Dreams… for the dreamer, they’re a fascinating and magical journey through their own subconscious, but to have someone else tell you about their dreams is notoriously dull. With this in mind, David Naiman has taken something of gamble by giving us a book in which at least half of the action takes place in the dreams of the eponymous Jake. However, it is a gamble that pays off, and the many dream sequences which makes up much of the book are artfully linked to Jake’s waking life to deliver a story which is touching, sad, and funny in equal measure.

Jake has a lot of challenges to deal with: at home, at school, with his family, and with his teachers and classmates. Life is not going smoothly, and his antagonistic attitude to the world helps keep it that way. He wants to feel like he doesn’t need help from friends or family, and even if they try to get close, the anger inside of Jake keeps pushing them away. Could his dreams hold the key to resolving some of the problems that are weighing him down, and leading a happier life? Maybe, but whatever Jake tries to do in the dream world, a certain kangaroo always seems to be holding him back. Maybe we all have a stern kangaroo inside of us, dragging us down to the basement when all we want to do is soar through the clouds.

This book doesn’t try to be a new Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, which captures the magic of dreaming so joyfully it may never be matched. This is no playful jaunt through a fantasy land, waking up just in time for jam tarts – it’s a story that deals with some very real-life issues, and it does so with skill and sensitivity. I flew through it no time, enjoying every page, and I’d rate it as the best indie book I’ve read so far this year.

Highly recommended for both teens and adults, and especially anyone who’s experienced the loss of a loved one. Read this book!