Wake by Lisa McMann

Janie is a not-so-typical seventeen-year-old girl. While her friends are worried about dates and other typical teen problems, Janie's issues are much bigger. First, she is being raised by her single mother who can barely take care of herself. In between cleaning the house, working to pay the bills, and trying to maintain the grades necessary to get her out of her current environment, Janie is attempting to understand a very inconvenient power she has: falling into other people's dreams.

This strange skill has been present for as long as she can remember. Anytime someone nearby falls asleep, whether it's on the bus, at a slumber party, or in class, Janie is sucked into their dreams. Sometimes these trips border on humorous, such as the recurring nightmare of the school's jock, who always falls asleep in class and dreams he's naked on the football field. Other times she witnesses the nightmares of those she's surrounded by. The more violent the dream, the more exhausting the experience is for Jamie. For anyone who is around at the time, Janie's physical reaction mirrors a seizure, and when she finally wakes up, she is mentally and physically drained.

Up until this point, her ability has been more of a nuisance than anything else. She avoids slumber parties (it's just too exhausting to witness all of the dreams all night), long bus rides, and any other situation where someone might fall asleep. Things take a turn towards the dangerous when Janie has an episode in her car. While sitting at a light, Janie is sucked into the violent and demented dream of someone sleeping in a nearby house. At this point, Janie becomes a participant instead of simply an observer, and she realizes that sometimes dreams become reality.

This book was a really quick read. It was part mystery, part supernatural, and part suspense. Although the main character is a girl, it is definitely not a girly book!

PS: If you enjoy this book, check out the sequel: Fade. In the second novel, Janie's powers are put to the test when she must help police investigate a possible predator. After receiving an anonymous tip, the force is fairly certain that he is a teacher at school. Janie must intentionally put herself into the dreams of others to see if she can learn anything about the suspect and victims. We also learn a lot more about Janie's gift, and the irreversible damage it could be causing her.