The Dream Merchant by Isabel Hoving

A curious book. I'm still trying to decide if I like it. I'm definitely not satisfied with my review, but I had a week to read the book and complete the review. The first four hundred pages were engrossing, the last 200 were a bit of a slog; but I could imagine readers loving it. I could also imagine it having crossover potential for adult readers like Pullman's His Dark Materials, though it isn't nearly so iconoclastic. More than anything I wished I could talk to other people about what they thought and work out exactly what I thought. Some original ideas, and some interesting details; but ultimately the book steers its way back to well-traveled waters.

I think I wanted more "story within a story" moments like when the boy goes to trade in the warrior dream world and is paid for his merchandise by a lesson.

http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/0763628808.asp