One night, in a remote college town in California, Mei’s roommate, Kara, goes to sleep in her clothes and boots. In the morning, Mei tiptoes out without disturbing her. But that night, Kara is still asleep in the same position. She sleeps through screams of confusion, the ambulance siren, and doctors trying to wake her. Days later, her heartbeat gets weaker and finally stops.

The mysterious sleeping sickness spreads rapidly. Panic sets in when there are 12 victims. When it spreads through the town, hysteria ensues. It’s treated like an unknown contagious disease. Isolation is enforced. But is it physical, psychological, or a hoax by Big Pharma?

Walker fuels our interest as she describes each person threatened by the fear. If they catch the sickness, will they die like Kara or wake up?

Mei has been ostracised by the other students. But she joins ‘weird’ Matthew (as the students call him) donning gloves and masks to attend the afflicted. Will these two be survivors?

Ben and Annie are wracked with anxiety for their new-born every time she goes to sleep. Sara and Libby’s father has always been petrified of impending disasters. Years of supplies are stored in their basement.

One of the sleeper’s eyelids flicker as if she is dreaming. Of the sleepers who do wake, the dreams they had haunt their living.

With this compelling novel, Walker explores the fascinating link between reality and dreams. The stillness of the dreamers contrasts with the fast-moving suspense around them.

Walker illustrates what humans lives are capable of in a philosophical, tender and thought-provoking way.

Reviewed by Judith Grace