The Dark Dreamweaver

I loved the whole concept of The Dark Dreamweaver, a fantasy story by Nick Ruth targeting tweens (ages 9-12) about an ordinary boy who shows extraordinary courage in the face of an epidemic of nightmares:

Eleven-year-old David is suffering from nightmares. Over and over again, he dreams about a strange, bear-like man with black eyes. He's not the only one; an epidemic of nightmares seems to have infected the Earth. David takes matters into his own hands and embarks on an adventure to Remin, a land powered by dreams. Aided by a caterpillar wizard, a jellyfish-man, two wise-cracking water serpents, and several other unusual characters, he sets out to find and confront the evil wizard who is causing the nightmares. The challenges that he encounters will require all of his intelligence, his courage, and most of all, his imagination.

The book has enjoyed praise from other bloggers and won a "Mom's Choice Award" in 2005. It's no Harry Potter, but I found it to be a lively, entertaining read featuring a memorable main character to whom many kids can relate.

I think any book that inspires self-reliance, creativity, and bravery in the face of evil is a good one.

Older kids (9+) may find the resolve to challenge their own nightmares as David did. Younger kids - and particularly those with active imaginations, like my eight-year old daughter, might get spooked into nightmares of their own, though on the whole the book is not terribly scary.

If you're a fantasy fan or know a tween who is, The Dark Dreamweaver, the first in the Remin Chronicles series, makes a great choice.

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