Review: Dreaming Dangerous by Lauren DeStefano
SYNOPSIS:
Brassmere Academy for the Extraordinary is a school for orphans with strange and wonderful gifts. Twelve-year-old Plum has lived there forever, and each night, she ventures into her dreams alongside her three best friends, Vien, Gwendle, and Artem, to fight monsters and journey on dangerous quests. But one night, Plum gets a mysterious warning that she and her friends are no longer safe. And the next morning, Artem is nowhere to be found.
As Plum, Vien, and Gwendle search for their friend—in both the dreaming and waking worlds—they start to uncover alarming secrets about Brassmere and its intentions. Will they be able to find Artem before it’s too late, or will they be next to disappear?
REVIEW:
*Book Received in Exchange for Honest Opinion/Review*
I absolutely adore these quick, little middle grade books by Lauren DeStefano and Dreaming Dangerous was no exception. With a unique twist, four best friends not only go to a secluded school where they have been their entire lives, they also have been dreaming in tandem for as long as they can remember. With non-stop adventure and action, the book is hard to put down and will captivate the middle grade audience.
I think the most important take away from the story is the bonds of friendship. Regardless of distance or separation, friends will always find a way to be together. The bond shared by Plum, Vien, Gwendle, and Artem is magical and had me feeling all the warm, fuzzy feels. The plot and mystery surrounding Brassmere Academy didn’t play out like I thought it would. And that was a nice surprise because the twist at the ending wasn’t the twist I was anticipating.
The story was the perfect balance of mystery and fantasy. While these students all have extraordinary talents, the mystery is what kept me reading. What happened to Artem, what is really going on at Brassmere Academy, and who is Dr. Abarrane? While searching for answers, their friendship is put to the test, with dangerous adventures, life-risking rescue missions, and surprise events that make them question dreams versus reality. The story was a fast read and while I was left with a few lingering questions, I enjoyed this refreshing read.
LINKS:
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
