The Girl Who Could Not Dream by Sarah Beth Durst Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on March 14, 2017
Pages: 384
Goodreads
"A perfect combination of adventure, humor, and pure imagination!" —Jessica Day George, New York Times best-selling author of Tuesdays at the Castle "Funny, scary, and endlessly inventive.” —Bruce Coville, author of Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher Sophie loves the hidden shop below her parents' bookstore, where dreams are secretly bought and sold. When the dream shop is robbed and her parents go missing, Sophie must unravel the truth to save them. Together with her best friend—a wisecracking and fanatically loyal monster named Monster—she must decide whom to trust with her family’s carefully guarded secrets. Who will help them, and who will betray them?
I can’t say enough about the little book store I love visiting so much. Pointe-Claire Village would not be the same without it! Livres Babar Books is where I find the books that you can’t find anywhere else. I can browse the shelves for hours discovering titles from authors I have not heard of before. This is how I came across the book, “The Girl Who Could Not Dream” by Sarah Beth Durst. Why did I pick out this particular book? I bought it after I read the words…the hidden shop beneath her parents’ bookstore…on the book jacket. I LOVE BOOKSTORES! And to have a hidden shop beneath one is brilliant! Hence, my love of books and book stores are partial guides to my book buying.
Sophie’s parents own a bookstore with a bonus. Select individuals may purchase dreams. One could buy any dream you like: magical, funny, scary. How amazing would that be? My children would never have another nightmare. I’d make sure to have a shelf full of funny dreams on hand to guarantee pleasant dreams. I’d probably get a few for myself for those restless nights when nightmares creep in. Bet a few of you out there could use a dream or two as well. Ironically, Sophie has never had a dream of her own. The one time that she did, well, a monster entered her life. That was the end of her dreams.
When Sarah Beth Durst writes about living upstairs from a bookstore, it seems like the only logical place for a book lover to live. Waking up in the morning amongst your favorite authors and characters would be a dream come true. Cupcakes waiting to be devoured add to the joy of being surrounded by millions of pages. The hidden shop is a special gem.
One morning, Sophie finds the shop broken into and thrashed, dreams stolen, and her parents missing. A nightmare come to life, this isn’t a dream. With the help of her best friend Monster, Sophie must decide which sketchy characters she can trust, and which ones are out to harm her. Armed with dreamcatchers, Sophie finds herself on a quest of a lifetime.
I’ve now come to look at my dreamcatcher in a whole new light. Imagine someone touching you with a magical dreamcatcher. All the dreams that you have dreamt would be gone forever. In turn, they would be used for something sinister. A machine that was once used for good, turns into something very bad. Thank goodness for Monster. A loyal companion who would do anything to keep his promise to Sophie’s mom and does. Although he has tentacles, way too many teeth, and luminescent fur, he reminds me of gentle Cookie Monster from Sesame Street. Together, they let nothing stand in their way. Well, maybe, a boy named Ethan.
Filled with risk taking adventures, tender moments of friendship, and struggles of trust, this is a wonderful read for children 10 and up. I leave you daydreaming if will good prevail over evil? Will our dreams and those of others be safe once again? Read on to find out if Sophie will be able to rescue the ones she loves the most. More importantly, will Sophie ever dream again or will her real life be filled with nightmares?
