Review by Booklist Review
Siblings Rachel and Robert live in Krasnia, a country ruled by the tyrant Charles Malstain. One fateful night, their father sneaks them into the library where he works to steal The Book of Stolen Dreams, a book long rumored to be capable of magic, before it is destroyed the next day. Just as they are about to escape unseen, they are ambushed by soldiers who apprehend their father. With this mysterious book now in their possession, the siblings are the only thing stopping Malstain from getting the book and gaining the power to control Krasnia forever. Rachel and Robert find themselves in a race against time to reveal the secrets of the book, stop Malstain, and save their father. Farr's action-packed adventure will keep you on your toes as readers get both Rachel's and Robert's points of view with whimsical narration. While the mention of death and violence creates a dark atmosphere throughout the book, it is ultimately a hopeful tale of bravery and resilience.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Two siblings are tasked with keeping a magical text out of a despotic ruler's hands in this bustling children's debut, a duology opener, from playwright and screenwriter Farr. Following the invasion of Krasnia, the militarized New World Order led by Charles Malstain results quickly in censorship and regulation--especially of children. On Rachel Klein's 11th birthday, she and her brother Robert witness the arrest of their librarian father after he takes The Book of Stolen Dreams, a magical tome "hundreds of years old and the strangest and most beautiful book in the whole library," from his workplace. Their mother's death soon follows, and now-12-year-old Rachel and 13-year-old Robert, subsequently separated, risk everything to keep the powerful book from Malstain and to find a missing page. While Robert is ensnared in political intrigue, Rachel seeks to find him, with help from a mysterious family of illustrators. Alternating between the siblings' perspectives, third-person narration breaks the fourth wall, leavening fittingly dark matter with humor and whimsical details that will appeal to readers of Kelly Barnhill and Lemony Snicket, while a poignant finale revives the plot's uneven momentum. Protagonists read as white. Ages 8--12. Agent: Stephanie Thwaites, Curtis Brown (U.K.). (May)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A high fantasy of adventure and bravery originally published in Great Britain. Mythical country Krasnia has been taken over by tyrant Charles Malstain. The once-thriving city of Brava is reduced to poverty and fear. But on Rachel Klein's 11th birthday, her father invites her and her 12 1/2-year-old brother, Robert, to come to the North Brava Public Lending Library where he works. It is after closing hours, children (in particular) are not supposed to be outside after the 7 p.m. curfew, and Rachel wonders what her father is up to. In the Rare Books Room, Father hands Rachel an ancient, beautifully illustrated leather-bound book. Then soldiers arrive, and they must flee. Father hastily instructs the children to give the book to a particular person the next morning. As Rachel and Robert escape through a ventilation shaft, their father is beaten and arrested. So begins this intriguing, entertaining tale. With nods to both His Dark Materials and Lemony Snicket, the narrative spins a tale of good and evil, all the while interposing snippets of humor to keep things just a bit sardonic. As the siblings navigate the mystery of the book they have been given and learn its secret, they encounter new worlds and both brave and cowardly people. While an effervescent adventure, the story never loses sight of its timely theme: the essential need for a moral compass. Chapters open with enchanting spot art. Characters read default White. Sparkling and timely. (Fantasy. 9-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
