Dreaming Dangerous

Gr 5-7--Plum has been dreaming in sync with her three best friends, Vien, Gwendle, and Artem since they were babies. The nightmares they confront together feature strange creatures and perilous quests--the children often die in these horrific dreams. The friends all live at Brassmere, a secluded academy for progenies with special gifts. When Artem goes missing, the kids begin a search, and disturbing secrets about Brassmere are revealed. Regrettably, the intended purpose for the children's gifts is never explained in the rapid dénouement. The children themselves are also sketched very simply. The short length and juvenile cover seem to suggest the book for younger readers, but given the dark nature of the material may make this a better fit for middle schoolers. VERDICT A gripping adventure with interesting leads that remain mostly unexplored in this succinct and spooky contemporary fantasy. Buy where Mary Downing Hahn's books and other scary titles circulate well.--Erin Reilly-Sanders, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Twelve-year-old Plum and her friends Artem, Vien, and Gwendle have a special bond: they're able to dream in tandem, a strange skill that is right at home among those of their fellow orphans at Brassmere Academy for the Extraordinary. They've never gone beyond the high fence surrounding Brassmere, or past the gargoyles guarding it, but their dreams offer a different sort of escape. Keeping dream journals and having their blood drawn every third Wednesday is a small price to pay for the security of Brassmere and the care given by Dr. Abarrane, who rescued them as babies. During a particularly terrifying dream, though, Artem tells Plum, "They're coming for us. One by one, until they find the one they need." After Artem goes missing, the friends vow to find him and discover that Brassmere's true purpose may be a terrible secret. DeStefano explores the bonds of friendship through the lens of dreams and the freedom that imagination can offer, and her gothic-flavored story is by turns lovely and harrowing. Ages 8-12. (July)

"The build-up of this creepily atmospheric novel unfolds with perfect pacing . . . An engaging addition to the magical school story genre, with a reassuring warmth and optimism to its conclusion." - BCCB

"A darkly thrilling story of magic and suspense. . . . Simply put, a great deal of fun." - Foreword Reviews

"DeStefano packs a lot of emotion into a tightly focused narrative—especially as Emmaline discovers what it means to lose a memory of a loved one—and offers a quiet approach to understanding different ways of grieving." - The Horn Book Magazine on THE GIRL WITH THE GHOST MACHINE

"The relationships DeStefano builds between her characters are sweet and piercingly true." - Publishers Weekly on THE GIRL WITH THE GHOST MACHINE

"The plot, replete with buried bones, a terrible house of punishment for "problem" children, and more, will keep kids reading all night long (albeit with the lights on). DeStefano. . . . is no stranger to atmospheric middle-grade books, and is impressively amassing work that rivals that of older authors known for scary mysteries, such as Mary Downing Hahn and Zilpha Keatley Snyder." - starred review, Booklist on THE PECULIAR NIGHT OF THE BLUE HEART

"The idea that things that can be okay even if they're not perfect is carefully and deeply explored, giving readers a chance to ponder this important concept. . . . Offer this to readers who appreciate ghost stories with plenty of character development." - BCCB on THE PECULIAR NIGHT OF THE BLUE HEART

"Spooky yet heartfelt." - School Library Connection on THE PECULIAR NIGHT OF THE BLUE HEART

"Dark but often funny. . . . Fans of Holly Black's Doll Bones may well enjoy this creepy, character-based tale." - The Horn Book on A CURIOUS TALE OF THE IN-BETWEEN

"Readers will be hooked from the first line of this lyrical and suspenseful mystery/fantasy (part thriller too). . . . a moving and multilayered tale. . . . Love, loss, and hope are at the heart of this exciting read." - Kirkus Reviews on A CURIOUS TALE OF THE IN-BETWEEN