Review by Frank Plowright

Now in his mid-teens, Sam has lived all his life in a small rural town. Fran is a new arrival, her mother having moved to work at the local mill. As I Dream of You surprises by rapidly escalating their relationship from an awkward start to intensity, flouting the convention for most teen romance graphic novels where hesitancy and uncertainty is the order of the day. There’s a reason for speed, though, and for the title.

As the writer and director of Frozen Jennifer Lee surely brings a weighty expectation to any project, and here that expectation shouldn’t be of exactly similar territory, although astute characterisation and charm definitely carry over. As I Dream of You is perhaps for the teens who loved Frozen when they were five, and now want something a little more complex. It’s delivered. Sam and Fran are believable from the start, both carrying disappointments in their young lives, and in Sam’s case an early tragedy. He’s especially well defined by a mission to locate a grove of ancient chestnut trees in the woods, but the thought extends to others in the cast, with an elderly man left in a wheelchair especially well integrated.

Of course, as this is a graphic novel, LeUyen Pham is greatly responsible for their transmitting so well. She’s primarily a book illustrator, although previously drew Lunar New Year Love Story, and there’s nuance to her people, their posture and their expressions. As the story increasingly departs from reality as we know it, Pham supplies the convincing blend of the strange and familiar needed to covey the idea of lucid dreams.

It’s not long into As I Dream of You before Sam finds himself in his father’s situation, and the story becomes one of four teens in two different places as backstories are revealed. Lee’s acknowledgement section clarifies this as a very personal work, and as such, who people really are is well concealed. Unlike life, Lee and Pham provide a definite answer, but it may not be the answer every reader wants. It’s hopeful in principle, but bittersweet in reality, yet once it arrives it illuminates how well Lee has plotted the course.

The subjects considered, especially dealing with grief, are sensitively handled, yet may still be upsetting for readers recently affected, so bear that in mind as Lee imaginatively leads the way to lands unknown.