The Dreamstone

The Dream Keeper Chronicles, Volume 2

By: Mikey Brooks

Narrated by: Anthony Bianco

When Parker's mom is dreamnapped by the wicked Mab, it is up to him and Kaelyn to save her. When they return to Dreams, they discover Mab isn't their only problem. Gladamyr has lost his powers and the only way to get them back is to become what he fears the most - a nightmare.

©2013 Mikey Brooks (P)2014 Mikey Brooks

Good listen

It was a good listen. The plot was good. I was not overly impressed with the performance at times. But good.

Intriguing Idea and Story!

Any additional comments?

Loved this book! It's a great spin on dreams--something we all experience. The author did an excellent job of creating suspense and adventure while having the characters deal with real life problems such as bullying and insecurity. Parker and Kaelyn (the main characters) are stumbling through "growing up" when they are thrown into a crazy adventure and I'm glad I got to go on that adventure with them.

There are many characters in this book and the narrator did a good job of distinguishing (with his voice, of course) between each of those characters. It made listening to the book an "easy" experience.

A pleasure to listen to!

What did you love best about The Dreamstone?

My daughter is an auditory learner, and she prefers audio books to the printed variety. For kids like her (who may struggle with reading the traditional way), this series is an excellent choice for hooking them on books! It has action, magic, strong characters, and life lessons all rolled into a neat little package that is sure to please any middle grader. Beyond that, the audiobook is a quality piece of work. The narrator was expressive and highly skilled. He gave a distinct voice to each of the characters that fit them perfectly. It was a pleasure to listen to!

What did you like best about this story?

With each book the author releases, his writing quality gets better and better! I've read all of his middle grade books, and I thought Mikey Brooks really hit his stride with this one! All the characters are solid, with real problems they’re struggling to overcome, like Parker’s anger at his estranged dad. Through the course of events, he learns how to begin the forgiveness process. I love it when a character grows and becomes a better person by the end of a book, and I found myself cheering for Parker and Kaelyn as they made the difficult choice to stand up for what’s right, pitting themselves against the more popular crowd at school. Moreover, their friendship continued to grow and develop in this novel, and I can’t wait to see where they’ll go from here.

Which character – as performed by Anthony Bianco – was your favorite?

Even though she doesn't make frequent appearances in this installment, Cerulean was my favorite character, for her spunk and her big heart. I liked the accent the narrator gave her. It fit her personality perfectly!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

In Dreams, no one can hear you scream.

Any additional comments?

The plot was well-paced and flowed naturally from one hurdle to the next. The only problem I have with this series is that the author likes to end on cliff-hangers, leaving us poor readers begging for the next installment! (Do I hear an evil laugh?) Kids aren’t the only ones who will gobble up this series faster than a plateful of pastries. In my mind, it’s right up there with Fablehaven, Far World, and the host of other National bestsellers that have graced the middle grade shelves in recent years.You won’t be disappointed by The Dreamstone!