Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wizards and Butterflies; Friendship and Teamwork, August 10, 2004
For parents and children looking for the next BIG young adult epic fantasy, here's one with magic, suspense, and adventure -- with an entomological twist. What in the natural world could be more magical to children than the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly? Granted, it also includes dragons, a multi-headed frog and even a talking jellyfish, but the message is upbeat and stresses the importance of friendships and teamwork throughout.
The story unfolds when a young boy named David discovers a wizard held captive in a monarch butterfly's body. David soon learns from the wizard, Houdin, that help is needed to stop the evil Thane, in the Dream World of Remin, from turning everyone's dreams into nightmares. As David is guided on an adventure of a lifetime he meets an odd assortment of characters and learns to use his inherent magical powers and courage, intelligence, and imagination to defeat the villain and -- even more importantly -- to confront and overcome his own fears. The scientific twist and creative wordplay make The Dark Dreamweaver much more than a story about a boy fighting an evil wizard. Also includes a glossary of resources and information about monarch butterflies.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A lesson in flexing the imagination muscle, August 23, 2004
If you crave a visit to a magical place populated by pleasant but unearthly creatures, a locale filled with clever riddles, nonstop adventure, and intrepid pals, The Dark Dreamweaver is your kind of reading.
Written by Baltimore resident Nick Ruth, the tale begins with young David pleading with his mother for more reading time before lights-out. At first we think that David must be an insatiable bookworm, but then we learn the real reason for his desire to stay awake and read. He's plagued of late by horrible nightmares that feature a big guy with white hair and gray skin wearing a long robe. "I can feel your fear," this frightful figure growls at David. "It fills me."
Who'd want to snooze with that to look forward to?
Despite David's efforts, the nightmare returns again and again. Worse yet, it's happening everywhere, according to a story in the newspaper.
The tale that Ruth skillfully weaves transports David on a journey to a world called Remin. The trip should last weeks and probably does. But in our world, it's a one-night jaunt lest David's parents notice his absence. In this short amount of time, the boy must help Houdin the wizard return to his homeland and, we hope, to his real form. Early on, we learn that Houdin carries a reincarnation curse that imprisons him in a cycle. He repeatedly turns into a butterfly. When David meets him, Houdin is in his caterpillar stage, which makes for some interesting methods of conversation between boy and larva. In fact, Houdin points out, David is the only person who has ever been able to converse with him.
Off this seemingly mismatched duo flies through the vortex, to a charmed place and one near fiasco after another. When they set off on their final quest -- to stop the evil dreamweaver who is causing nightmares worldwide and to rescue Remin in the process -- David's companions form a delightfully hodgepodge team. Illustrator Sue Concannon's drawings give enlightening shape to each creature.
This tale encourages liberal flexing of the imagination muscle. Watch for more stories featuring the dauntless David as Ruth works on the next tale in The Remin Chronicles.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
David Defeats the Wizard who's Causing Nightmares, October 8, 2004
I like fantasy, and this is a good one. As the book opens, the world has been afflicted with an epidemic of nightmares and insomnia. David is one of the sufferers, but he still has enthusiasm for the Monarch butterflies he is raising. One of them turns out to be a wizard from another world, cursed to cycle endlessly from egg to caterpillar to butterfly. He desperately needs help to return to his world and stop the villain who is wrecking his world and causing the outbreak of nightmares in ours. Young David steps into the breach and saves both worlds with his creativity, intelligence, and attention to the world around us.
David takes control of the cause of nightmares, and he banishes them. This could be quite helpful reading for young people suffering from too much imagination at night. It should entertain and inspire its audience.
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