
    New Lebanon, NY 12125
    msquier@newlebanoncsd.org

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  13. Your review really drew me in. I look forward to reading it and exploring many of the other titles that you've reviewed.
    499library@gmail.com

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  14. Can't wait to read it!
    Brenda Steffens
    Stover, MO
    bsteffens@mcr1.stovermo.com

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  15. This sounds like a great book. It would be an asset to our collection. Thanks for doing this.

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  16. I was in serch of a new read and this sounds like just the ticket.

    immeejo@gmail.com
    Dickson, TN 37055

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  17. Wow, this sounds like a sure winner!
    jperry@winslowk12.org

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  18. I love stories that are twist on classic tales. I am looking forward to reading this one.

    spowell@hamlin.esc14.net
    Hamlin, TX

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  19. My favorite kind of read!
    Hndeshazer@gmail.com
    Tecumseh , Ok

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  20. just read it and loved it. Neat twists!
    hslibrarianlady@gmail.com
    Northwood, NH

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  21. Part fairy tale, part romance, part science fiction, part thriller, part dystopian fiction, A Long Long Sleep will seduce readers with its eerie concept ... fairytailbackpack.blogspot.com

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