Reverie by Ryan La Sala

Hudson | Holmdel High School, Grade 12

Rating: ****

Reverie is a young adult fantasy novel that will leave readers hanging off the edge of their seats. The story follows Kane Montgomery and he tries to find his memories and re-navigate the world of reveries. The reveries are the manifestations of people’s imaginations, and while most people are unaware of the role they’re playing, Kane (and other people like him) are lucid during these reveries. It’s their job to give the stories a happy ending while making sure people stay safe. Ryan La Sala does an outstanding job creating these different worlds and giving each character the spotlight they deserve.

This novel is perfect for readers who love superhero team-ups and characters who are trying to find themselves. There were times where I was really frustrated with Kane and where I felt that he was being unreasonable. However, I understood why La Sala chose to write Kane like that. Kane’s imperfections and insecurities drive the plot and his voice makes the novel emotional and funny. The queer representation in the novel enahances the plot while not being a main focus. This novel is more about the reveries Kane has to deal with rather than him being gay. To me, that is refreshing and the novel can be enjoyed by all audiences.