The Dream-Maker's Magic (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up–Shinn returns to the world of The Safe-Keeper's Secret (2004) and The Truth-Teller's Tale (2005, both Viking), creating a stand-alone story with a unique heroine. When Kellen starts school at age 11, she is considered strange by the other children. She meets Gryffin, who is teased because his legs are deformed. As the girl grows and becomes more independent, she begins working at a local inn, which becomes a shelter for her friend when he needs to escape his uncle's abuse. After becoming involved in the lives of many of the travelers who frequent the inn and becoming ever-closer friends, the young people learn that Gryffin is the new Dream-Maker, whose very presence can cause others' dreams to come true. Kellen follows him to the capital, where more adventures follow, leading to a surprising conclusion full of twists and mistaken identities. Kellen's voice is authentic and direct, and her comments add humor and perspective to her adventures. This is a fast-paced and captivating tale, sure to appeal to fantasy fans looking for a touch of romance. Shinn has created a fully realized world full of unusual characters.–Beth L. Meister, Pleasant View Elementary School, Franklin, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 7-10. In a warm-hearted conclusion to a trilogy of novels set in the same rustic kingdom, which also includes ^ The Safe-Keeper's Secret (2004) and The Truth-Teller's Tale (2005), Shinn again bypasses grandiose good-versus-evil dramatics for a more personal tale, structured around the gentle intercessions of Truth-Tellers, Safe-Keepers, and Dream-Makers in ordinary villagers' lives. Kellen, the narrator, is hurt by her befuddled mother's decision to raise her as a boy; her best friend, Gryffin, endures more literal pain from his malformed legs and abusive uncle. Supported by kind neighbors and strangers passing through, the protagonists fashion identities in their wider community and hesitantly inch toward romance--until the identification of a new Dream-Maker sets their lives on seemingly irreconcilable paths. Although the plot rolls along paths deeply grooved by the preceding stories, predictably hinging on giddy coincidences and life-altering revelations, many teens will find beauty and meaning in the themes of friendship, self-determination, and "rare, magical moments of kindness." Like its predecessors, this can easily stand alone. Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile; First Edition edition (May 4, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670060704
• ISBN-13: 978-0670060702
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #797,193 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dreams Come True, April 2, 2008

By	Arthur W. Jordin (Smyrna, GA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Dream-Maker's Magic (Paperback)

The Dream-Maker's Magic (2006) is the third fantasy novel in this milieu, following The Truth-Teller's Tale. In the previous volume, Melinda the Dream-Maker came to Merendon for the Summermoon festivities and brought several dreams to fulfillment. Adele, Edela and Roelynn found their true loves, but Karro found that his misdeeds had become public knowledge.

In this novel, Amelia Carmichael is traveling and suddenly gives birth to a baby boy in the town of Tambleham. She loses a great deal of blood and doesn't see the child again until she reaches home in Thrush Hollow. There she discovers that the child is a girl.

She and her husband Stephen name the child Kellen, which is both a male and female name. Amelia still contends that the child is a boy and keeps an alert eye on the child in cause she reverts back to a boy. She even talks her husband into consulting a Truth-Teller to determine whether she had ever been a boy, but is told that she is now, and always has been, a girl.

Kellen grows up wearing boy clothes and usually playing with the boys. Since she does all kinds of chores around the house -- including chopping wood -- she can keep up with the boys in most of their activities, except fighting. A friendly Safe-Keeper teaches her to box and other self-protection tricks and she soom convinces the bullies in her school to leave her alone.

In this story, Kellen's first -- and best -- friend is Gryffin, a crippled boy who is the brightest student in her school. He is even tutoring the younger students. Although Kellen is not a very good -- or willing -- student, she learns much from Gryffin.

Later, Kellen is asked to convince Gryffin to tutor Sarah Parmer, an older student. Kellen and Gryffin go to the Parmer home several days a week, Gryffin teaching Sarah and Kellen doing various chores about the house. When the Parmers build a post house for the new stage route through Thrush Hollow, Kellen is hired as a waitress and maid.

For the first time, Kellen wears girl's clothes in public. Of course, she wears her normal boy's attire to and from the post house, but she puts on a smock and apron while working there. Although Kellen makes her first few dresses, Sarah soon presents her with two seamstress made smocks as a gift. They are her most favorite clothes.

This story tells of the friendship between Kellen and Gryffin. While Gryffin lives with his uncle, Frederick resents having to take care of a cripple. Eventually Gryffin moves into the post house and does clerical work for the Parmers.

As with the previous books in this series, the author invokes surprises throughout the story. These changes in Kellen's life strengthen her resolve and increase her dreams for others. Then comes the final surprise, which turns her whole life upside down.

Highly recommended for Shinn fans and for anyone who enjoys tales of determined youngsters, changed circumstances, and positive magic.

-Arthur W. Jordin

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strong Hearts and True Wishes, November 12, 2007

By	K. Coombs (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The thing about Sharon Shinn's trilogy is that she world-builds so subtly you scarcely notice how well she does it--you're too busy focusing on her strong characters.

The Safe-Keeper's Secret, The Truth-Teller's Tale, and The Dream-Maker's Magic: Each of the books represents one of three special types of magically gifted individuals in a slightly medieval kingdom--safe-keepers, who keep people's secrets; truth-tellers, who speak sometimes unwelcome but much-needed truths; and dream-makers, whose influence can bring others' dearest dreams to pass. There is more than one Safe-keeper and Truth-teller in this society, but only one Dream-maker.

The story begins with Kellen, who struggles with her mother's inability to acknowledge that she is a girl. She forms a friendship with Gryffin, whose legs are deformed and whose guardian, his uncle, is abusive. Together these two face challenges, make other friends, and learn how to live their lives. They are compellingly real and appealing characters, and spending an entire book with them is a deeply satisfying experience.

A couple of things stand out for me. I like Shinn's touching Wintermoon rituals and her Summermoon Fair. I also find it intriguing that the Dream-maker, with all his power, is someone who has paid a great price in terms of a life of suffering. Indirectly, that reminds me of the themes in Ursula LeGuin's story, "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas," about a society where one person's happiness is sacrificed completely in order to pay for the happiness of others. The Dream-Maker's role isn't quite that extreme, but it is thought-provoking. Shinn avoids the easy road that most fantasy writers take when they simply pass out hefty helpings of trouble-free magic to characters like so much Halloween candy.

Although a few plot twists are coincidental, they are rewarding to the reader. I particularly like the way one such development casts a formerly pathetic and unreliable character in a new light--very nice irony!

There's something poignant and just a little haunting about Shinn's three books. What's more, several of her key characters, while they are certainly fallible, seem aware of their effect on others in a way that inspires without being preachy. Shin seems to be saying that even though there are plenty of selfish, mean-spirited people out there, don't forget that many others are kind and regularly reach out in an effort to improve the lives of those around them. This is a balanced and heartening message in a world in which the nightly news might incline young readers to think that serial killers and terrorists lurk around every single corner.

Perhaps it's because I read it so recently, but I think The Dream-Maker's Magic is probably my favorite of the three books. I happily recommend that you read them all.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not just for young adults, July 9, 2006

By	Teresa Dzieweczynski "sandmanlover" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This short novel is the third in Shinn's series involving young people in a semimagical realm. In this tale, we learn the story of Kellen and Gryffin. Both characters have a harsh live. Kellen's mother refuses to acknowledge that she is a girl. Gryffin is crippled and abused by his uncle. Together, they gain the strength to grow beyond their situation and find love along the way. While this is set as a young adult book, don't let that scare you away. It's enjoyable by all.