My sixth grader spent last week reading The Hunger Games trilogy, which isn’t really a fit for MMGM, so I recruited my fourth grader once again. One of the good things that has happened during stay-at-home orders is the availability of online content from authors. On April 9, a group of authors celebrated International Unicorn Day with live readings and interactive events. My daughter participated in several of these and has since discovered four new authors. Sarah Beth Durst is one of those, and here is my daughter’s review of THE GIRL WHO COULD NOT DREAM.
Sophie’s favorite place in the world is the hidden shop beneath her parent’s bookstore where dreams are bought and sold to select and secretive strangers. Sophie is fascinated by dreams — weird, scary, or magical — in part because she has never had a single dream of her own.
When the shop’s dreams are stolen and her mother and father go mysteriously missing, Sophie must unravel the truth to save her parents. Together with her best friend — a wisecracking and fanatically loyal monster named Monster — she must decide who to trust with her family’s carefully-guarded secrets. Who will help them, and who will betray them?
THE GIRL WHO COULD NOT DREAM is a story that takes place in a shop and a house. The main character, Sophie, lives there in the shop, and there is a house in the upper levels. In the house, they go on an adventure. The setting is important. I like how the setting is not all over the place, there are two main settings. The shop and the house. Dun dun daaaaa!!!! (Mysterious music plays.)
Sophie is cautious and smart, yet also very brave. Sophie will face things that some kids do not know about. Sophie’s friend, Monster, is a monster. He is protective and funny. He is probably my favorite character. The people in this story are amazing!!!
The story overall is awesome. It involves action, fights, monsters and friends. I could go on about what awesome things it has. I would recommend this book. It made me fall in love with the characters and the friends. If you like all the things I listed, you will like this book. I loved it!! (This is when everybody reads this book.)
Ha! Is this when you go read the book? I hope so!
To learn about other middle grade books, visit the Marvelous Middle Grade blog hop at Always in the Middle…
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What a fun cover. I’ve always wanted to read something by this author, and this may be the one I try. You make it sound like such an exciting page turner thanks.
And Michelle, I can’t wait to read The Silence of Bones. I’m waiting for my turn on Libby for it. Hope you’re enjoying it.
I hadn’t heard of Sarah Beth Durst before my daughter picked this one up, but she has quite a few books. I’m intrigued!
The Silence of Bones is good so far, although it’s definitely a more serious read. Will report more when I finish!
I am not familiar with this book, but it sounds like a fun fantasy for middle graders. Thanks for sharing it.
I hadn’t heard of it either. I love how authors are connecting directly with kids during this time. My own kids have discovered several new authors this way!
Loved the mysterious music interlude. Although I’m not reading the book right now, your review convinced me I need to start soon. Characters always capture me first and if the plot is also great then all the better. Keep up the great reviewing work!
I’m hoping for another good one for next week. She talked to us for an hour yesterday about FRONT DESK, so I definitely think that one will merit a review!
This looks like a fun read! I’ll have to check it out. I just ran into this book a week ago, but hadn’t given it a good look yet. I have a third-grader who just might eat this up.
I’d love to hear about it if your third grader does read it!
Excellent review. I love the title of this book!!
Your daughter is so creative with her writing abilities. Loved her musical interlude. I enjoyed reading her review and am curious to know more about the book. Great title and cover!
Thank you! And yes, I agree on the title and cover. It’s very engaging.
Great cover. What a lovely review! I don’t read much fantasy, but I think I want to read this book. You made it sound perfectly delicious. Thanks for the review.
Oh I’d hate not to be able to dream – even the weird ones or the ones that are somewhat frustrating or scary, so I feel for Sophie. But it does have me wonder that if I could buy a dream, what kind of a dream would I want to buy? Most days I’d probably just want one that makes sense. Or doesn’t have me forgetting to go to a class my entire last semester at college…