Wednesday 28 October 2015

The Dreamsnatcher by Abi Elphinstone: Reviewed by Tamsin Cooke

This is my first book review for An Awfully Big Blog Adventure and I wanted to choose a middle grade story that had me racing through the pages with my heart pounding. The Dreamsnatcher by Abi Elphinstone does just that. It’s filled with magic, adventure, suspense and hope.
Twelve year old Moll lives in the Tanglefern Forest with a group of Romany gypsies. Discovering her past isn’t as she thought, Moll embarks on an adventure to discover the truth. She soon learns that the dreaded Dreamsnatcher is after her. ‘He’s already taken her dreams. Now he wants her life.’ Brave, feisty and stubborn, Moll and Gryff  - a wild cat always at her side, never to be mistaken for a pet - are the only ones who can stop his dark magic.

Through Moll’s journey, we learn about the mystical world of gypsies, their traditions and beliefs.  We see the forest through her eyes and see how spiritual and close to nature humans can be. We meet complex characters such as Alfie and wonder whether they’re friends or foe. And when we meet Skull, he is spine tinglingly evil.

There are some great gems in this book. I particularly love the bemused pet worm called Porridge the Second and the magical relationship between Moll and Gryff.

The Dreamsnatcher is beautifully written with stunning imagery, fantastic characters and so many twists and turns. It’s the perfect blend of compassion, horror and intrigue. 






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2 comments:

Penny Dolan said...

Sounds a delightful and amusing book for mid junior (KS2) readers.

Tamsin Cooke said...

It's a beautiful book and I know lots of KS2 children who love it (including my daughter).

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