Reading Metrics
Description
Having been hired by a mysterious corporation called Gippart, twelve-year-old Josh, along with two friends and the ghost of his dead twin sister, finds himself trapped in "umaya," a place between dreams, time, and reality.
Quick Summary
The Dream Merchant drops you into a strange, dream-like world where a twelve-year-old named Josh gets recruited by a shady corporation and quickly ends up in a surreal in-between place called umaya, where time and reality blur. The story mixes spooky vibes with quirky humor, and the ghost of Josh's twin sister adds a heart-warming, sometimes eerie thread that makes you think about loss and friendship. Kids who love adventures that feel like a video-game level mixed with a haunted-house vibe, or anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a splash of fantasy, will find it hard to put down. Parents will appreciate that the scares are mild more thrilling than truly terrifying and the underlying messages about teamwork and staying true to yourself are woven in without being preachy. Even though it's a longer story over 200,000 words the pacing and humor keep the pages turning without feeling like a chore. If you've ever read the "Neverending Story" or loved the mix of humor and spookiness in "Coraline," you'll feel right at home with this one.