Tom Apple falls into a Dream Machine and finds himself in The Realm, a place where dreams have become real. The boy is chased by monsters and helped by a fire beast, two birds, a golem, and a band of warriors, and must find a way home as the memories of his real life start to fade. He must escape a sea monster, a dragon and other monsters as he is pursued by a powerful enemy, The Dark Lord. He finds himself in a mighty battle between the light and dark sides of the Realm as the Dark Lord seeks a Map Tom holds that is a means for the Dark Lord to recreate the Realm in his own image. – Goodreads Synopsis
The Boy Who Got Lost in Dreams Review
The Boy Who Got Lost in Dreams was a great kid’s book for ages 7+. It’s short, filled with action, and pushes the imagination. It provides the perfect adventure for any young reader (boy or girl) who likes fantasy. Tom Apple is a sweet kid with a good heart, and his animal companions he gathers on his adventures are the perfect team. Things don’t go easy for Tom on his journey through the dream realm, but there’s a reassuring sense that everything is going to work out okay.
At 171 pages, it could easily be broken down over a week’s worth of bedtime chapters. It would be the perfect adventure story to send your child off to sleep with. There are some scenes that may bother the more easily frightened. Violence does happen, but there is no mention made of blood, guts, or gore. Instead creatures are chomped, swallowed whole, or brought down in valiant battle. It is age appropriate for the most part.
I appreciated that not everything worked out perfectly. Not all of the companions survive. Tom is forced to make at least one difficult decision. The author balances the dark and the light fairly well. He acknowledges good dreams, bad dreams, and nightmares. The dark lord and the bad guys are stereotypical, but that is exactly what is needed for this particular adventure.
Overall, a great read. I really enjoyed it, and definitely recommend it. It’s available on Amazon, for purchase or free with your KU subscription.
Title: The Boy Who Got Lost in Dreams | Author: M.F. Cain (site) | Publisher: The Good The Bad and The Odd Press | Pub. Date: 2016-6-9 | Pages: 171 | ASIN: B01GLDTC3U | Genre: Children’s Fantasy | Language: English | Triggers: None | Rating: 4 out of 5 | Date Read: 2016-7-23 | Source: Kindle Unlimited
