Dream a Little Dream
by Kerstin Gier
Henry Holt and Co. (April 14, 2015)
Audience: Young Adult
IndieBound | WorldCat
Description from GoodReads:
"Mysterious doors with lizard-head knobs. Talking stone statues. A crazy girl with a hatchet. Yes, Liv’s dreams have been pretty weird lately. Especially this one where she’s in a graveyard at night, watching four boys conduct dark magic rituals.
The strangest part is that Liv recognizes the boys in her dream. They’re classmates from her new school in London, the school where she’s starting over because her mom has moved them to a new country (again). But what’s really scaring Liv is that the dream boys seem to know things about her in real life, things they couldn’t possibly know—unless they actually are in her dreams? Luckily, Liv could never resist a good mystery, and all four of those boys are pretty cute…"
Carolyn's thoughts on the book:
I enjoyed Kerstin Gier's Ruby Red Trilogy, so I my interest was piqued when I heard that another one of her YA books was being released in English (all of her books are originally written in German). Dream a Little Dream is very similar to the Ruby Red books: financially well-off girl discovers secret group involving magic, becomes involved, has a more-than-slightly unbelievable relationship (which may or may not be sincere) with handsome and popular boy involved in said secret group, someone (or multiple someones) have secret ulterior motives, etc. But despite (or possibly because of?) the heavy use of tropes, Dream a Little Dream is a fun and engaging read - and while the sub-plots might be trite, the plot isn't predictable the way similar YA books can be. Liv is a compelling protagonist, with a sincerity to her sarcastic personality (her voice feels very natural - not contrived at all). Liv's awkward relationship with her mother's boyfriend and his children (surprise! new family!) is not glossed over in the least (let's just say it's no Brady Bunch). The articles from the Tittle-Tattle Blog (the anonymous gossip column of Liv's prep school) add a nice touch. The mystery of the identity of Secrecy, the author of the blog, is another great sub-plot that will unfold over the next two books (as will the possible relationship between Liv's former nanny and her step-uncle). All these sub-plots serve to make the book more complex and ground the story in believability - sure, demons may be rising and people can invade one another's dreams, but the awkwardness between the new (almost) step-siblings and the hilarious narration is searingly on point. The depiction of everyday life is where Gier's writing shines the most, especially the narration - Liv's voice is fantastic. The fantasy is explained enough to avoid confusion, but isn't as intricate as the magic in the Ruby Red trilogy (though that doesn't mean it's any less interesting or entertaining).
Since the Silver Trilogy has already been published in Germany, the English edition of next book is set to release in January of next year (less than a year away!!!). I'll be eagerly awaiting its publication. Dream a Little Dream is perfect for those who enjoy YA fantasy with a modern setting and are willing to indulge their sense of realism.
Carolyn is a teen blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays.