What do You think about The Great Interactive Dream Machine (1996)?
Here's a quick and cleverly written little novel. I wished the plot would amp up a bit--somehow having a wish granting machine was not as exciting as it should have been--but it is a kid's book and fairly entertaining anyway. The characters are the best element: vivid, interesting, and realistic (even the dogs!). The humour isn't too shabby either, and it was fun to read about good old 90s technology, when the whirring of a dial-up connection was simultaneously annoying and enticing. Glad I finally pulled it off the shelf.
—April
Genre: I placed this title in my reading log under Science Fiction Junior BooksSummary: Aaron is a young boy who is very smart when it comes to computers. Using his knowledge, he tries to generate a computer project, increasing his chances of getting into to summer camp, not soccer camp, until his friend Josh gets involved. (a.) I believe the strength of this title is brought out in the author’s ability of taking two boys, Aaron and Josh on a variety of imaginative journeys together. This allowed me to go along on their trips via their Dream Machine with them.(b.) It appears that whatever thoughts or dream are going on when the boys are near the computer, poof, of they go. I must admit, the trip I enjoyed the most was on page 54-56. The boys grew so large; they had to sneak off to borrow clothes from the upper classmen. They left school and while in the park they noticed Daryl, the bully, in gym class playing soccer. Aaron and Josh, with their new size and clothes they would not be recognized, so they joined the game on the other team. They gave that bully a run for his money and a taste of his own medicine.(c.) Despite the enjoyment of all the traveling and adventure that went on, there was one thing that did bother me about the book. Starting at the beginning of pages 40 – 41 the boy’s started telling fibs to cover up what was going on. I understand that it seemed the right thing to do, but telling lies has never been beneficial for anyone. This started early in the book when the boys are whisked away to the Hamptons. Josh calls home and tells his sister that he and Aaron are at school preparing for an upcoming quiz. When in actuality, they were trying to catch a train home. Curriculum Connection: An opportunity to let a class run wild with imagination. I truly believe that if I shared this book with my class, I would impress the importance of honesty about them, unlike the boys in the book.
—Wallace Johnson
