The Dreamosphere
Author: Laura Stoddard
Publisher: Cedar Fort
Published: July 8th, 2014
ISBN13: 9781462114443
Paperback: 208 pages
FTC, FYI: Received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Book Description:
What if dreams don’t disappear when we wake up? Haunted by her sister’s death, Gwen Stoker takes solace in her web of dreams—the Dreamosphere. But when someone begins destroying it, Gwen must find the culprit—or risk losing all her happy thoughts and feelings forever! Dreams come to life in this fantastical children’s tale!
Sheila’s Review:
I have always been so intrigued about dreams and what they mean. So this new take on a person’s dreams and where they collect was fascinating. Main character, Gwen, is an interesting 11 year old girl who is quite surly. She seems to be very unhappy and not friendly at all. We soon find out why, as it’s revealed that she feels guilty for her younger sister’s death. The reader also learns early on that Gwen can go to a place called “The Dreamosphere” where all of her dreams are kept. I have to admit that would be a scary thing for me. I don’t like a lot of my dreams that I remember. Gwen finds out someone is destroying her Dream Orbs, which is making her depressed. It also doesn’t help that she is being bullied at school and being called weird. {One thing that was kind of confusing for me, was that Gwen and the kids at school seemed to be written as teenagers in the way they talk and act with boyfriends/girlfriends and having several different school periods during the day. Gwen is 11 and in Elementary school, so this sometimes threw me off while reading.} One thing I really liked was how this novel subtly deals with some major issues, like death, grief and bullying and I liked the way they were presented and dealt with. As the story moves along, there are some surprising answers to who is messing with Gwen’s dream orbs and her friends. This fantasy suited for tweens and teens is exciting and sets things up well for another book in the series. I truly liked the ending to this story!
Mindy’s Review
I enjoyed the idea behind this book, someone has been breaking in to her dreams and changing her personality. I felt bad for Gwen and all that she has gone through, you can tell right away that something is off with her. I was glad that the author eased the reader into her life. I liked the mystery behind her “secret” and what happened to her to make her the way she is. She is having a hard time in school and when an old friend starts to visit her in her dreams to help her, it seemed to me she wanted to be in the dream world instead of the real world. I did enjoy the events that take place in the story. I was happy when she started figuring things out, but thought it was wrapped up too quickly, but was glad when this unhappy girl with no friends, starting getting some answers and was able to make friends and be happy.
Author Bio: 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.
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