Publication: July 2014, Cedar Fort Publishing & Media, 208 pages
My Source: I received a copy in exchange for an honest review
Description
What if dreams don’t disappear when we wake up? Haunted by her
younger sister’s death, and her unwitting role in the incident, 11-year-old
Gwenevere Stoker takes solace in the Dreamosphere—a dimension where all dreams
still exist. But when someone begins destroying her dreams, Gwen must find the
culprit—or risk losing all her happiness forever. Bask in the mystery and
imagination of dreams in this touching, funny, mind-bending children’s tale
that encompasses themes of grief, friendship, family, healing, and grand
adventure!
My Review
This is a very creative story. Dreams are really strange things and the dimension where dreams exist in this case, was fascinating! The orbs, strands, webs...it was a very inner-woven, detailed area. There were ideas that really sparked my imagination. A lot of thought went into this one, that's for sure!
Gwen is 11 years old and for me, personally, that was a problem. I have an 11 year old and granted, he's not as mature as some kids his age, but there is no way he would connect the dots to this mystery the way Gwen did. She seemed far older than 11 to me, which made it harder for me to relate. When I tossed that aside, I was able to get into the story more.
Gwen is having a hard time moving past her sister's death. For two years, she's wallowed in grief and guilt and is a very angry, surly person. This mystery really seemed to help her deal with things, but she has to solve it before it's too late--for her and for those around her.
I have to admit--with an 11 year old main character, I was expecting a simpler mystery and solution, but this one had some real twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. I really enjoy being surprised and was happy to find myself feeling that way. I love the friendships that were made and the relationships that were healed.
Content: fantasy elements that may be scary for really young readers, but I can't remember anything of note to worry about. Clean!
"What do you think happens to your dreams after you wake up?"
Gwen shrugged distractedly, too disoriented by her sudden arrival in the remarkable setting to focus. "I dunno. They disappear?"
The unblinking gray eyes of her young companion flashed as she leaned forward. "Incorrect. Every dream you've ever had still exists. All of them. They reside in a dimension called the Dreamosphere. It's where we are right now, as a matter of fact. Each dream basically exists as its own world, or dream-orb. There are thousands and thousands of them, connected like drops of dew on a gigantic spider web. Every dream you've ever had, Gwen. They're all up here. And you can visit them any time you want."
Tabitha, the enigmatic child who shares this information, has some even more shocking news. Gwen’s dreamosphere is in danger. Someone has been hacking into it—destroying her dream orbs, erasing pieces of her past, and affecting Gwen in more ways than she realizes. Together, Gwen and Tabitha travel through the outlandish landscape of Gwen’s dream worlds to find the person responsible. What will happen to Gwen when all her dreams are gone? What critical clues lie within the pages of her dream journal? And what does Edgar Allan Poe have to do with it all?
Goodreads || Amazon || Barnes & Noble || Cedar Fort
About the Author
Laura Stoddard was born in Idaho and spent her formative years running
amok in the great outdoors. She received her bachelors degree in English
Literature from Arizona State University. After being rejected from the
masters program for creative writing she decided that she didn't need a
masters degree to tell her she could write, so she started really
dedicating her time to finishing the story she'd started months earlier,
with the goal of writing a complete novel, and getting it published.
The result is her debut novel, The Dreamosphere, for which her own
vivid, bizarre, and incomprehensible dreams provided the inspiration.
Laura is an adrenaline junkie and will try anything once--or twice--or
maybe three times. She can already check whitewater rafting, going down
in a shark cage, and skydiving (three times) off of her list. Oh, and
getting Lasik. It was five minutes of terror. She enjoys hiking, rowing,
reading classic literature, embarking on new adventures and hobbies,
volunteering regularly, and spending time with family. She currently
resides in Phoenix, Ariz.
Website: www.laura-stoddard.com
Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaL5KhPHFiI
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