Sleep Donation Summary
Karen Russell

Sleep Donation Overview

In Karen Russell's dystopian novella Sleep Donation, first person narrator Trish Edgewater works as a recruiter for the Slumber Corps. The Slumber Corps harvests the sleep from donors, and uses the donations to preserve the lives of ailing insomniacs. Though Trish wants to believe that her work with the Corps is inherently well-intentioned, over the course of the novella, Trish encounters innumerable ethical challenges. The death of her sister, her evolving relationship with a donor baby's family, and her confused loyalty to the Corps' founders complicate Trish's journey towards self-discovery, and emotional healing. The novella explores themes including, guilt, loss, and memory.