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Dream Keeper Chronicles #1
The Dream Keeper
Dreams: Dorothy called it Oz, Alice called it Wonderland, but Nightmares call it HOME.
When an evil shifter takes over the gateway to the realm of Dreams, it falls to 14-year-olds Parker and Kaelyn to stop him. Their only hope lies with Gladamyr, the Dream Keeper, but can they trust a Nightmare to save their world?
When an evil shifter takes over the gateway to the realm of Dreams, it falls to 14-year-olds Parker and Kaelyn to stop him. Their only hope lies with Gladamyr, the Dream Keeper, but can they trust a Nightmare to save their world?
302 pages, Hardcover
First published May 15, 2013
56 people are currently reading
784 people want to read
About the author
Mikey Brooks
49 books48 followersMikey Brooks is a small child masquerading as adult. On occasion you’ll find him dancing the funky chicken, singing like a banshee, and pretending to have never grown up. He is the author/illustrator of several books including BEAN’S DRAGONS, the ABC ADVENTURES series, and author of the middle-grade fantasy-adventure novel, THE DREAM KEEPER. He spends most of his time playing with his daughters and working as a freelance illustrator. Mikey has a BS degree in Creative Writing from Utah State University. He is also one of the hosts of the Authors’ Think Tank Podcast.
Aside from writing and illustrating, Mikey also love to read middle-grade and young adult fiction, narrate picture books, sing, and even sew. That’s right he also sews! He’s made practically everything from, Elizabethan costumes for the Utah Shakespearean Festival, to modern style wedding dresses. Mikey’s greatest love is his family. He gets more than inspiration from them; he gets support, courage, and most of all happiness.
Aside from writing and illustrating, Mikey also love to read middle-grade and young adult fiction, narrate picture books, sing, and even sew. That’s right he also sews! He’s made practically everything from, Elizabethan costumes for the Utah Shakespearean Festival, to modern style wedding dresses. Mikey’s greatest love is his family. He gets more than inspiration from them; he gets support, courage, and most of all happiness.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
July 30, 2013
A fast-paced, can't-put-down adventure. Loved it! With fun characters and a fascinating plot, I highly recommend the Dream Keeper! The best of middle grade!
December 4, 2013
Mikey Brooks takes thrill ride to a whole other level. The Dream Keeper is an action pact adventure that will leave you wanting more. Never knowing where the adventure is going to take you or what may be lurking in the shadows of the next page kept me entertained for a good couple of hours. I was taken into the dream realm right beside Parker and Kaelyn in hopes that they could defeat Fyren with Gladamyr's help. This story never once stopped the thrill ride it just kept coming page after page. I am going to say that The Dream Keeper is one heck of a book that I am happy to have got the chance to read. I will for sure to be adding this to my shelf of favorites right up there with a couple of other of my favorite series. I can't wait to see what book two has in store for me.
May 15, 2013
When I was in school, long long ago, there were two distinct classes of people (and then there were others who somehow managed to skate through both groups). I don't think the group I belonged to really had a name. The other group was The Snobs. They were better looking than the rest of us (or so they thought), were better at everything (or so they thought), and were just better overall (or so they thought). They were the worst bullies, the meanest of the mean. Yet, somehow, they still had friends. I always thought the opposite should have been true. The group I belonged to were victims. In The Dream Keeper, they are The Losers. The Snobs are called The Plastics (think of Barbie dolls). Kaelynn has just moved into town and was branded a Loser almost instantly. She's quiet, maybe a bit timid, not stick thin, and not a Plastic. To make things worse, she's an orphan who lives with her Aunt Zelda, who just happens to be something of a local celebrity. She's a popular psychic. School gets almost unbearable for Kaelymm, and then she meets fellow ninth grader Parker Bennett.
I would consider Parker to be one of the skaters. One of the in betweens. He's pretty nice to everyone, well liked by most, considered one of the In Crowd by the Plastics, but also doesn't pick on the Losers. His greatest fear is becoming one of the Losers and he has learned how to walk the fine line of acceptability. He literally bumps into Kaelynn at school, and when his friends see him with her, he feels like he is at the top of the slide down to Loserville. Things get even more uncomfortable when he goes to sleep and finds himself in a dream with Kaelynn. Literally. He does convince himself that it wasn't real, but when she confronts him with knowledge of the dream the next day and tells him they have to go back to sleep-together-in order to save their world and the world of Dreams, he begins to think that the stuff in his favorite video games might be more real than he thought.
The world of Dreams is a real place, created by mortals and their sleeping thoughts. Favors are the purveyors of good dreams, Mares, bad dreams. Gladamyr was born a Mare, the Heart of Mares, in fact, but he hated being evil, was never able to accept that he was meant to be bad, used to scare children and adults alike. His mentor Allyon finally convinced him that he could make the choice, and Gladamyr chooses to be kind rather than evil. He becomes a Dream Keeper, one who guides mortals through their dream state. Some of them have nightmares, some of them have dreams, but Gladamyr is determined to be a comfort to those who have nightmares.
Mega-Bad Guy and Head Mare Fyren has gotten rid of Allyon, taken over the council and is on the hunt for Gladamyr. He puts a halt to all dream keeper activity and this is a bad thing for the world of mortals. Mortals require REM sleep, or dream sleep, and without it, we go insane and would eventually die (that's true-I heard it on Star Trek). Fyren wants to tip the balance between Mare and Favor in favor of Mare (had to say it). His reasons for wanting Gladamyr in particular are unclear, but Gladamyr knows that if he is to save the mortal world and the world of Dreams, he is going to need help from mortals. He had accidentally kept the keys of two mortals after their last dreams, and now he needs to use them. The Dream Keeper who holds a mortal's key guides that mortal's dreams when they are asleep. The two keys belong to Kaelynn and Parker, and Gladamyr has no one else to turn to when Fyren takes over Dreams, tortures Dream Keepers and holds them hostage, sets the evil Mares loose to wreak havoc, and will not allow mortals to dream.
Kaelynn and Parker find out that they are not Losers at all. They are strong and courageous, and even find special powers of their own to help save the two worlds. They pledge their help to Gladamyr and his friends Cerulean, Felix, and Pirate Cap'n Loofah Bootie in Dreams. They enlist the help of some very special fellow mortals, and Gladamyr is forced to face his evil past in order to defeat Fyren and restore balance to Dreams.
I found the story to be uniquely imaginitive and very creative. It was well written and the feelings of ninth graders was right on the money. I will be recommending it to all my middle grade and young adult friends!
I would consider Parker to be one of the skaters. One of the in betweens. He's pretty nice to everyone, well liked by most, considered one of the In Crowd by the Plastics, but also doesn't pick on the Losers. His greatest fear is becoming one of the Losers and he has learned how to walk the fine line of acceptability. He literally bumps into Kaelynn at school, and when his friends see him with her, he feels like he is at the top of the slide down to Loserville. Things get even more uncomfortable when he goes to sleep and finds himself in a dream with Kaelynn. Literally. He does convince himself that it wasn't real, but when she confronts him with knowledge of the dream the next day and tells him they have to go back to sleep-together-in order to save their world and the world of Dreams, he begins to think that the stuff in his favorite video games might be more real than he thought.
The world of Dreams is a real place, created by mortals and their sleeping thoughts. Favors are the purveyors of good dreams, Mares, bad dreams. Gladamyr was born a Mare, the Heart of Mares, in fact, but he hated being evil, was never able to accept that he was meant to be bad, used to scare children and adults alike. His mentor Allyon finally convinced him that he could make the choice, and Gladamyr chooses to be kind rather than evil. He becomes a Dream Keeper, one who guides mortals through their dream state. Some of them have nightmares, some of them have dreams, but Gladamyr is determined to be a comfort to those who have nightmares.
Mega-Bad Guy and Head Mare Fyren has gotten rid of Allyon, taken over the council and is on the hunt for Gladamyr. He puts a halt to all dream keeper activity and this is a bad thing for the world of mortals. Mortals require REM sleep, or dream sleep, and without it, we go insane and would eventually die (that's true-I heard it on Star Trek). Fyren wants to tip the balance between Mare and Favor in favor of Mare (had to say it). His reasons for wanting Gladamyr in particular are unclear, but Gladamyr knows that if he is to save the mortal world and the world of Dreams, he is going to need help from mortals. He had accidentally kept the keys of two mortals after their last dreams, and now he needs to use them. The Dream Keeper who holds a mortal's key guides that mortal's dreams when they are asleep. The two keys belong to Kaelynn and Parker, and Gladamyr has no one else to turn to when Fyren takes over Dreams, tortures Dream Keepers and holds them hostage, sets the evil Mares loose to wreak havoc, and will not allow mortals to dream.
Kaelynn and Parker find out that they are not Losers at all. They are strong and courageous, and even find special powers of their own to help save the two worlds. They pledge their help to Gladamyr and his friends Cerulean, Felix, and Pirate Cap'n Loofah Bootie in Dreams. They enlist the help of some very special fellow mortals, and Gladamyr is forced to face his evil past in order to defeat Fyren and restore balance to Dreams.
I found the story to be uniquely imaginitive and very creative. It was well written and the feelings of ninth graders was right on the money. I will be recommending it to all my middle grade and young adult friends!
October 16, 2016
Crítica em Português @ Pepita Mágica
actual rating: 4.5*
I won’t do any suspense about what I thought about this book: I LOVED IT! I don’t know what I was expecting of it, I just read the synopsis and it seemed interesting and, I must confess, it was the Wonderland reference that made me want to read it. I didn’t feel any Wonderland-ish thing in this book, but I’m glad that reference made me read this book, because it was one of the best books I read in a long time.
The Dream Keeper is the first instalment of Dream Keeper Chronicles, in which we follow the story through three different characters’ eyes: Parker, Kaelyn, two young humans, and Gladamyr, the Dream Keeper. I won’t get into how this world, Dreams, was created, because it is part of the development of the story, and it will be revealed when it’s necessary. But in short, and it’s something we know right from the beginning of the book, Dreams is where we, humans, go when we fall asleep. We don’t just fall asleep and dream – that is not that simple. We go to Dreams, and this place is divided into two parts – Favour and Mares (thus the distinction between dream and nightmare, and it’s its balance that our world and Dreams are stable). Gladamyr is not any Dream Keeper, since he was born in the centre of the Mares – the part where we go when we have a nightmare, but we learn with this book that it’s not the place where we were born that define us, but what we stand for does.
Obviously, there is a monster in Dreams that what to do bad things (I won’t say why – JUST READ THE BOOK!) and stops people from fall asleep – which leads to some instability in both Dreams, and our world, since people is getting irritated and moody (who never got moody when had a bad night? Now imagine all the consequences that would come from everyone sleep deprived… all the health problems, either mental or physical). Only Parker and Kaelyn can get into Dreams, because Gladamyr forgot to take their keys to a safe place (which is the way humans can get into Dreams, and they are protected by the Dream Keepers). WE should not see Dreams as it is, because we are “stuck” in our dreams and nightmares, but using the Dreamstone, Gladamyr allows Parker and Kaelyn to see the reality. And that is as much as I will write about the plot.
I loved the writing and the story – which I didn’t read faster for lack of time. I will, definitely, look for the rest of the books and read them all.
actual rating: 4.5*
I won’t do any suspense about what I thought about this book: I LOVED IT! I don’t know what I was expecting of it, I just read the synopsis and it seemed interesting and, I must confess, it was the Wonderland reference that made me want to read it. I didn’t feel any Wonderland-ish thing in this book, but I’m glad that reference made me read this book, because it was one of the best books I read in a long time.
The Dream Keeper is the first instalment of Dream Keeper Chronicles, in which we follow the story through three different characters’ eyes: Parker, Kaelyn, two young humans, and Gladamyr, the Dream Keeper. I won’t get into how this world, Dreams, was created, because it is part of the development of the story, and it will be revealed when it’s necessary. But in short, and it’s something we know right from the beginning of the book, Dreams is where we, humans, go when we fall asleep. We don’t just fall asleep and dream – that is not that simple. We go to Dreams, and this place is divided into two parts – Favour and Mares (thus the distinction between dream and nightmare, and it’s its balance that our world and Dreams are stable). Gladamyr is not any Dream Keeper, since he was born in the centre of the Mares – the part where we go when we have a nightmare, but we learn with this book that it’s not the place where we were born that define us, but what we stand for does.
Obviously, there is a monster in Dreams that what to do bad things (I won’t say why – JUST READ THE BOOK!) and stops people from fall asleep – which leads to some instability in both Dreams, and our world, since people is getting irritated and moody (who never got moody when had a bad night? Now imagine all the consequences that would come from everyone sleep deprived… all the health problems, either mental or physical). Only Parker and Kaelyn can get into Dreams, because Gladamyr forgot to take their keys to a safe place (which is the way humans can get into Dreams, and they are protected by the Dream Keepers). WE should not see Dreams as it is, because we are “stuck” in our dreams and nightmares, but using the Dreamstone, Gladamyr allows Parker and Kaelyn to see the reality. And that is as much as I will write about the plot.
I loved the writing and the story – which I didn’t read faster for lack of time. I will, definitely, look for the rest of the books and read them all.
December 2, 2013
The Dream Keeper by Mikey Brooks tells the story of Parker and Kaelyn, two teenagers who must work with Dream Keeper Gladamyr in order to defeat Fyren and save Dreams. it is aimed at middle grade readers and to be perfectly honest I struggled to finish the book. Harry Potter or Percy Jackson this is definitely not. It is the first in a series, but I doubt I will be reading the next one.
What I liked
The concept. I thought the concept was interesting and well thought out – sleeping humans being sent to either Mares or Favor and the impact an imbalance in those two realms could have. I would have liked to have seen more of the impact of dream deprivation on the human population to show just how devastating that could be. I did feel though that the author had the magic system well thought out and planned.
Gladamyr. I felt this character was interesting and intriguing. I liked his history and that it was his choices that made him what he is in the story.
What I didn’t like
The writing style. In fairness, I received an advanced readers copy of this book via Netgalley so some things may have been improved. This was by far my biggest issue with the book. The writing style was clumsy, contained grammatical errors and also metaphors that made no sense. The vocabulary used was not extensive, although that may have been a conscious choice given the audience at which it is aimed.
I felt also that the structure could have been improved. For example on learning of a certain character’s disappearance we see Gladamyr’s reaction. It’s only later that we see some of the relationship between the two to explain why he reacted in that way. It would have been a much stronger scene in my opinion if we’d seen more of that relationship beforehand.
Bland main characters. I felt Kaelyn and Parker were very much stock teenage characters. While they were consistent and reasonably relatable there was little I found to distinguish them from all the other YA characters out there. I felt more invested in Gladamyr than in these two.
All in all, I cannot in all honesty recommend The Dream Keeper. Naturally you may have a different opinion, but I gave it two stars out of five.
What I liked
The concept. I thought the concept was interesting and well thought out – sleeping humans being sent to either Mares or Favor and the impact an imbalance in those two realms could have. I would have liked to have seen more of the impact of dream deprivation on the human population to show just how devastating that could be. I did feel though that the author had the magic system well thought out and planned.
Gladamyr. I felt this character was interesting and intriguing. I liked his history and that it was his choices that made him what he is in the story.
What I didn’t like
The writing style. In fairness, I received an advanced readers copy of this book via Netgalley so some things may have been improved. This was by far my biggest issue with the book. The writing style was clumsy, contained grammatical errors and also metaphors that made no sense. The vocabulary used was not extensive, although that may have been a conscious choice given the audience at which it is aimed.
I felt also that the structure could have been improved. For example on learning of a certain character’s disappearance we see Gladamyr’s reaction. It’s only later that we see some of the relationship between the two to explain why he reacted in that way. It would have been a much stronger scene in my opinion if we’d seen more of that relationship beforehand.
Bland main characters. I felt Kaelyn and Parker were very much stock teenage characters. While they were consistent and reasonably relatable there was little I found to distinguish them from all the other YA characters out there. I felt more invested in Gladamyr than in these two.
All in all, I cannot in all honesty recommend The Dream Keeper. Naturally you may have a different opinion, but I gave it two stars out of five.
June 16, 2014
Never fear to dream…
Parker just wants to master his video games and maintain a degree of coolness at school. He never asked to be sucked into Dreams. He didn’t want to be paired with a “loser” or discover a plot with the potential to destroy both the world of Dreams and the world of Awake (our world). He’s just a gamer, not a hero. But when he accepts just who he is, he finds he’s capable of anything.
Mikey Brooks has created a vibrant, wild world with a host of fabulous characters. My favorite is Gladamyr—the “Mare (nightmare) who loved.” What a great contradiction and an effective means to illustrate the book’s theme, that of the balance between good and evil. The two kid heroes, Parker and Kaelyn, are likeable and internalize some great life lessons during their adventure. And there’s a whole slew of others: Zelda, the eccentric psychic; Cerulean (these guys have great names, don’t they?), the tough-as-nails boss with the gentle heart; a handless and footless pirate; a Mare clown that juggles chickens. These are characters with a lot of character.
I really appreciate that Mr. Brooks keeps his language completely clean. There are some violent moments, but they’re dreamlike and kid-friendly. In fact, the setting and plot are very dreamlike—totally appropriate for the story, but my realism loving brain sometimes found the chaos a little hard to process. (That part reminded me a bit of Alice in Wonderland.) And the prose does get a litte rough in places. But there are far more positives than negatives, such as this great quote: “It wasn’t what appeared on the outside that made someone who they were, but what reflected on the inside.” Or, “Remember that the choices you make will not only lead you in a direction, they make you who you are.”
I enjoyed the imagination, detail, and positive thinking that went into this one.
Parker just wants to master his video games and maintain a degree of coolness at school. He never asked to be sucked into Dreams. He didn’t want to be paired with a “loser” or discover a plot with the potential to destroy both the world of Dreams and the world of Awake (our world). He’s just a gamer, not a hero. But when he accepts just who he is, he finds he’s capable of anything.
Mikey Brooks has created a vibrant, wild world with a host of fabulous characters. My favorite is Gladamyr—the “Mare (nightmare) who loved.” What a great contradiction and an effective means to illustrate the book’s theme, that of the balance between good and evil. The two kid heroes, Parker and Kaelyn, are likeable and internalize some great life lessons during their adventure. And there’s a whole slew of others: Zelda, the eccentric psychic; Cerulean (these guys have great names, don’t they?), the tough-as-nails boss with the gentle heart; a handless and footless pirate; a Mare clown that juggles chickens. These are characters with a lot of character.
I really appreciate that Mr. Brooks keeps his language completely clean. There are some violent moments, but they’re dreamlike and kid-friendly. In fact, the setting and plot are very dreamlike—totally appropriate for the story, but my realism loving brain sometimes found the chaos a little hard to process. (That part reminded me a bit of Alice in Wonderland.) And the prose does get a litte rough in places. But there are far more positives than negatives, such as this great quote: “It wasn’t what appeared on the outside that made someone who they were, but what reflected on the inside.” Or, “Remember that the choices you make will not only lead you in a direction, they make you who you are.”
I enjoyed the imagination, detail, and positive thinking that went into this one.
March 27, 2014
An interesting and imaginative novel that works on several different levels. Ultimately, it is an adventure novel - the forces of good against the forces of darkness as Parker and Kaelyn help Dream Keeper Gladamyr fight against the evil usurper of the Dream realms.
Underneath that, however, is a storyline that will strike a chord with many of the young readers - ages probably 11+ - and that is the desire to be popular: Parker doesn't want to be branded a "loser" so badly that he is prepared to lie to his friends over something of no more consequence than a computer game; for Kaelyn it's too late - the "Plastic" crowd have already branded her as such, all because of her aunt Zelda, a psychic. Self doubt and loathing plague her throughout the story, but are interspersed with some true acts of heroism that really make her shine.
Add into this: the magical setting of the Dream world; Gladamyr - a Dream Keeper whose mere existence proves that your birth does not shape your destiny; a villain set on destroying the human race; the trials and tribulations of trying to "keep cool in school" and you've got an enchanting story, a fast-paced, diverse and slightyl surreal adventure and an overall jolly fine read.
Ebook provided via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!
Underneath that, however, is a storyline that will strike a chord with many of the young readers - ages probably 11+ - and that is the desire to be popular: Parker doesn't want to be branded a "loser" so badly that he is prepared to lie to his friends over something of no more consequence than a computer game; for Kaelyn it's too late - the "Plastic" crowd have already branded her as such, all because of her aunt Zelda, a psychic. Self doubt and loathing plague her throughout the story, but are interspersed with some true acts of heroism that really make her shine.
Add into this: the magical setting of the Dream world; Gladamyr - a Dream Keeper whose mere existence proves that your birth does not shape your destiny; a villain set on destroying the human race; the trials and tribulations of trying to "keep cool in school" and you've got an enchanting story, a fast-paced, diverse and slightyl surreal adventure and an overall jolly fine read.
Ebook provided via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!
May 19, 2013
Humans Parker and Kaelynn join Gladamyr, the Dream Keeper, on an adventure to save the real world and the dream world. Gladamyr is a kind-hearted ex-Mare, so unlike his evil counterpart Fyren who wants to fill the world with nightmares. Peter and Kaelynn surprise themselves as they discover what they are capable of while fighting this evil villain. Both had wonderful character arcs. I enjoyed Gladamyr's journey also.
I loved this story as did my 14 year old son. It was well written, cleaver, and held both of our interest. For me it had the charm of the earlier Harry Potter books (though it is a completely different story).
I recommend this to anyone liking mystery, fantasy…and if you are suffering with nightmares. Great Job, Mikey Brooks!
P.S. Awesome cover!
I loved this story as did my 14 year old son. It was well written, cleaver, and held both of our interest. For me it had the charm of the earlier Harry Potter books (though it is a completely different story).
I recommend this to anyone liking mystery, fantasy…and if you are suffering with nightmares. Great Job, Mikey Brooks!
P.S. Awesome cover!
May 16, 2013
The Dream Keeper really is a cracking novel. Mikey Brooks writes with passion and understanding, so much so that his characters come alive right off the page. I’ve rarely read a book so action-packed and spellbinding! Parker and Kaelyn’s struggles to stop renegade Nightmare Fyren from turning the land of Dreams into a Nightmare’s playground are compelling and exciting. Their journey from 9th grade Losers to fully rounded, self-aware teens is a theme that adds to the book’s attraction. I love this book now – I wish I could have read it when I was 14!
June 3, 2013
This book has such a gorgeous cover.It is such a fun book too, full of imagination and adventure. I love the concept of our dreams being an actual place. This book is great for anyone who likes fantasy, but is definitely targeted to younger teens. I think it would be a great book for boys, especially ones don't normally like to read because it has quite a few video game references that they could relate to. I enjoyed escaping into the world of Dreams that Mikey created without having to actually fall asleep. For me, that is what reading is all about--dreams and imagination coming to life.
May 9, 2013
If you like Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Fablehaven, or the Harry Potter, you'll love this! This was an exceptional book. I love the concept from the beginning. I will definitely be anxiously awaiting the next book. It was action-packed and filled with twists that can only happen in a dreamworld. Go read it!!
September 1, 2013
Two real 14 year olds go k to an adventure to save the world and a dream world, and in the dream world they meet Gladamyr who is a dream keeper. As they go on this big adventure u learn about your characters and you might just be able to connect with them.
August 3, 2016
The Dream Keeper is full of adventure, danger and newfound friendships. Mikey Brooks weaves a magical spell that immerses you in every page.
June 20, 2013
What a a fun and different book! I loved it. Very inventive.
August 13, 2016
Comparing world building techniques between two debut authors.
Saladin Ahmed: “Some readers/writers want scrupulous mimesis of an otherworld. Some want impressionistic wonder. No inherent right/wrong/better/worse there.”
Basically, like any genre, readers have preferences. There are those who want every detail of the world the author is creating, they are hungry to know how, why and what of the world they are reading about. Then there are readers who want the world believable but are more interested in the storytelling and what motivates the characters in relation to the world. I fall somewhere in between.
Appreciating awesome world building is easy, but if there aren't characters I care about and cheer for, I lose interest. At the risk of slighting the God of world building, this is what Tolkien was for me. Once I understood the world, I lost interest, and it wasn't because the only real woman was an ethereal elf. (Though I did find it strange.)
I can only tolerate so many characters running to and fro in an endless journey where they narrowly escape strange beasts and creatures through fighting, fighting and more fighting. But that's just me, I own it. To clarify, I love interesting details but they have to have an effect on the plot. I can get into an interesting weapon that's being used, or a belief system, but show me how it works, don't tell me.
So when I evaluate a book and its use of world building I have several things I look for.
1. Opening Paragraphs: Do I care about this new world enough to immerse myself into it? What about the characters? Is there enough conflict to keep me interested?
2. Confidence: Does the writer's voice exude confidence, not just that the world is unique, but it's apparent that the author believes in his world.
3. Is the world complete and well rounded: Enough details to understand how the world works but not so many that there are pages of explanation about political, economic or cultural information that has no baring on the plot.
4. Does the world building get in the way of the narrative. Are there so many details, life forms, cultural strata, political posturing that the narrative begins to get lost in explanations.
5. Storytelling: World building is a tool that an author uses to ultimately tell a story. The story and its conflicts must be compelling. Is the ending satisfying?
What I Thought: Overall, both these books were a good read and I look forward to seeing more from both of these authors.
The Lost Planet
by Rachel Searles
About The Book: This is what the boy is told:
• He woke up on planet Trucon, inside a fence he shouldn't have been able to pass.
• He has an annirad blaster wound to the back of his head.
• He has no memory.
• He is now under the protection of a mysterious benefactor.
• His name is Chase Garrety.
This is what Chase Garrety knows:
• He has a message: "Guide the star."
• Time is running out.
First Line: The boy opened his eyes to a sky the color of melted butter and a sense of inexplicable terror.
DreamKeeper by Mikey Brooks
About The Book:
Dreams: Dorothy called it Oz, Alice called it Wonderland, but Nightmares call it HOME.
When an evil shifter takes over the gateway to the realm of Dreams, it falls to 14-year-olds Parker and Kaelyn to stop him. Their only hope lies with Gladamyr, the Dream Keeper, but can they trust a Nightmare to save their world?
First Line: Parker was about to assassinate the general of the goblin army.
1. The opening paragraphs are equally compelling. In The Lost Planet we meet our protagonist waking up in a strange place with no memory.
In Dreamkeeper were whisked into an intense battle that we soon learn is a game on a console. This could have been a let down, except the author grabs his reader emotionally. Parker our protagonist, suffers his game screen turning to black because his mother has called him to do his homework.
Both books give us a compelling reason to continue to read because of the questions we, as readers want to find out. Who is the boy with no memory in a strange place and why is Parker so upset about not finishing the game. The premise of a Dream world impacting the real world was intriguing as was the idea of a lost planet.
2. Serles confident introduction of her world contrasts with Brooks need to tell every detail. While I'm uneasy about learning peripheral characters names first in The Lost Planet it helps me identify with the main character. The reader is learning about this strange world along with the main character. An excellent job of sprinkling in just enough detail naturally that I trust Searles knows this world.
Since Brooks immerses the reader in an accurate portrayal of school and the conflicts that are inherent in that environment we can believe this part of his world. When he begins to introduce the Dream world that is when Brooks seems to lose focus and seems more intent on explaining his world than telling the story, almost like he's trying to convince the reader of the logic of his world.
3. This is where the books split and there is a distinct difference in the detail and information about each prospective world and how it is presented.
Searles is adept at adding just enough detail and each page reveals some new and interesting detail that keeps the reader interested. The characters are interesting, have depth and the world is discovered through their action in the world. There are no long passages of explanation about the world but there is non-stop adventure and bits and pieces of the the world are revealed.
Brooks middle grade world is awesome, showing all the social clicks and realities that exist. When it comes to the world of dreams, I felt that much of the information came as information dumps in the form of conversation. Sometimes you can have too many details and the reader has too much to keep track of. This is what happens when an author wants to explain everything about the world to the reader. If the details aren't necessary to move the story along, it shouldn't be there.
4. As much as I loved the premise of Brooks dream world, the explanations of how it works, how humans pass from one place to another and the number of additional characters created a choppy narrative. I also felt the constant jump back and forth was jolting at times.
Searles details didn't get in the way of the narrative and there weren't any lulls in the action as the author explained the workings of the world. I think the narrative used the device of world building effectively to move the story forward.
5. When a story is successfully told, the combination of interesting characters, compelling plot and satisfying narrative are what ultimately stands out and the world building serves the narrative. This is where both books came up a bit short for me.
Searles pulled me all the way to the last page and then left me there, unsatisfied. If you're going to take me on this journey, I have to have some answers by the end of the book, some closure. I felt that it just suddenly ended. The author obviously has more of the story to tell but chopped it mid-action, which sometimes occurs when an author wants to write a sequel.
I really wanted to like Brooks story, so I pushed through even though I got bogged down several times in details. Except for fight scenes and interactions at the school, most details were shared in the form of telling instead of showing. That said, the story does tie up many important loose ends in the narrative and has a satisfying ending.
Saladin Ahmed: “Some readers/writers want scrupulous mimesis of an otherworld. Some want impressionistic wonder. No inherent right/wrong/better/worse there.”
Basically, like any genre, readers have preferences. There are those who want every detail of the world the author is creating, they are hungry to know how, why and what of the world they are reading about. Then there are readers who want the world believable but are more interested in the storytelling and what motivates the characters in relation to the world. I fall somewhere in between.
Appreciating awesome world building is easy, but if there aren't characters I care about and cheer for, I lose interest. At the risk of slighting the God of world building, this is what Tolkien was for me. Once I understood the world, I lost interest, and it wasn't because the only real woman was an ethereal elf. (Though I did find it strange.)
I can only tolerate so many characters running to and fro in an endless journey where they narrowly escape strange beasts and creatures through fighting, fighting and more fighting. But that's just me, I own it. To clarify, I love interesting details but they have to have an effect on the plot. I can get into an interesting weapon that's being used, or a belief system, but show me how it works, don't tell me.
So when I evaluate a book and its use of world building I have several things I look for.
1. Opening Paragraphs: Do I care about this new world enough to immerse myself into it? What about the characters? Is there enough conflict to keep me interested?
2. Confidence: Does the writer's voice exude confidence, not just that the world is unique, but it's apparent that the author believes in his world.
3. Is the world complete and well rounded: Enough details to understand how the world works but not so many that there are pages of explanation about political, economic or cultural information that has no baring on the plot.
4. Does the world building get in the way of the narrative. Are there so many details, life forms, cultural strata, political posturing that the narrative begins to get lost in explanations.
5. Storytelling: World building is a tool that an author uses to ultimately tell a story. The story and its conflicts must be compelling. Is the ending satisfying?
What I Thought: Overall, both these books were a good read and I look forward to seeing more from both of these authors.
The Lost Planet
by Rachel Searles
About The Book: This is what the boy is told:
• He woke up on planet Trucon, inside a fence he shouldn't have been able to pass.
• He has an annirad blaster wound to the back of his head.
• He has no memory.
• He is now under the protection of a mysterious benefactor.
• His name is Chase Garrety.
This is what Chase Garrety knows:
• He has a message: "Guide the star."
• Time is running out.
First Line: The boy opened his eyes to a sky the color of melted butter and a sense of inexplicable terror.
DreamKeeper by Mikey Brooks
About The Book:
Dreams: Dorothy called it Oz, Alice called it Wonderland, but Nightmares call it HOME.
When an evil shifter takes over the gateway to the realm of Dreams, it falls to 14-year-olds Parker and Kaelyn to stop him. Their only hope lies with Gladamyr, the Dream Keeper, but can they trust a Nightmare to save their world?
First Line: Parker was about to assassinate the general of the goblin army.
1. The opening paragraphs are equally compelling. In The Lost Planet we meet our protagonist waking up in a strange place with no memory.
In Dreamkeeper were whisked into an intense battle that we soon learn is a game on a console. This could have been a let down, except the author grabs his reader emotionally. Parker our protagonist, suffers his game screen turning to black because his mother has called him to do his homework.
Both books give us a compelling reason to continue to read because of the questions we, as readers want to find out. Who is the boy with no memory in a strange place and why is Parker so upset about not finishing the game. The premise of a Dream world impacting the real world was intriguing as was the idea of a lost planet.
2. Serles confident introduction of her world contrasts with Brooks need to tell every detail. While I'm uneasy about learning peripheral characters names first in The Lost Planet it helps me identify with the main character. The reader is learning about this strange world along with the main character. An excellent job of sprinkling in just enough detail naturally that I trust Searles knows this world.
Since Brooks immerses the reader in an accurate portrayal of school and the conflicts that are inherent in that environment we can believe this part of his world. When he begins to introduce the Dream world that is when Brooks seems to lose focus and seems more intent on explaining his world than telling the story, almost like he's trying to convince the reader of the logic of his world.
3. This is where the books split and there is a distinct difference in the detail and information about each prospective world and how it is presented.
Searles is adept at adding just enough detail and each page reveals some new and interesting detail that keeps the reader interested. The characters are interesting, have depth and the world is discovered through their action in the world. There are no long passages of explanation about the world but there is non-stop adventure and bits and pieces of the the world are revealed.
Brooks middle grade world is awesome, showing all the social clicks and realities that exist. When it comes to the world of dreams, I felt that much of the information came as information dumps in the form of conversation. Sometimes you can have too many details and the reader has too much to keep track of. This is what happens when an author wants to explain everything about the world to the reader. If the details aren't necessary to move the story along, it shouldn't be there.
4. As much as I loved the premise of Brooks dream world, the explanations of how it works, how humans pass from one place to another and the number of additional characters created a choppy narrative. I also felt the constant jump back and forth was jolting at times.
Searles details didn't get in the way of the narrative and there weren't any lulls in the action as the author explained the workings of the world. I think the narrative used the device of world building effectively to move the story forward.
5. When a story is successfully told, the combination of interesting characters, compelling plot and satisfying narrative are what ultimately stands out and the world building serves the narrative. This is where both books came up a bit short for me.
Searles pulled me all the way to the last page and then left me there, unsatisfied. If you're going to take me on this journey, I have to have some answers by the end of the book, some closure. I felt that it just suddenly ended. The author obviously has more of the story to tell but chopped it mid-action, which sometimes occurs when an author wants to write a sequel.
I really wanted to like Brooks story, so I pushed through even though I got bogged down several times in details. Except for fight scenes and interactions at the school, most details were shared in the form of telling instead of showing. That said, the story does tie up many important loose ends in the narrative and has a satisfying ending.
May 4, 2015
Book – The Dream Keeper (The Dream Keeper Chronicles - Book 1)
Author – Mikey Brooks
Star rating - ★★★★☆
Plot – very entertaining, original, good flow
Characters – loved all the characters and how detailed they were
Movie Potential - ★★★★★
Ease of reading – very easy to read
Cover - ✔
Suitable Title - ✔
Would I read it again - ✔
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
The book is really nicely presented, with chapter headings and good formatting. I didn't notice any spelling or grammar mistakes, and if there were any they were so unobtrusive to the reading of the story that I never caught them.
We come into the story, in the middle of events, which I love. I really think Gladamyr is a brilliant character, who holds the others together. The very idea of the world of Dreams, and how it connects to the moral (human) world is so clever and original. I've never seen it done before.
Gladamyr is a Mare – a nightmare creature created by a human child. He's also one of those tortured souls who is born to be bad, but yearns to be good. I really felt his struggle, time and again, even when the story wasn't told through his POV. At the end of every chapter, I couldn't wait to see what he did next, or what the children did. I think making Gladamyr a shape shifter was believable and wasn't just a clever twist to the story, so that he could become what they needed in their time of need. His gift didn't always help him or save who he wanted to save, so desperately.
Continuing on from that, I don't think there was any aspect of the story that was specifically designed to be a help or hindrance to the characters, purely to push the story along. When I read a fantasy book, especially one for teens or a YA audience such as this book, I want every aspect to be wholly believable and reasonable. I don't want the characters doing anything silly, just because it's a fantasy book and anything goes. Everything in this book was made true and honest to the world it was set in and the characters who lived it.
I really love the two human kids; Parker and Kaelyn. They're your typical high school kids, caught up in high school politics, until something much more important comes along. Parker is a typical teenage boy, caught in the confusing middle ground of popularity, where he's popular enough, but he's also one mistake from social ruin. Kaelyn is the opposite; she's already at the bottom of the social register at school, lost and doubting herself. Her aunt is a psychic, which doesn't help her popularity, and Kaelyn has an inner critic, telling her that she's fat and ugly, which should explain why no-one likes her. We learn from her aunt, Zelda, that she's just curvaceous. Both kids need to learn to stand up for themselves in different way and do so throughout the book.
I was so impressed with the way that the author developed the children. Not only did they learn from each other and still have to battle their own fears and doubts, right until the end of the story, but they learned about each other and about themselves, as they did so. There were times when I got angry with Parker for saying something, later on in the book, that he should have known better than to say. But then he would apologise and see that it was wrong. Kaelyn would do the same; taking a compliment as criticism and then getting mad about it. I loved how they interacted together, protecting and caring for each other, even when they didn't want to. I love that Parker shows Kaelyn that she's not the social reject she thinks she is and that he learns to appreciate her for who she is. I love that Kaelyn teaches Parker to think for himself and not let the other kids at school dictate how he acts or what he says.
Together, these kids have an adventure, but the most important adventure, I feel, is that they are starting to discover who they really are. Away from social high school dramas, they've grown and learned things that no-one but each other could teach them.
There were only three problems I had with this book.
1. The texting. I'm glad the author put in brackets what they were saying, because I've never seen texting like this before. It would have been easier to either insert the bracketed text on its own or create a shortened version of the words that still made sense.
2. There are phrases like 'whack job' that are reworked as 'quack job'. Simple, common phrases have been changed in minor ways, but every time the new version came along, it surprised me and jarred me out of the reading.
3. Sometimes it was hard to imagine the fight scenes or the creatures that the Mares and Gladamyr turned into. There's something a lot going on, so stopping to try to imagine these unfamiliar creatures did disrupt the reading and I often had to read the description over a few times, to get a clear picture in my head.
Overall, I find the story captivating, intriguing and original. The only thing I've ever read that could touch it, is my all time favourite YA series, Dragons in Our Midst, by Brian Davis. I loved the simple, dream like quality of each new adventure and how it was something that either child would want to step into. The more I read of Parker, Kaelyn and Gladamyr, the more I like them and see them growing. The ending took me by surprise. I can't wait to read book 2, to find out where it leads.
Author – Mikey Brooks
Star rating - ★★★★☆
Plot – very entertaining, original, good flow
Characters – loved all the characters and how detailed they were
Movie Potential - ★★★★★
Ease of reading – very easy to read
Cover - ✔
Suitable Title - ✔
Would I read it again - ✔
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
The book is really nicely presented, with chapter headings and good formatting. I didn't notice any spelling or grammar mistakes, and if there were any they were so unobtrusive to the reading of the story that I never caught them.
We come into the story, in the middle of events, which I love. I really think Gladamyr is a brilliant character, who holds the others together. The very idea of the world of Dreams, and how it connects to the moral (human) world is so clever and original. I've never seen it done before.
Gladamyr is a Mare – a nightmare creature created by a human child. He's also one of those tortured souls who is born to be bad, but yearns to be good. I really felt his struggle, time and again, even when the story wasn't told through his POV. At the end of every chapter, I couldn't wait to see what he did next, or what the children did. I think making Gladamyr a shape shifter was believable and wasn't just a clever twist to the story, so that he could become what they needed in their time of need. His gift didn't always help him or save who he wanted to save, so desperately.
Continuing on from that, I don't think there was any aspect of the story that was specifically designed to be a help or hindrance to the characters, purely to push the story along. When I read a fantasy book, especially one for teens or a YA audience such as this book, I want every aspect to be wholly believable and reasonable. I don't want the characters doing anything silly, just because it's a fantasy book and anything goes. Everything in this book was made true and honest to the world it was set in and the characters who lived it.
I really love the two human kids; Parker and Kaelyn. They're your typical high school kids, caught up in high school politics, until something much more important comes along. Parker is a typical teenage boy, caught in the confusing middle ground of popularity, where he's popular enough, but he's also one mistake from social ruin. Kaelyn is the opposite; she's already at the bottom of the social register at school, lost and doubting herself. Her aunt is a psychic, which doesn't help her popularity, and Kaelyn has an inner critic, telling her that she's fat and ugly, which should explain why no-one likes her. We learn from her aunt, Zelda, that she's just curvaceous. Both kids need to learn to stand up for themselves in different way and do so throughout the book.
I was so impressed with the way that the author developed the children. Not only did they learn from each other and still have to battle their own fears and doubts, right until the end of the story, but they learned about each other and about themselves, as they did so. There were times when I got angry with Parker for saying something, later on in the book, that he should have known better than to say. But then he would apologise and see that it was wrong. Kaelyn would do the same; taking a compliment as criticism and then getting mad about it. I loved how they interacted together, protecting and caring for each other, even when they didn't want to. I love that Parker shows Kaelyn that she's not the social reject she thinks she is and that he learns to appreciate her for who she is. I love that Kaelyn teaches Parker to think for himself and not let the other kids at school dictate how he acts or what he says.
Together, these kids have an adventure, but the most important adventure, I feel, is that they are starting to discover who they really are. Away from social high school dramas, they've grown and learned things that no-one but each other could teach them.
There were only three problems I had with this book.
1. The texting. I'm glad the author put in brackets what they were saying, because I've never seen texting like this before. It would have been easier to either insert the bracketed text on its own or create a shortened version of the words that still made sense.
2. There are phrases like 'whack job' that are reworked as 'quack job'. Simple, common phrases have been changed in minor ways, but every time the new version came along, it surprised me and jarred me out of the reading.
3. Sometimes it was hard to imagine the fight scenes or the creatures that the Mares and Gladamyr turned into. There's something a lot going on, so stopping to try to imagine these unfamiliar creatures did disrupt the reading and I often had to read the description over a few times, to get a clear picture in my head.
Overall, I find the story captivating, intriguing and original. The only thing I've ever read that could touch it, is my all time favourite YA series, Dragons in Our Midst, by Brian Davis. I loved the simple, dream like quality of each new adventure and how it was something that either child would want to step into. The more I read of Parker, Kaelyn and Gladamyr, the more I like them and see them growing. The ending took me by surprise. I can't wait to read book 2, to find out where it leads.
May 2, 2023
I ended up throughly enjoying this book! It had good lessons, tons of creatures, and characters that I fell in love with! It was funny, loving, and sometimes creepy. Who doesn't love stuff like that?
I really enjoyed the back story of Favor and Mares. The way that Dreams was created and how and why we dream is such an interesting concept in this book. I think I will be reading the second one.
4 stars 🌟
I really enjoyed the back story of Favor and Mares. The way that Dreams was created and how and why we dream is such an interesting concept in this book. I think I will be reading the second one.
4 stars 🌟
December 1, 2018
One of the best
This book I read 3 years ago, and I found it and remembered as an 11 year old absolutely Loving it! I reread it and loved it even more!! I'm excited to continue reading the series-moving to the second book. I didn't find any grammar mistakes! It's an attention grabber, and I think this book gives a good lesson.
This book I read 3 years ago, and I found it and remembered as an 11 year old absolutely Loving it! I reread it and loved it even more!! I'm excited to continue reading the series-moving to the second book. I didn't find any grammar mistakes! It's an attention grabber, and I think this book gives a good lesson.
October 8, 2018
Great story, It can’t end here
This is a great read, but now I have to go on.
Ya ever read one that hooked into you? This is one of those. Do me a favor and join me, we’ll have a ball.
This is a great read, but now I have to go on.
Ya ever read one that hooked into you? This is one of those. Do me a favor and join me, we’ll have a ball.
December 8, 2018
Book 1---Fast moving and very unique. A good read and a good series beginning.
A good read and a good series beginning. Fast moving and very different from others in this genre. Like it.
A good read and a good series beginning. Fast moving and very different from others in this genre. Like it.
June 2, 2017
Hilariously funny. Amazingly adventurous. Unique.
August 10, 2017
The Dream Keeper (Book 1)
It was an awesome book. I never wanted to put it down. Even children can read it. I would recommend it to everyone.
It was an awesome book. I never wanted to put it down. Even children can read it. I would recommend it to everyone.
June 19, 2018
Super cute and creative, very entertaining
September 22, 2014
Mikey Brooks
Amazon Blurb
Dreams: Dorothy called it Oz, Alice called it Wonderland, but Nightmares call it HOME. When an evil shifter takes over the gateway to the realm of Dreams, it falls to 14-year-olds Parker and Kaelyn to stop him. Their only hope lies with Gladamyr, the Dream Keeper, but can they trust a Nightmare to save their world?
The Good
I've always been a fan of mid-grade book series. Rick Riordan's, 39 Clues, J. Scott Savage's, Far World, and Brandon Mull's, Fablehaven. Now I can add one more to this list, Mikey Brooks', Dream Keeper Chronicles.
Like other middle grade series, The Dream Keeper features a boy/girl tag team. Mikey does an incredible job of bringing Parker and Kaelyn to life. My favorite aspect is the social bullying and peer pressure that Parker and Kaelyn experience in school, and how their adventures in Dreams help them overcome these influences in their lives. Mikey doesn't minimize bullying or peer pressure, but he crafts realistic experiences in the story that help the characters overcome/understand the pressures they face.
The Bad
Parker and Kaelyn are the main characters, but the Dream Keeper Gladamyr shares almost equal page time with them. While this works well later in the book, the initial introduction left me a little confused. Maybe it was necessary, but I would have enjoyed the introduction to the world of Dreams much more through the eyes of Parker and Kaelyn. Equally so, the revealing of Gladamyr's character and experiences would have been better through the eyes of the children. Excellent opportunities for dialog and connecting characters were missed.
My second complaint covers the narration of the audiobook. It wasn't bad, let me get that out! ... But it could have been better. I listen to a LOT of audiobooks, so I'm a bit of a narrator snob. My biggest complaint with Anthony Bianco, is that a few lines come off flat. I'm not sure if he's a new narrator or not, but Mikey Brooks had lines that really set up the scene, and Anthony blew through them. Like I say, most audio listeners won't catch this, but because I listen to so many, it could have been a bit better.
Oh, yeah. One other minor complaint(full sarcasm here). How Mikey discovered that incident I had in the girl's restroom--and wrote into his book--is beyond me. It scarred me for life and I thought everyone had forgotten it.
Mikey, whatever blackmail you're asking, I'll pay.
The Spin
If you're looking for a great mid-grade read, don't pass up, The Dream Keeper. Kids will identify with the characters and their experiences. But more than that, the story is exciting enough to read the other books in the series.
One other thing to keep in mind when picking up this book, it has an excellent resolution, but a killer cliffhanger at the end, so have book 2, The Dreamstone, handy. You've been warned.
March 3, 2017
This is a great book that ignites the imagination into a world of fantasy and mystery.
December 12, 2013
It should come as no surprise that The Dream Keeper is about dreams. I looked forward to reading it because I’ve always thought I had very vivid dreams. Turns out, my dreams aren’t nearly as interesting as those of the two main characters in The Dream Keeper.
Parker and Kaelyn are two teenagers who during their sleep meet up with Dream Keeper Gladamyr (a bad guy turned good guy). The three of them band together to take down Fyren and his crew of evil Mares who want to destroy the human race by not letting us enter Dreams (which would result in a lethal dose sleep deprivation). After staying up late for the last several days working on writing and getting ready for Christmas, I wonder if this book is more fact than fiction. :)
Besides the obvious plot, the book has two underlying ideas that I found very interesting. On a scientific level, how real is our mind/body connection while dreaming? And on a social level, how far do we go to try and “fit in” with the popular crowd?
Pros: This book is Creative with a capital C! The world of Dreams is full of unique characters, interesting rules, and political unrest. All the makings for an epic battle. With the author’s use of both a girl and boy protagonist, the book speaks to all tweens.
Cons: As with many books that jump back and forth between two different worlds, there is the possibility of getting a little “confused” by the world-jumping. At the beginning of several chapters, I had to stop a minute to get my bearings.
Age Appropriate: 9 and older. There is some violence (when they’re fighting off Fyren), but nothing gruesome. Also, the description of some of the “Mares” is slightly creepy, but nothing most 9-year-olds won't completely enjoy. Overall, the book is good, clean fun.
Parker and Kaelyn are two teenagers who during their sleep meet up with Dream Keeper Gladamyr (a bad guy turned good guy). The three of them band together to take down Fyren and his crew of evil Mares who want to destroy the human race by not letting us enter Dreams (which would result in a lethal dose sleep deprivation). After staying up late for the last several days working on writing and getting ready for Christmas, I wonder if this book is more fact than fiction. :)
Besides the obvious plot, the book has two underlying ideas that I found very interesting. On a scientific level, how real is our mind/body connection while dreaming? And on a social level, how far do we go to try and “fit in” with the popular crowd?
Pros: This book is Creative with a capital C! The world of Dreams is full of unique characters, interesting rules, and political unrest. All the makings for an epic battle. With the author’s use of both a girl and boy protagonist, the book speaks to all tweens.
Cons: As with many books that jump back and forth between two different worlds, there is the possibility of getting a little “confused” by the world-jumping. At the beginning of several chapters, I had to stop a minute to get my bearings.
Age Appropriate: 9 and older. There is some violence (when they’re fighting off Fyren), but nothing gruesome. Also, the description of some of the “Mares” is slightly creepy, but nothing most 9-year-olds won't completely enjoy. Overall, the book is good, clean fun.
January 18, 2014
Check out this review and more on our blog: http://wereadya.blogspot.com/
Release Date: June 2013
Genre: Fantasy
When and Where: Present day America
Protagonist: Parker and Kaelyn, middle schoolers
The Story: Determined to save the human race, Gladamyr, a nightmare determined to be good, seeks out the help of Parker and Kaelyn, two middle school students who are struggling to fit in at school. Joining forces to help ensure humans are able get the sleep they so desperately need, the unlikely trio must defeat a band of nightmare determined to destroy humanity.
Reaction: Younger fantasy fans will enjoy this easily read adventure that chronicles the hero's journey, both in the physical and emotional sense. While Parker and Kaelyn are not particularly unique and tend to be "stock characters," young readers will relate to the struggles they face, including peer pressure, the struggle to fit in, and the challenge of "doing the right thing over the easy thing." The plot is pure fantasy, which is sure to please imaginative readers. There are some sections that are a bit confusing, but the author is able to resolve this issues by the end of the novel
If You Liked... Fablehaven or Inkheart, then The Dream Keeper may be right up your alley.
Rating: 3
Teacher Notes: While not as complex as Fablehaven or Inkheart, then The Dream Keeper is a good addition to your fantasy collection. It will appeal to both boys and girls, particularly those who are interested in video games.
Release Date: June 2013
Genre: Fantasy
When and Where: Present day America
Protagonist: Parker and Kaelyn, middle schoolers
The Story: Determined to save the human race, Gladamyr, a nightmare determined to be good, seeks out the help of Parker and Kaelyn, two middle school students who are struggling to fit in at school. Joining forces to help ensure humans are able get the sleep they so desperately need, the unlikely trio must defeat a band of nightmare determined to destroy humanity.
Reaction: Younger fantasy fans will enjoy this easily read adventure that chronicles the hero's journey, both in the physical and emotional sense. While Parker and Kaelyn are not particularly unique and tend to be "stock characters," young readers will relate to the struggles they face, including peer pressure, the struggle to fit in, and the challenge of "doing the right thing over the easy thing." The plot is pure fantasy, which is sure to please imaginative readers. There are some sections that are a bit confusing, but the author is able to resolve this issues by the end of the novel
If You Liked... Fablehaven or Inkheart, then The Dream Keeper may be right up your alley.
Rating: 3
Teacher Notes: While not as complex as Fablehaven or Inkheart, then The Dream Keeper is a good addition to your fantasy collection. It will appeal to both boys and girls, particularly those who are interested in video games.
December 3, 2015
This story, while for teens and young adults, begs you to use your imagination!
Parker and Kaelyn are high school students who couldn’t be more different. Parker is a gamer that wants to fit in with the crowd. Kaelyn is the new kid that couldn’t fit even if she tried. Every night, they relive a recurring dream… while different from each other, their dream never changes. What made their dream different this time? Gladamyr, the dream keeper.
The world couldn’t exist without opposites, such as good and evil. There has to be a balance. So keeping with that theory, there are dream keepers and mares. It’s kind of like the poem… “Girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice. Boys are made of snips and snails and puppy dog tails…” Dream keepers allow you to relive your best memories or fantasies. Mares are… well, nightmares. (Shocker!) The mares want to reclaim the world which would destroy not only the world of Dream, but the mortal world as well. It’s up to Gladamyr and his new bonds, Parker and Kaelyn to stop that from happening.
I can totally see how this book gets compared to “Harry Potter” or “Percy Jackson”. It’s very similar in the creation of two worlds combining. The world building for the land of Dream and different non-mortal destinations was creative and completely engaged my imagination. The book started off a bit slow, but when it picked up… boy did it! It had me wondering what will happen next on every page. I need to get to the next book immediately! I need to know what happens next!
Parker and Kaelyn are high school students who couldn’t be more different. Parker is a gamer that wants to fit in with the crowd. Kaelyn is the new kid that couldn’t fit even if she tried. Every night, they relive a recurring dream… while different from each other, their dream never changes. What made their dream different this time? Gladamyr, the dream keeper.
The world couldn’t exist without opposites, such as good and evil. There has to be a balance. So keeping with that theory, there are dream keepers and mares. It’s kind of like the poem… “Girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice. Boys are made of snips and snails and puppy dog tails…” Dream keepers allow you to relive your best memories or fantasies. Mares are… well, nightmares. (Shocker!) The mares want to reclaim the world which would destroy not only the world of Dream, but the mortal world as well. It’s up to Gladamyr and his new bonds, Parker and Kaelyn to stop that from happening.
I can totally see how this book gets compared to “Harry Potter” or “Percy Jackson”. It’s very similar in the creation of two worlds combining. The world building for the land of Dream and different non-mortal destinations was creative and completely engaged my imagination. The book started off a bit slow, but when it picked up… boy did it! It had me wondering what will happen next on every page. I need to get to the next book immediately! I need to know what happens next!
August 5, 2016
A solid variation on the "World of Dreams" story wherein dreams are sentient beings that develop their own lives after being created by dreamers. But even though the descriptions were fun and the plot was pretty action-packed, I found the whole thing a little boring somehow. The characters tend to be a bit stock (especially the females), the good/evil messages a little facile, and the mild romantic elements unnecessary and slapdash.
Most of the time, Parker and Kaelyn, the two young teen POV characters, also read a lot younger than they're supposed to. The 3rd POV character, the Dream Keeper Gladamyr... well, I just never did care that much about him or the other "dreamlings". Except for the pirate Captain Booty -- the piratiest pirate who ever pirated!
I'd almost give this 2 stars, but I could actually see how it might be an easy favorite for a certain kind of 10 year old kid. And that's not a bad thing, because such a kid is, in fact, the target audience! Therefore, 3 stars.
[Note: I alternated between reading this and listening to the audiobook narrated by Anthony Bianco. Bianco does a good job with the pacing and with male characters, but an arguably *terrible* job with most of the female characters (except maybe Parker's mother). This may or may not have contributed to my impression of the female characters as especially stock.]
Most of the time, Parker and Kaelyn, the two young teen POV characters, also read a lot younger than they're supposed to. The 3rd POV character, the Dream Keeper Gladamyr... well, I just never did care that much about him or the other "dreamlings". Except for the pirate Captain Booty -- the piratiest pirate who ever pirated!
I'd almost give this 2 stars, but I could actually see how it might be an easy favorite for a certain kind of 10 year old kid. And that's not a bad thing, because such a kid is, in fact, the target audience! Therefore, 3 stars.
[Note: I alternated between reading this and listening to the audiobook narrated by Anthony Bianco. Bianco does a good job with the pacing and with male characters, but an arguably *terrible* job with most of the female characters (except maybe Parker's mother). This may or may not have contributed to my impression of the female characters as especially stock.]
February 12, 2014
I received this free for an honest review.
The Good...
From the start, I was drawn into the lives of Kaelyn and Parker, remembering what it was like to feel like an outsider in junior high. The characters are realistically written, colorful and easily remembered. Information leading to Fyren's end was subtly woven throughout the story in such a way as to be obvious only after the fact. And what good story doesn't have a hero's sacrifice? This one was both obviously necessary and beautifully written. Added to those well-written details was the weaving in of the next book's story, making the final chapter a satisfying cliff hanger with just the right amount of closure mixed with teaser.
The Not-so-good...
A few of the dreamlings seemed like over-the-top caricatures or thrown together after thoughts. However, dreams seldom make sense and are products of our vivid imaginations, so I suppose it would be natural that some of the characters would be outrageous stereotypes and others would be not quite solid in their description. Keeping that in mind, the comic-like descriptions of those few wasn't a deal breaker for me.
The Overall...
I would highly recommend The Dream Keeper (The Dream Keeper Chronicles) by Mikey Brooks to middle graders and adults who enjoy well written flights of fancy.
The Good...
From the start, I was drawn into the lives of Kaelyn and Parker, remembering what it was like to feel like an outsider in junior high. The characters are realistically written, colorful and easily remembered. Information leading to Fyren's end was subtly woven throughout the story in such a way as to be obvious only after the fact. And what good story doesn't have a hero's sacrifice? This one was both obviously necessary and beautifully written. Added to those well-written details was the weaving in of the next book's story, making the final chapter a satisfying cliff hanger with just the right amount of closure mixed with teaser.
The Not-so-good...
A few of the dreamlings seemed like over-the-top caricatures or thrown together after thoughts. However, dreams seldom make sense and are products of our vivid imaginations, so I suppose it would be natural that some of the characters would be outrageous stereotypes and others would be not quite solid in their description. Keeping that in mind, the comic-like descriptions of those few wasn't a deal breaker for me.
The Overall...
I would highly recommend The Dream Keeper (The Dream Keeper Chronicles) by Mikey Brooks to middle graders and adults who enjoy well written flights of fancy.
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