Favourite character? Veila, a supremely cheerful, in the moment, supernatural being. She becomes a mentor and friend to the main character, somehow without telling her a thing.
Author: Isa Pearl Ritchie
Genre: Fantasy / Middle Grade
Page count: 208
The Blurb
Life is already complicated enough for Awa Bryant when she starts having weird dreams – waking dreams – and strange coincidences start appearing in her real life. She meets dreamcharmer, Veila, a quirky glowing creature who helps to guide Awa through the mysterious Dreamrealm.
At first the Dreamrealm is a glorious escape from Awa’s daily struggles but something is not right… Soon Awa discovers she has a bigger quest, and everything she cares about is at stake. Will she be brave enough to face her fears and save her friends?
The Verdict
I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful story about a girl who learns she can control her dreams. Awa, the main character, is not a big fan of change, likes books and pizza, overthinks everything and is entirely relatable.
The book covers some very big topics in a sensitive and accessible way; bullying, racism and prejudice, loneliness and anxiety. It is obvious that the author has done a lot of research into the psychological basis of anxiety and relaxation methods, like meditation and being present.
The descriptions of the dream lands are beautiful and intriguing, often leaving more questions than answers. I was confident about giving the book to my son (11) and he really enjoyed it too. The plot moves quickly in the second half and keeps the reader interested to the last page.
Read it if you like: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, The Juniper Game by Sherryl Jordan