''REM World'' is a fantasy/science fiction novel by

Rodman Philbrick Rodman Philbrick (born January 22, 1951) is an American writer of novels for adults and children. He has written popular children's books such as ''Freak the Mighty'', Max the Mighty, The Last Book on Earth and has written other mysteries and thr ...

about a boy who orders a device that will help him lose weight, and when using it he enters a world where he will not only lose weight, but go on the biggest adventure of his life. The title comes from the 4th stage of sleep (a.k.a. Rapid Eye Movement).

Plot summary

Eleeven-year-old Arthur Woodbury is tired of being overweight and being called "Biscuit Butt". He is overweight because his father died, and he is sad, even though he lives with his mom and grandma. So he orders a device advertised in a comic book to help himself lose weight in his sleep. After reading the first side of the instructions, he falls asleep and enters REM World. Feeling ripped off, he throws the device off. But he soon realizes that he's stuck in REM World because he didn't follow the instructions fully. And after meeting his guide Morf, a small, furry creature that can change form, he realizes that he need to find the device, or else the whole world will be swallowed by an evil darkness. During his quest, he meets frog people, giants that rip apart continents, cloud people who use their wings to glide, killer birds, and an evil demon; along the way he also does push-ups, rows boats, flies, and rides the giants. After finding the device and learning his life should not end because of a lost loved one and that imagination is important, he comes home and has lost a lot of weight. From now on, he is now called "Courage."

Reception

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...

panned the book as "preachy and predictable," claiming that readers would find it "so obviously freighted with Purpose as to be almost devoid of danger or suspense." The ''

School Library Journal ''School Library Journal'' (''SLJ'') is an American monthly magazine containing reviews and other articles for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, with ...

'' was similarly critical, comparing it unfavorably to

Norton Juster Norton Juster (June 2, 1929 – March 8, 2021) was an American academic, architect, and writer. He was best known as an author of children's books, notably for ''The Phantom Tollbooth'' and ''The Dot and the Line''. Early life Juster was born in ...

's ''

The Phantom Tollbooth ''The Phantom Tollbooth'' is a children's fantasy adventure novel written by Norton Juster, with illustrations by Jules Feiffer, first published in 1961. The story follows a bored young boy named Milo who unexpectedly receives a magic tollb ...

''.

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of B ...

was more positive, praising the "vivid personalities" found in the story's REM World.

References

External links

rodmanphilbrick.com
2000 American novels 2000 children's books American children's books American science fiction novels Children's science fiction novels Children's fantasy novels {{2000s-child-fantasy-novel-stub