"Will grip readers from prologue to epilogue. . . . A natural fit for Stranger Things fans, this eerie novel is a gem." - starred review, Booklist
"The build-up of this creepily atmospheric novel unfolds with perfect pacing . . . An engaging addition to the magical school story genre, with a reassuring warmth and optimism to its conclusion." - BCCB
"A gripping adventure." - School Library Journal
"DeStefano explores the bonds of friendship through the lens of dreams and the freedom that imagination can offer, and her gothic-flavored story is by turns lovely and harrowing." - Publishers Weekly
"A darkly thrilling story of magic and suspense. . . . Simply put, a great deal of fun." - Foreword Reviews
"A quietly thrilling adventure." - Kirkus Reviews
"DeStefano packs a lot of emotion into a tightly focused narrative—especially as Emmaline discovers what it means to lose a memory of a loved one—and offers a quiet approach to understanding different ways of grieving." - The Horn Book Magazine on THE GIRL WITH THE GHOST MACHINE
"The relationships DeStefano builds between her characters are sweet and piercingly true." - Publishers Weekly on THE GIRL WITH THE GHOST MACHINE
"The plot, replete with buried bones, a terrible house of punishment for "problem" children, and more, will keep kids reading all night long (albeit with the lights on). DeStefano. . . . is no stranger to atmospheric middle-grade books, and is impressively amassing work that rivals that of older authors known for scary mysteries, such as Mary Downing Hahn and Zilpha Keatley Snyder." - starred review, Booklist on THE PECULIAR NIGHT OF THE BLUE HEART
"The idea that things that can be okay even if they’re not perfect is carefully and deeply explored, giving readers a chance to ponder this important concept. . . . Offer this to readers who appreciate ghost stories with plenty of character development." - BCCB on THE PECULIAR NIGHT OF THE BLUE HEART
"Spooky yet heartfelt." - School Library Connection on THE PECULIAR NIGHT OF THE BLUE HEART
"Dark but often funny. . . . Fans of Holly Black’s Doll Bones may well enjoy this creepy, character-based tale." - The Horn Book on A CURIOUS TALE OF THE IN-BETWEEN
"Readers will be hooked from the first line of this lyrical and suspenseful mystery/fantasy (part thriller too). . . . a moving and multilayered tale. . . . Love, loss, and hope are at the heart of this exciting read." - Kirkus Reviews on A CURIOUS TALE OF THE IN-BETWEEN
03/01/2018
Gr 5–7—Plum has been dreaming in sync with her three best friends, Vien, Gwendle, and Artem since they were babies. The nightmares they confront together feature strange creatures and perilous quests—the children often die in these horrific dreams. The friends all live at Brassmere, a secluded academy for progenies with special gifts. When Artem goes missing, the kids begin a search, and disturbing secrets about Brassmere are revealed. Regrettably, the intended purpose for the children's gifts is never explained in the rapid dénouement. The children themselves are also sketched very simply. The short length and juvenile cover seem to suggest the book for younger readers, but given the dark nature of the material may make this a better fit for middle schoolers. VERDICT A gripping adventure with interesting leads that remain mostly unexplored in this succinct and spooky contemporary fantasy. Buy where Mary Downing Hahn's books and other scary titles circulate well.—Erin Reilly-Sanders, University of Wisconsin-Madison
2018-04-16
Within an enchanted forest, there is a vast iron fence "adorned with spikes." Within that fence lies the Brassmere Academy for the Extraordinary. Within the school's walls, safe from the dangerous outside world, live four children who dream in unison.Plum, Artem, Vien, and Gwendle are best friends who share everything—even their dreams. They've been at the school since they were babies, but there's a lot they don't know. Why were they chosen to attend the school? What do the men and women in pink suits who take blood samples and ask a lot of questions do with the information they collect? The four have always had control over their dreams, but lately, they've begun experiencing unnerving deviations; they aren't as fully in control as they thought. Then Artem disappears from the waking world and appears to Plum in a dream. "You have to leave Brassmere," he warns. Plum ventures outside the school's protection and soon learns that their lives are a lie and that the truth is the insidious stuff of nightmares. The third-person narration is firmly entrenched in Plum's perspective, but her friends are fully developed and not merely supports. There are a few minor plot holes, but readers will likely overlook them and focus on the action and mystery. The book assumes a white default.A quietly thrilling adventure. (Fantasy. 8-13)
