THE NIGHTMARE THIEF

Something is rotten in magical Rockpool Bay.

Some residents of Rockpool Bay are born with specific magic that helps them with their businesses, such as the pharmacy with its charmed medicines and Maren’s grandmother Lishta’s dream shop, where Maren is learning to make both healing dreams and intense nightmares. Maren first meets Ms. Malo at the dream shop, where she demands to be sold 12 nightmares despite Lishta’s limit of three, never to be administered to others without consent. Unfortunately, Maren herself breaks the rule, giving her sister, Hallie, a dream in an effort to wake her from her coma. Ms. Malo catches Maren and threatens to expose her if Maren doesn’t supply her with nightmares. Maren uneasily acquiesces but notices that some magic-imbued shops are closing. She believes it’s Ms. Malo’s doing, but what is her motive? The buildup is slow and creepy, and sinister events and changes in the town add to the threatening atmosphere. More anxiety-provoking is Maren’s dilemma: tell the truth and destroy her family or aid Ms. Malo and destroy Rockpool Bay? The author skillfully ratchets up the tension when Lishta, Maren, and her friend are captured by Ms. Malo. It takes all of Maren’s knowledge and courage to stage their rescue as she grows and learns that the love of friends and family is the best magic of all. Characters default to White.

A spine-tingling adventure.