The Dreamatics

by Michelle Cuevas (Author)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

In this exhilaratingly original novel, a fantastical theatre and its troupe perform a young girl's dreams, until nightmares take over. Will one devoted stagehand be able to bring joy back into the spotlight?

Have you ever awakened from a dream and thought, what was that?! A platypus waddling through my school while singing the word farfanoogle? Well, that dream was performed by a dream theatre, and this is the story of one such place: The Lunarian Grand. The Lunarian is a magical theatre with a mind of its own, often redecorating on a whim or making it snow from the rafters. The theatre's troupe call themselves the Dreamatics, and together they grow sets from seeds, sew costumes that can change an actor's shape, and each night when a girl named Luna goes to sleep, they produce her spectacular dreams: dreams of memories, family, and her beloved dog, Murph.

But when something devastating happens in Luna's waking life, the theatre falls under new management in the form of the Bad Dreams. Now it's up to a loyal stagehand named Dormir and the Dreamatics to put things right and restore balance in their world and in Luna's.

Go behind the scenes of your dreams in this enchanting novel full of cozy magic, humor, and wonder.

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$18.99

Kirkus

Starred Review
A dreamy, imaginative, and vibrant story full of heart and wordplay.

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

A mythical theater troupe known as the Dreamatics performs dreams for a sleeping child each night until tragedy strikes in the real world, in this evocative and inventive fantasy by Cuevas (The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole). Dormir is a stagehand at the majestic Lunarian Grand Theatre, home to the Dreamatics. Dormir adores the job, which sometimes involves making sure the weather closet stays closed so that winter doesn't creep onto the stage unbidden. He especially loves helping the group perform the dreams of nearly 11-year-old Luna. But when Luna experiences sudden hardship in the waking world, her dreamscape--and the troupe's performance--undergoes a drastic change from fanciful visions to frightening nightmares. If Dormir hopes to set the theater back to rights and help Luna dream in peace once again, he must figure out how to reverse things. Irresistibly rendered worldbuilding and delightfully limned, seldom-described characters buoy serious interrogations on trauma, its effects on mental health, and the process of healing. By utilizing lush yet conversational prose, Cuevas addresses each difficult topic and lesson with sincerity and care, allowing ample space for introspective rumination alongside joy-filled antics. Ages 8-12. (Sept.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

★ This witty, magical, and touching tale will inspire giggles of delight, appreciation of the inner workings of a theater troupe, and wonder at the behind-the-scenes process of dream-making. At its core, this is a story of dedication, loyalty, love, and friendship that takes readers on a roller coaster of emotions and leaves them feeling warm and fuzzy . . . A dreamy, imaginative, and vibrant story full of heart and wordplay. —Kirkus, starred review 

Michelle Cuevas
Michelle Cuevas graduated from Williams College and holds a master of fine arts in creative writing from the University of Virginia. She is an author of children's novels and picture books, including The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole, Confessions of an Imaginary Friend, and The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles. She lives in western Massachusetts with her husband and their two Bernese Mountain Dogs. Her hobbies include travel, watercolor painting, and drawing.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780593532225
Lexile Measure
820
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Rocky Pond Books
Publication date
September 12, 2023
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV051000 - Juvenile Fiction | Imagination & Play
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV031060 - Juvenile Fiction | Performing Arts | Theater
Library of Congress categories
Friendship
Dogs
Imagination
Fathers and daughters
Dreams
Theaters
Novels

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