singerji's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
xytries's review against another edition
4.0
This is the book that originally got me into reading so it was great to reread it for nostalgia! Lovely and fantastical book!
missprint_'s review against another edition
4.0
Sophie has always loved her parents' secret shop, the one hidden below their book shop, where dreams are bought and sold. The business of distilling, bottling and sorting dreams has always been fascinating to Sophie, especially since she never has dreams of her own.
When the dream shop is robbed and her parents go missing, Sophie will have to follow the clues to try and save them. With her best friend--a snarky monster named Monster--at her side, Sophie will have to decide who she can trust and who she can ask for help in order to protect her family and their secrets in The Girl Who Could Not Dream (2015) by Sarah Beth Durst.
The Girl Who Could Not Dream has a carefully executed fantasy system that makes sense for the plot and also immediately draws readers into the story. Durst expertly evokes the dream shop run by Sophie's parents as well as the complex distillation process. Moments of humor and often improbably creatures (ninja bunnies!) blend well with genuinely scary nightmares as Sophie follows the trail to her missing parents.
Sophie is a determined protagonist even as she struggles with trying to make new friends and keeping her family's secrets. Along the way Sophie also gets help from equally entertaining characters including Monster (her best friend) and Ethan, a classmate who suffers from terrifying nightmares.
The Girl Who Could Not Dream is a charming fantasy novel perfect for readers of all ages. Highly recommended for readers who like their thrills and chills tempered with some good laughs.
Possible Pairings: A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine, A Curious Tale of the In-Between by Lauren DeStefano, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, Rules for Stealing Stars by Corey Ann Haydu, The Year of Shadows by Claire Legrand, Mister Monday by Garth Nix
*An advance copy of this book was acquired from the publisher for review consideration at BEA 2015*
Be sure to check out my interview with Sarah about this novel!
When the dream shop is robbed and her parents go missing, Sophie will have to follow the clues to try and save them. With her best friend--a snarky monster named Monster--at her side, Sophie will have to decide who she can trust and who she can ask for help in order to protect her family and their secrets in The Girl Who Could Not Dream (2015) by Sarah Beth Durst.
The Girl Who Could Not Dream has a carefully executed fantasy system that makes sense for the plot and also immediately draws readers into the story. Durst expertly evokes the dream shop run by Sophie's parents as well as the complex distillation process. Moments of humor and often improbably creatures (ninja bunnies!) blend well with genuinely scary nightmares as Sophie follows the trail to her missing parents.
Sophie is a determined protagonist even as she struggles with trying to make new friends and keeping her family's secrets. Along the way Sophie also gets help from equally entertaining characters including Monster (her best friend) and Ethan, a classmate who suffers from terrifying nightmares.
The Girl Who Could Not Dream is a charming fantasy novel perfect for readers of all ages. Highly recommended for readers who like their thrills and chills tempered with some good laughs.
Possible Pairings: A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine, A Curious Tale of the In-Between by Lauren DeStefano, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, Rules for Stealing Stars by Corey Ann Haydu, The Year of Shadows by Claire Legrand, Mister Monday by Garth Nix
*An advance copy of this book was acquired from the publisher for review consideration at BEA 2015*
Be sure to check out my interview with Sarah about this novel!
qiankim's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I love the plot. It's the perfect mixture of a mysterious and advanterous genre. It is very unique and the flow of the story is smooth. The main character is also loveable which makes the book better. Not to mention, the other characters in the book are also fun to read and has their own spotlight. I enjoyed it very much.
ljrinaldi's review
4.0
Great middle school book about friendship
Fun little book about making friends. Really, that is what this book is about. Oh yes, there is a monster, well, several monsters, not all of the good, but the good ones are good, and the bad ones are evil. But as Sophie says, the dreamer controls the dream.
This book started out slowly. The title makes it sound as though it is about a girl that can't dream, and in a way, that is what it is about, but it is more than that. It isn't so much that she can't dream, but that she can create dreams, make them become real. That is her "secret power" so to speak, and that is what the book is about.
The first thing she creates, when she is six, is Monster, a tenth allied fury creature who becomes her best friend, or rather, her only friend.
That is why I say this book is about friendship. It is also about thinking through problems.
If you read sample chapters, and they don't go beyond the first two, it might make you not want to continue, but it picks up steam from there, and doesn't let you go. Although I won't say what the ending is here, spoilers or not, I was pleasantly surprised, and think it made the whole book worth it, which is the whole point of a good ending.
Fun little book about making friends. Really, that is what this book is about. Oh yes, there is a monster, well, several monsters, not all of the good, but the good ones are good, and the bad ones are evil. But as Sophie says, the dreamer controls the dream.
This book started out slowly. The title makes it sound as though it is about a girl that can't dream, and in a way, that is what it is about, but it is more than that. It isn't so much that she can't dream, but that she can create dreams, make them become real. That is her "secret power" so to speak, and that is what the book is about.
The first thing she creates, when she is six, is Monster, a tenth allied fury creature who becomes her best friend, or rather, her only friend.
That is why I say this book is about friendship. It is also about thinking through problems.
If you read sample chapters, and they don't go beyond the first two, it might make you not want to continue, but it picks up steam from there, and doesn't let you go. Although I won't say what the ending is here, spoilers or not, I was pleasantly surprised, and think it made the whole book worth it, which is the whole point of a good ending.
andreareads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
08151991j's review against another edition
3.0
The story was unique, but it was too horrifying for me. Nightmares coming to life, parents and friends being abductee, breeding monsters to fight each other, betrayal, loss and hope. I don't think it's age appropriate. It is way to graphic, plus it's a bit cliche. It had sparkling unicorns who can poop rainbows, as well as antagonists who threaten the main characters through persuasion.
saygoodnightnread's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars - i love middle grade books! i know i'm wayyy too old for them but there's something about how cute and magical they are that just makes me feel fuzzy inside.
this book was no different, the concept of it was just so cool and i would love to see it turned into a pixar or dreamworks film! the idea of collecting the dreams and turning them to liquid was so interesting to me and i loved the twist towards the end.
Overall, 4 stars, i'm not the intended audience for this but i really don't care, i loved it!
this book was no different, the concept of it was just so cool and i would love to see it turned into a pixar or dreamworks film! the idea of collecting the dreams and turning them to liquid was so interesting to me and i loved the twist towards the end.
Overall, 4 stars, i'm not the intended audience for this but i really don't care, i loved it!
neffcannon's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5