Dream Smashers

by Angela Carlie

Sixteen-year-old Autumn has spent her entire life worrying about others. Her ailing grandma, meth-addicted mom, and a best friend who is always in trouble. She's spent the last few years attempting to worry less, to be carefree, without success.

Enter Evan, whose radiant attitude is an Autumn magnet. With Evan at her side, Autumn's able to let some of her worries go as they trudge through life's difficulties and fall for each other in the process.

A girl who no longer wants to care and a boy who cares enough for the both of them, Dream Smashers is a love story, but most of all, it's about letting go.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Fiction

Nook

First published March 24, 2011

About the author

Angela Carlie writes young adult fiction. When she's not writing, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, reading and traveling.

She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband and son.

Reviews

[Ginger at GReadsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Autumn Spring Winters was given this outlandish name by the mother who abandoned her & chose drugs & alcohol, instead of her own flesh & blood. Imagine a teenage girl who only knows her mother by the wretched ghost who floats in & out of her life, only when she needs money for drugs. Autumn was handed over to her grandmother at a young age & was given a second chance to be brought up in a "normal" household. Autumn's life is anything, but normal. Her disinterest in school is shared with her best friend Rainy, who is ironically a ray of sunshine in Autumn's dark depressing life. The two of them spend countless hours together avoiding the world around them, in which they see filled with drug addicts - particularly meth-users. Autumn knows it's a nightmare that her mother lives in & she never wants to be a part of it, thus vowing to never smoke or snort the paralyzing demon.

With the feeling of hopelessness & never finding a way out of her mother's constant re-occurrences, Autumn meets Evan. The two are set up on a blind date by Autumn's friend Rainy and immediately Autumn is taken back by Evan's beauty. He holds a special air of quality around him that screams purity & honesty. She is drawn to his likableness & his need to always make those around him feel special & wanted. All the qualities that Autumn has never received from anyone are now being projected on to her by Evan. Instantly the two connect & Autumn finds herself immersed in Evan's world. She is able to forget the nightmares of her drug-addict mother & concentrate on the happiness that fills her heart every time she looks in to Evan's crystal clear blue eyes.

Autumn soon realizes that dream smashers exist; people or events that take away your own true happiness. A rule she should have remembered, considering the world she's been brought up in. In a series of events, Autumn's mother attempts to get clean, but only after she hits rock bottom. The struggles that Autumn must face when her own mother, the same woman who abandoned her, reaches out for forgiveness becomes alarmingly unbearable. The hateful words that her mother spat at her with such venom are irreversible. Autumn must make a choice. Rise above this disease that has infected her life for so long, or succumb to it & live in this misery that her mother has created for herself.

Angela Carlie's writing is brilliant. I was in awe at the beautifully scripted words from page to page. This book was definitely an emotional read for me. How could it not be? Immediately my heart hurt for Autumn at the unfortunate position that she had been placed in. No child ever deserves a mother like that. But it was the actions through Evan that really touched me. He saw Autumn for who she was, not for what she came from & accepted her - broken and all. This story touched on some pretty heavy topics, such as drug addiction. The story depicted is not for the weak at heart. Angela Carlie was able to describe each scene in such detail that I felt myself witnessing these actions as they were carried out. Due to explicit language & drugs I would recommend this book to a more mature reader; however, the message behind this story is appropriate for teens & one that I feel anyone could benefit from.

[Savannah (Books With Bite) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Carlie, you can write one wicked book! This book had so much great elements in it that is had me in love with it. I really enjoyed the storyline and the characters.


First off, the storyline. Let me be the first to tell you how much it rocked! It blew my socks off. I loved the feeling of reading this book. It has so much realistic feel to it that you didn't want to finish it. You just wanted to savor every bit that you are reading. The way Ms. Carlie wrote this book it makes the reader feel connected to everything left me speechless. The drama is the book has very nice touches to it. It is all connected to Autumn, who is struggling with many things in her life.


Autumn is such a great character. She is a normal teen, cursed with a bad mother. I love how Autumn really grasped everything about her mother at such a young age. She is not stupid and handled it in such a mature way. I like how the reader sees Autumn grow up in a wonderful young women. She makes mistakes but she quick to learn from them. She is a type of young lady who knows real life. She appreciates what she has and is content with where she is at.


The love interest is just sweet and pure. I love how Evan is a good young man of understanding. His back round in church helped her in what strength she needed. He didn't pity her, but he loved her. He loved her fiercely and did what he had to do for her. I love how he didn't pressure her to go to church or judge her. He simply loved her till she was ready.


Now there was lots of cursing, making out in this book. But without theses elements to describe Autumn's life, the reader might not be able to get the whole picture. Life is not perfect. Autumn's life is not pretty. I recommend an older, mature teenager to read this.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angela Carlie's writing voice shines clearly in Dream Smashers through the narrative of Autumn, who speaks not only for present-day teens but also for all of us who have felt alone, betrayed, and fighting forces much greater than ourselves. Despite the title, the author holds out hope for the reader, and does not disappoint. You'll love Autumn - and Dream Smashers.

[Karly Kirkpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stunning book and Angela Carlie writes beautifully. I loved the descriptions she gave to such real topics. It's like poetry. The book deals with real issues that I feel many teens can relate to.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dream Smashers was a very difficult read for me. Not because I didn't understand or like it but because it deals with some very tough topics in a very bold, real way. At times elegant, at times thoroughly visceral, the story dives right into meth addiction from the point of view of the addict as well as those around them including family.

The narrator is Autumn whose mother is as toxic as they come, addicted to meth and angry about her past choices and mistakes. Autumn's voice is snarky and funny and very intelligent in spite of her sometimes poor grammar and foul language. With a mother who constantly invades her life and turns it upside down, it's no wonder Autumn's viewpoint is so raw with emotion and frustration and hopelessness. Enter Evan, who appears to be the epitome of light and goodness who comes armed with words of truth and hope and with an easy, sometimes cheesy manner. The two are so well written together that everything else in the plot seems to fall away in the moments when they are together. The romance is gentle and sweet and I enjoyed every second of it.

The other characters are equally well-written and layered. Every one seems to go on a transforming journey through the story, from the supposed drug pushing popular girl to the rough, trouble-magnet best friend. I was so impressed with how each character had their own personal story which we were treated to at least partially through the events of the story as well as layers which were peeled back slowly in response to the central metamorphosis of Autumn's life because of her interactions with Evan.

Parts of this book were so uplifting that it was a joy to read. The scenes of hope and love were just as well-crafted as those that were dark and angry with drugs and alcohol and their aftermaths. Ms. Carlie is a wordsmith (she discovered myriad new and fascinating ways for Jacinda to drop the f-bomb) and her writing transported me from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other, sometimes within seconds. I felt what Autumn felt, lived her life for the entire journey of the book. This is truly an amazing coming of age story with an element of faith that I had not expected to find.

I especially appreciated the building up and toppling down of a false beacon of hope for Autumn. Watching her realize that she has a more lasting and real source of hope in Evan and what he brings to her through his faith was one of the best parts of this story.

I could probably extol the merit of this work of art for hours. It reminded me of the brilliant way in which Lauren Myracle wove the story in Shine. Ms. Carlie should be praised for her bravery with the subject matter and for her exquisite writing style. Dream Smashers might be shorter than most YA novels on the market at the moment but there is no fluff; it is completely full of life and action. It is a must read for anyone who enjoys books dealing with heavy social issues and those who are fans of coming of age stories with hope and a light at the end of the tunnel. I encourage everyone to read this book though. Bravo, Ms. Carlie.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dream Smashers is the debut novel of author Angela Carlie, and it was a novel that was just about impossible to put down once I began. This novel was much darker and much grittier than most young adult novels, very raw. While a coming of age story, it is also the story of a young girl struggling to be more than what life has given her as an example. Autumn's meth-addicted mother is a central figure in the story, having abandoned and emotionally abused Autumn since she was a little girl. Autumn struggles between the love and the worry of a daughter for the woman who is her mother and the hate for the life her mother has chosen over her. When Autumn meets Evan on a blind date, her life changes in unexpected ways, as he is from a life completely unlike her own. He introduces her to spirituality in a way she never expected and she finds a peace and a joy that she has never known.

The author really did an amazing job with her characters. It was very easy to get absorbed into the story with Autumn, to feel her frustration and hurt with her mother, and the stirrings of romance with Evan. Rainy, Autumn's best friend, despite having problems of her own, was also an extremely likeable character and I found myself rooting fer her as well. Evan was definately the white knight of the novel, and he was the perfect hero!

Carlie's writing, although raw and gritty at times, is beautiful. It drew you into the story, in happy parts and in sad, and made you feel as if you were a part of the story. The words aren't always pretty, but they are perfect for the story. Her physical descriptions of Jacinda, Autumn's mother, were definately not pretty, nor easy to read, but they were realistic. At other times, especially in some of the church scenes, the words were pretty and drew you into the spirit of the moment beautifully.

Dream Smashers is a truly beautiful story, from start to finish. I loved that it tackled some hard subjects that you rarely find in teen fiction, and it did it in a realistic way. There is definately some raw language, and some very strong themes of addiction, so I would recommend this for more mature teen readers, but the message is a universal one. I gave it a 4.5 mugs!

[Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an excellent description of a young woman struggling to cope with the life she had been dealt. There is some language and somewhat graphic descriptions in the story; these are the nature of an honest tale—none of the language or graphic situations seemed to have been added superfluously. I was surprised to see the target audience for this work was young adult, and that the author seems to have chosen that as her favorite genre for her other works. It’s too bad, because here—in this book—she really shines. She has the makings of a really good author. I just don’t see the appeal of this book to a young adult audience—perhaps it is not appropriately targeted.

This book, although filled with necessary forms of speech appropriate to the story, is written in more in a literary style. What that means is that a good portion of the book is spent on the thoughts of the protagonist (or antagonist) and on descriptions. Personally, I love this style—it is the only way to truly develop characters—although certain readers (particularly younger readers) will find it tiresome and slow.

The protagonist’s friend, Rainy, is especially well written. The least developed character was Evan, but I felt as if the “love interest” in the book was accurately depicted. In all fairness, I went to a private school and saw many people exactly like him—but those unfamiliar with this type of cultural and religious background will probably be quick to dismiss him as fake and superficial. It’s quite the opposite, really, but there are not many people who truly stand for convictions anymore, so it’s easy to imagine an alternative motive for his altruistic behavior. Further insight into his struggles with sin and temptation would have rounded him out nicely and made him more believable to the average reader.

Overall, this was an excellent work by the author. Her other “young adult” series, in fact, seem almost as if they were written by a different person. I would highly recommend that the author returns to more adult (by adult, I mean mature, not salacious) genres, as this is where she rises above other independent authors.

[Missy (Two Readers Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an incredibly powerful read. I haven't read a lot of books that went as into depth with families dealing with drug addiction.

Autumn's mother left her with her grandparents when she was young. In her 16 years these are the only parents she has ever know. Jacinda, her biological mother, is someone who just comes around from time to time causing trouble and breaking her Grams heart. I was immediately entranced in the story and the life of this 16 year old who has nothing, but a life full of worries. She has had far more horrible things happen in her life than anyone deserves in a lifetime, let alone her short 16 years. She tries so hard to turn her life around and be optimistic, but bad things keep happening. Finally, she meets Evan. A church going good boy that puts some light into her life. And, after a while, hope. He is the kind of person that sticks with her through the good and the bad which is something that Autumn isn't necessarily used to. He opens her up to a new way of thinking which she so desperately needs.

I felt so much pain for Autumn. It was hard not to hurt for her. The life of pain and sorrow she was living was the only one she had ever known. She was so beautifully written as were all the characters. Each one of them having a direct effect on her life and making her the person that she is.

I also like the way the author used different view points to tell the story. Primarily we see things through the eyes of Autumn, but we also get to see glimpes of the story through Jacinda (her biological mother) and Evans point of view. It was really interesting to see the story through Jacinda's eyes. She is filled with so much anger and blames everyone else for her actions and her addiction.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. It was a very emotional ride, but in a good way. This is a fantastic debut novel! I look forward to more of her books in the future.

[Christy (TheReaderBee)]

Dream Smashers was a hard book to read, emotionally. I haven’t read many books that have dealt with addiction and its consequences, so this was also an eye opener for me. I’m really glad I read the book.

Most of the characters were likeable, and also complex. The main character, Autumn, is a very strong young lady. The girl has been through a lot, but she can take care of herself, along with the help of her grandmother who raised her. Her mother, Jacinda, was a meth addicted mess. It was painful to read some of the stuff Jacinda had put Autumn through. No mother should treat her child that way, and no child should ever have to go through what Autumn went through. I did not like the mom! I enjoyed Evan, and was glad that he was introduced into Autumn’s life. I think the religious perspective that he brought along really helped Autumn out during difficult times, and I liked that.

The plot was engrossing, and held my attention. The first half of the book went by a bit slowly for me, but by the second half of the book, I was hooked. The story is told from three different points of view; by Autumn, Evan and Jacinda. Normally I would find this confusing, but the author wrote it in such a way that I had no trouble telling what character I was reading about.

Overall, this was a very emotional read, but I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read it.

http://www.thereaderbee.com/2011/06/r...

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, but mostly, I'm just glad it's over.



I won this book on FirstReads here on goodreads. The author signed the book and even added a little handwritten note, which was a really nice & thoughtful touch.



***



I wasn't really impressed with this book. It's not that I think Ms. Carlie is a bad writer -- I don't. I think she tried too hard to sound like a teenager and the effect was wrong. Instead of sounding natural, it was just awkward and took you out of the story.



She used awkward phrases and metaphors...'smells glide to my nostrils' 'he was the heater that thawed this tenderloin' Among others but I didn't take note as I read this one.



I thought the subject matter was admirable but this book did not ring true to me - it wasn't very real. It was too dramatic, and there was too much black & white and not enough gray areas. I felt like things were forced in the book - I wasn't attaached to any of the characters really and I didn't "fall" into this book the way I usually do when I read. In fact, I read it kind of quickly just so I could move on to something better. :/

Also forgot to mention... Wasnt a big fan of the Christian fiction aspect of either. If it makes sense for the novel, then it's ok by me but in this book it really seemed out of place and detracted from the story, IMO.



Wasn't a terrible book, not my cup of tea, however.

[Erin Danzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joy. Laughter. Despair. Heartbreak. Hope.

That's the gamut of emotions I went through while reading this book. Tears flowed freely (the scene at Share House was heartbreaking). The book was written so fluidly, so powerfully that I couldn't put it down until I read the last word. I didn't know the first thing about being around someone crashing off drugs; I do now. I know what it's like to fall in love, to need to protect the ones you love, and to reach the point where faith is the only answer. Truly amazing.

Author Angela Carlie dives head first into the gritty, dirty world of meth addiction. It's a real problem and Carlie didn't shy away from the hard stuff. But she also gave us some of the good stuff. The transformations of the characters (or lack thereof in the case of Jacinda) is so real I feel like I just spent the morning with a group of close friends.

I truly cannot wait to see what else Angela Carlie has in store for us. She's yet another extraordinary writer and should be proud of the heart, soul, blood and tears she poured into her novel. 5 STARS all the way!

[Revati Ragini · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is my first negative review and I feel terrible to give it. But the author did ask readers to review at the end of the book and don't feel right not being honest.
I didn't like the dialogue, it wasn't realistic. The story was preachy. The lack of sexual tension was pathetic, they were 17, or at least one of them was. When Autumn and Evan kiss and Rainy laughs like she's 7, I wanted to hurl, because she's a stoner who hooks up with older guys that are murderers and probably rapists.
I knew more about drug and alcohol addiction when I was 10, and not from personal experience, it's just common knowledge these days. And where did the mum get the money from? Meth and all her other vices aren't cheap. Once she prostituted herself out for a hit, but what's with the friend who gives it to her for free all the time? Completely unrealistic.

I agree with what another reviewer wrote, I really wanted to like this story, but mostly I just couldn't wait for it to be over.

[Anne Pfeffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I flat-out adored this book. So beautifully written... every sentence was a pleasure to read. Angela Carlie creates vivid characters who you care about and root for. I loved Autumn, her courage and her spirit. Her little self-improvement program touched my heart. And Evan was so wonderful; I loved seeing those two get together.

Carlie switches points of view between three characters: Autumn, her boyfriend Evan, and her mother Jacinda. They are three very different people, but Carlie captures the voice and spirit of each with complete authenticity.

This book has danger, suspense, grief, addiction, friendship, romance and love, and Carlie makes all of it into a joyful, meaningful ride that you're happy to take with her. My highest recommendation...

[G.P. Ching · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of Laurie Halse Anderson's Wintergirls and Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor will love Dream Smashers, the story of a young girl overcoming her circumstances as the daughter of a meth addict. But this story moves well beyond your typical contemporary issue title. What really turned the pages for me was the romance between Evan and Autumn- a realistic and sweet romance. The relationship was very well written and Carlie doesn't pull any punches when it comes to staying in the voice of the characters she writes.

This book is written in the literary style and I think would be enjoyable to upper YA as well as adults.

[Stacey Benefiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a wonderful contemporary YA novel. It deals with several difficult subjects - drug addiction, faith, death - in a eloquent manner. The main character really struck a chord with me as well as the setting - this book takes place close to where I live. Not to sound silly, but the author's descriptions of Pacific Northwest weather are some of the best I've read. It's not a lighthearted read, but there are plenty of funny, real moments - especially between Autumn and Rainy.

[Amee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dream smashers wasn't really what I was expecting, as far as the big Christian theme of the book. I don't care to mix religious beliefs (or political for that matter) with my means of escapism. And once I feel the author becomes preachy I tend to tune out. The characters felt a bit flat to me and I had a hard time getting invested in their lives. MC's love interest was too perfect and I wasn't drawn in by their romance.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was exciting, Autumn faced so many ups and downs because of her mother. It seemed every time she was at her happiest her mother would find her.All of that changed when she found Evan the one light that shined for her.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://simpleloveofreading.blogspot.c...

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This honest, gripping novel will leave you stunned! I have had this book read for a while and I have just been waiting for my review to come to me. There are so many positive things to say about this relatively negative novel. It was hard to read and even harder to think about but I feel this is a book that should be read by all. This beautifully written novel touches on hard subjects while keeping readers completely engrossed with a wide range of characters that you will either love to death or hate with a burning passion.

Autumn is a character that has been through hell and back. In the short 16 years that she has been alive she has watched her birth mother deal with a terrible drug addiction while she wrecks havoc on the only people who care about her. Autumn must also deal with terrible amounts of verbal abuse and neglect from her birth mom. Even th0ugh Autumn lucked out and got great grandparents to care for her while her mom is out getting her next fix; it still doesn’t take away the hurt, pain, and worry. Autumn is always worrying about when her mom will show up next and leave a trail of destruction in her wake. Autumn is always worrying about her grandmother’s health and how smoking will affect her in the long run. Autumn is always worrying about her best friend, Rainy, who is a great friend but is always making rash decisions. To some it all up, Autumn’s life is full of worry. This is why she decides to live a care free life. With a few simple rules, she will be well on her way to a life void of worries and full of freedom. However, life has a funny way of throwing us for a loop-hole. More than a few tragedies (big and small), new loves, new friendships, and a new faith prove to Autumn that obtaining a carefree life is a little more difficult than she could imagine.

The issues of this story are thrown at you left and right. Not only is this poor girl dealing with a horrible mother but she also has smaller issues to work through on a daily basis. She shows an incredible amount of strength and determination through every up-hill battle she goes through. A lot of crap has been thrown her way but she never seems to let it really get her down. She just gets rights back up and continues fighting. I was truly inspired by this lead character. Nothing I go through is comparable to what she must deal with. After reading about the hard life that Autumn lives, I have found myself extremely grateful and blessed for what I have.

Autumn’s character was a strong, realistic, fascinating character to begin with but all the side characters only made her so much better. Autumn’s mother, Jacinda, is a necessary evil in this novel. Her life has taken her down a long, twisted, terrible road. Everything she puts Autumn and Autumn’s grandmother through is just terrible. I wanted to beat the living daylights out of her every time she made an appearance in the book. HOWEVER, without the problems she places upon Autumn, we wouldn’t be able to see the amount of strength that Autumn harbors deep within herself. Autumn’s grandma is a direct opposite of Jacinda. She still has her flaws but she truly has a gentle heart. She cares so deeply for her granddaughter and the mother that did her wrong. She is constantly struggling on how to care for both Autumn and Jacinda without hurting the other. Autumn’s best friend, Rainy, has a somewhat outgoing personality, a risk taker, and a near opposite of Autumn. A lot of what Rainy goes through in the story causes a huge stress on Autumn. Other side characters regardless of how large or small they may seem at first play a big part in Autumn’s life. Angela did a fabulous job creating these side characters.

As I mentioned earlier, there is a love, Autumn’s chance at first love in this novel. Meeting Evan on a blind date proved to be the best surprise of all in Autumn’s world. Everything in Evan’s life is good. His parents are caring, his faith in God is strong, and he has a wonderful, caring heart. His love of life is almost contagious for Autumn. She soon finds herself helping out at the food shelter, joining church, and picturing a nice future for herself. Evan’s character is great. I have never read of such a generous and caring guy. You could tell he loved Autumn and their relationship was wonderfully well-written. The one and only issue I had was his expression of his love for God. I love that Angela included God in a Y.A. novel. In no way does she push religion on you, but it is vital to the character’s growth in Dream Smashers. My problem was the way Evan delivered his feelings on God. I knew he was religious, and excited about his faith, however I felt it could have been portrayed in a little less cheesy (for lack of a better word), way. Regardless of this small issue I had, Evan and Autumn’s relationship was a joy to read. It was the ray of sunshine in Autumn’s otherwise, dark life.

This gripping, dark, yet somewhat hopeful novel will leave you speechless. At some points you may cry or be shaking with anger while at others you feel such a sense of joy and pride as the main character, Autumn, finally learns to not let dream smashers rule her life. I highly recommend this book for anyone and everyone. This book should seriously be read by all!

[Sarah Gonzalez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dream Smashers is a daring and intelligent contemporary young adult story that features an interesting and likeable heroine.

Autumn Winters is a bit of a mess, but what sixteen year old isn't? Autumn has spent her life trying to keep things together - she has been thrown a lot of curves balls and she struggles to stay on top. You see, her mother is a meth addict and Autumn wants nothing to do with her destructive life. This creates an interesting dynamic in Autumn, because she wants to be a good person. She certainly isn't perfect, but she certainly is trying to better herself. Her inner narration is both witty and heartfelt and she is easy to connect with. The problems she deals with make you want to champion for her, and the strength that she faces everyday earn her a place in your heart. Autumn is a complex character, but one who is easy to love.

Although Autumn was a dynamic and multidimensional character, I thought that her love interest, Evan was rather flat. He is a nice character, and he genuinely cares about Autumn, but I found him to be rather dull. I think the reason I felt so strongly about this is because Carlie switches back and forth between the viewpoints of Autumn and Evan. Although we are only given brief glimpses inside Evan's head (the majority of the story is told from Autumn), he still came off as one dimensional. He was always thinking exactly what I thought he would be, he always did exactly what I predicted and he always said what I thought he would say. He never changes, never grows, he simply remains the same Evan we started with. Although I liked that Evan, he was overwhelmingly predictable.

Rainy one the other hand, Autumns best friend, does go through some character development. However, I still did not really like her. I think we've all known people like Rainy before; self-centered, demanding and a bit crass. She is rather outgoing and Autumn latches on to her. I know I had relationships like that growing up, like Autumn, I was the sidekick who was dragged long to questionable activities and circumstances, when I clearly knew better. I think that Rainy is an incredibly believable character, I just did not like her. However, I will admit that Carlie does a great job with her. I definitely felt strongly about the character, which is the goal. She is both memorable and thought provoking.

The plot line was incredibly captivating; it was depressing and uplifting at the same time. At times it was hard to watch Autumn's interactions with her mother - much like it is hard to watch a car accident happen right before your eyes. It's terrible, it's horrible, you may even feel sympathy pains; but you still don't look away. Dream Smashers definitely pushes the boundaries. It makes you think and feel. However, like I stated before, Dream Smashers is both depressing and uplifting. Although it is hard to sit idly as Autumn deals with her pain, it is incredible to see her begin to turn things around for herself. This is a story about Autumn's journey to accepting that she is control of her own life and nothing can ever change that.

I enjoyed Dream Smashers - Autumn was a remarkable character with a captivating story to tell. It was the rest of the cast of characters that fell a bit flat for me. Evan was a kind character, who served his purpose in the storyline, but he wasn't anything more. Rainy, although well-written did not exactly do it for me either. Still, I would recommend Dream Smashers. It is a story that makes you think; which in my opinion is the best kind.

[Jamie Blair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed for Reading, Writing and Waiting
http://youngadultbookworm.blogspot.com/

I'll admit, I haven't read many Indie books. The ones I have read were written by friends, like fellow reviewer, Stephanie Jenkins. So, when Annie asked if I'd like to review Dream Smashers, I figured it would be a great way to jump into the Indie waters so-to-speak.

The jacket copy sounded right up my alley, and I dove right in. The first thing I noticed was how good of a writer Angela Carlie is. At times her similes and metaphors are reaching and overwrought, but her descriptions create a world we can walk through with the main character, Autumn, who is well fleshed out and three dimensional. Autumn's best friend, Rainy, is her total opposite and a riot to read. Most of the secondary characters were all written well, and I hated Autumn's meth addicted mother, Jacinda, like I think I was supposed to, but that's tricky because...

Dream Smashers is written in multiple points of view. While the bulk of the book is written from Autumn's first person perspective, the reader does get to spend some third-person time inside Jacinda's head and Evan, the eventual love interest, as well. Jacinda's chapters made me feel like I'm supposed to understand what she was going through and feel sorry for her. But, I didn't want to feel sorry for her, because this was Autumn's story, not Jacinda's. I'm not 100% convinced that the manuscript needed the point of view shifts, and that's where I'm conflicted.

Other than the point of view shifts, my conflict also came in the form of Evan, who is an absolute knight in shining armor. Because he had no flaws, he was a flat character. But, he was also something we never (or very rarely) see in mainstream young adult fiction: a "Jesus Freak" (as he's referred to in the book).

At first, this was a little bit off-putting, even thought I'm a Christian myself. But, I was put at ease because Autumn felt the same way I did. It felt a little awkward to Autumn, being around a guy that was as faithful as Evan. So, her reaction was real for her as someone who isn't a huge believer, which she wasn't at first.

I caught myself thinking at night about this aspect of Dream Smashers that is so different, and I found myself liking that Evan was a "Jesus Freak" (again, that term is used in the book), because that's who Evan is, and he owns it. It turns out that Evan is just what Autumn needs and shows her how to have faith and believe, which had always been something that was missing from her messed up childhood with a drug-addicted mom.

The book ends on a high note with Autumn growing into her own person and realizing she owns her dreams for the future, and they'll only be smashed if she lets them.

Overall, a distinct voice and different spin on what could've become a typical YA issue book, making Dream Smashers stand out from other gritty contemporary novels.

[Stacy Sabala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review- Dream Smashers by Angela Carlie

Autumn lives with her grandmother. Her mother is a drug addict and can’t be trusted. She only comes around when she needs money for her next fix. Autumn hangs out with best friend Rainy. She isn’t the best influence but Autumn likes her. They have a special place in an empty house where they hang out during the day when they don’t want to go to class. One day their place is discovered by Ace when he surprises them. He is a bit creepy and makes Autumn uncomfortable. After that things start to change. Rainy sets Autumn up with a boy named Evan. Autumn never really dates but reluctantly agrees to go.
Evan is sweet and a nice surprise for Autumn. After meeting Evan, Autumn starts questioning the things in her life. She needs more friends. She needs to try harder. However her mother, Jacinda, seems very interested these days also. In fact she likes to make scenes when she is around. She does everything she can to hurt Autumn, even keeping secrets about Autumn’s father.
Autumn is trying to be better and carefree. Her role model is a mysterious woman she sees driving a roadster. Autumn pictures what that woman’s life must be like and strives for it. Unfortunately reality is not the same. Autumn has issues with her mom and Rainy. Evan seems to be the calm she needs. She has to question her dreams and wants. When devastation hits, Autumn has to decide which direction she is going to turn.
The idea of this book was truly fascinating. The life that Autumn and Rainy have is dark and wanting. It’s great that the author showed how a teen’s life isn’t what you see in movies. However there was a strong religious tone to it. That is something I tend to not like in my stories. So that took away some of my favor for the story.
The ending was good and I was shocked at the turn of events that the author threw at me. I also liked the direction Autumn seems to be drifting toward especially after she met Evan. They were sweet together, exactly what they both needed.
For me the storyline was great but the religious aspect took away from it. I give it a 3 out of 5.

[Paula Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring!

Truly a very inspirational book, I loved how Autumn slowly found her way to cope with her personal Dream Smasher. Would recommend it to anyone!!

[Ashleigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even before I began to read Dream Smashers, I assumed it would be a book similar to Perfect Chemistry or The Tension of Opposites; two books revolving around teenagers, dark pasts, and romance. While Dream Smashers did revolve around all three of those things, it approached the subjects in an entirely different manner. A little less than halfway into the book, I realized the overlying theme was (to my surprise) Christianity. While I do believe in God or a higher power, I tend to steer clear of literature, movies, and music that revolve heavily around religious themes; they tend to strike me as too sappy or too preachy. Needless to say, I was a little disappointed when I realized Dream Smashers was going to explore the themes of redemption, faith, and forgiveness through religion. But I trudged on anyway and decided I would at least give the book a fair chance before I dismissed it completely. Dream Smashers was fairly short and as a result, the characters weren't as developed as I would have liked. Readers weren't given much of a chance to really get to know Rainy or Evan who took up large chunks of the book. I didn't feel that the setting was fully developed either and I could never really form a good picture of where the story was set. It wasn't a terrible book by any means, but the author should have taken the time to explore the setting, the characters, and their histories a little more than she did. As far as the religious aspect goes? Fortunately it wasn't laid on too heavily and though the Christian theme consistently hovered over the book, it didn't really take anything away from the story. Young adults (and adults) who aren't put off by the thought of reading a Christian book may appreciate Dream Smashers for what it is: a light, short, inspiring read. I however feel that the novel needs a little more substance to be effective.

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dream Smashers explores a very serious topic of Methamphetamine (Meth). It also informs me of how people act when they do drugs, like meth. Dream Smashers is not only informative, but also a great read!

I decided to read and review Dream Smashers because it talks about meth and is a Young Adult novel. I wanted to know more about meth and how it played out in this novel.

I really like the character Autumn. I feel like she has so much to deal with, such as her mother, the meth addict. Someone as young as her should not have to deal with situations like that. Actually, no one should have to deal with that. But she has to because her mother would not change, and I don’t blame her mother because I know it’s hard to get out of an addiction. Some harder than others, but it’s hard, period. Autumn seems like a sweet girl even though her mother abuses her. She has friends that care and that really helps a person out, having friends who care. Reading about Autumn makes me feel like I am in her shoes. It talks a lot about the things Autumn's mother do to Autumn as well. So you can really feel the feeling. The words feel so real and so does the pain. I could feel what she feels when I read Dream Smashers.

This story is beautiful and terrifying, but it draws you in. I think the author did a great job in including such a serious topic in a Young Adult novel. It ties in well with the story and it was an interesting read! Dream Smashers reminded me of the novel, Shine, because both books include serious topics. The author did a great job explaining how meth can affect a person. Great book, great author! A must read for those who enjoys books dealing with social issues.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t read the summary of what this book is about, so going into it, I thought it was going to be something of a paranormal nature. Surprisingly, it wasn’t what I expected at all, but at the end of the day it was such an unexpectedly beautiful and heartwarming story, I wasn’t sad at all about it not being anything paranormal.

“Dream Smashers” tells an uplifting story of a teen having to deal with a drug-addict mother and life in a neighborhood where drugs are rife. The author doesn’t cut any corners in bringing this gritty, harsh and shocking reality to life, and spares the reader no sugarcoating in describing Autumn’s mother, Jacinda, in every horrid little detail of what years of drug abuse has done to her physically and mentally.

Even the secondary characters each have a story to tell, and none of them live a perfect life. The story has a rather morbid feel to it, and the actions and dialogue of the characters sometimes took my breath away with the author’s no-holds-barred approach in keeping it as realistic as possible. “Dream Smashers” can easily be slotted into the Christian fiction category, but constant use of the f-bomb in the dialogue of some characters will be sure to step on some toes. There’s a definite and deliberate message to this story, one that is sure to inspire, and at the same time warn teens to the dangers of drug use and how it can ruin one’s life.

All in all this was a fantastic read. I finished it in less than two days and will definitely read more of this author’s books. Great job!

[A Book Vacation · Rating 4 out of 5]

To see my full review:

http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...

This is a novel I’ve heard so much about for such a long time, so I finally picked up a copy. And boy, was it good! Sixteen-year-old Autumn has had a difficult life, so it’s not surprising that she has some major trust issues. Her mother is addicted to meth and is less than stable, or caring, for that matter, and her harsh words towards her daughter and her mother leave invisible scars all across Autumn’s soul. But Evan, as ever persistent as he is, slowly begins to help Autumn heal; he’s almost too good to be true. Almost. I can’t say I’ve ever met a young man quite like Evan—I mean, I’ve certainly never met a guy who is so understanding or so good hearted, but I know young men like him do exist. Somewhere. Perhaps I’ll be lucky enough to meet one someday? Perhaps.

This novel is a true-life-drama; a raw story that will make the reader cry at some points, and smile from ear-to-ear at others. Though many of Autumn’s experiences are quite terrible, I really enjoyed this window into her heart as she learns to forgive, forget, and put her trust in those who truly love her. If you like novels that really look into the window of the soul, then this is the novel for you.

[Autumn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay. There was so much drama. Autumn's mom was annoying. I understand that that was kind of her purpose but the chapters from her point of view were just painful to read. I understand they were written in the way she would talk and think but the grammar was just so awful I had to re-read some parts to understand what was going on. I read reviews that Evan was really religious and that his character was annoying in flinging around his religion. At points I think this was true but not as much as I expected. I had a lot of beef with this book though. Autumn and Evan just kind of jump into things which is weird because she was so reluctant to even go on the date. The characters just weren't very consistent. There were some chapters where Autumn and Evan were interacting that Autumn just didn't seem like herself. Rainy was also inconsistent at points. I realize that she was supposed to change after going to her grandmother's but it was so drastic and she didn't stay there long. The scene in the forest between Autumn and Rainy was so intense and what happened to Autumn afterwards was too but neither of those issues was really concluded. Autumn doesn't find out who hit her. Autumn and Rainy don't talk about how it was pretty much Autumn's fault that James died. It was annoying to me.

[Yani · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://www.thesecretlifeofanavidreade...

Dream Smashers is a realistic, heart wrenching story about a girl named Autumn Spring Winters and the people in her life that "kill" her dreams. More like they make her feel her dreams aren't possible. She lives with her grandmother, has a homeless/alcoholic/druggie mother and her best friend is currently not make great life choices. I thought the story was powerful and emotional. Angela is a great writer, but for some reason I couldn't connect with the characters.

The format of the book is that it changes character POV every so often, which is something I like because I love being inside the heads of these very real and deep characters. At times I was really sucked in to the story and other times I was just reading. My biggest issue though, was with Evan. I totally believe that there are guys out there like him. His faith doesn't make him unbelievable, but it does make him hard to relate to. He's the type to say something like leave it in God's hand and really mean it, as much as I have faith (not that I am religious) I found him somewhat corny. He did grow on me though, and I think this book is worth taking a look at.

[Radiant · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book very randomly and i have to say it was different!It was a book with simple concept - Faith,it sure was good and emotional too..helps us connect with life and hope.

Autumn is a 16 year old who wants her life to be normal as normal she can get with a drug addicted mother who wants to make her life hell,a perky friend who can be annoying and a grandmother who tries to console her.

Evan is a very strong character who believes in Faith and Him and sees good in every person,when he meets autumn at a double date..he is intrigued by her and wants to be with her.Rainy was a annoying friend at first but she cares for Autumn and changes herself as times goes.

Circumstances and fate try to play and autumn is sucked into self pity for herself not able to come out of her shell,anger for her mother and many more accidents ..but Evan is like a sunshine in her dark life,even with all her baggage he accepts her,helps her family more than once ,supports her and gives her most importantly -Faith in Him and Faith in herself,to forgive herself and others.

The story was not big..but it sure is emotional and touches ur heart...and gives u a moment to think about your own life.

Sri.