The Lost Dreamer
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Lost Dreamer, by Lizz Huerta, is a fantasy inspired by ancient Mesoamerica (the historical region and cultural area in southern North America and most of Central America, land of the Maya and Aztec peoples, among others). There are lots of strong, positive women as leaders and warriors. By entering the spirit world through dreaming, and accessing natural and supernatural forces through singing, teens Indir and Saya try to make sense of the chaotic change that's coming to their world. Violence is mostly in the fantasy realm. It's not frequent but includes mentions of blood spraying and pooling from fights with fantasy creatures and magical powers. Important characters die. A dog is tied up and tortured by throwing stones at it; there's a safe resolution and negative consequences. There are a few kisses, displays of affection, a plan to have sex, and implied sex without directly describing any actions. A small bite of a root induces an unpleasant hallucinogenic state with negative consequences.
Community Reviews
Strong characters, well crafted plot, cool cultural setting
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What's the Story?
THE LOST DREAMER is the story of I7-year-old Indir and 15-year-old Saya. Indir lives a pretty sheltered life growing up in a temple in the major city of Alcanzeh, where she's training to be a Dreamer. Dreamers enter the dream world in their sleep and seek guidance and help from the spirits they encounter there. Saya's never lived in one place for long. She and her mother have always been on the move for as long as Saya can remember. Although she's never had any training, Saya can enter the dream world too, and her mother exploits this ability to scratch out a living as they travel from town to town exchanging Saya's knowledge for their necessities. But change is coming to both their worlds, and as it often does, it's bringing chaos and uncertainty in its wake. The best hope for surviving the time of chaos is to find the lost dreamer of legend. First, though, they'll have to figure out who the Lost Dreamer is.
Is It Any Good?
This is an absorbing and sometimes lyrical fantasy set in a unique, fascinating world inspired by ancient Mesoamerica and populated by people who are equally unique and fascinating. Debut author Lizz Huerta's The Lost Dreamer takes the reader deep into the lives, loves, hopes, dreams, and beliefs of the characters and the richly detailed, colorful world they inhabit.
The story builds slowly, but the compelling characters and world they inhabit are so absorbing that the pages keep turning. Alternating between first-person narrators Indir and Saya keeps the suspense going about how their lives are intertwined and how, or whether, they will meet. Along the way, it offers lots of food for thought about family, sisterhood, community, and communion with the spiritual and the sacred. The cliffhanger ending cries out for a second installment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in The Lost Dreamer. Is it too much? What's the difference between fantasy violence and real-world violence?
Are Indir and Saya good role models? What are the character strengths and weaknesses? Who was your favorite character, and why?
Why are diverse representations important in books, movies, games, etc.? What do we gain from seeing ourselves reflected in the media, or by seeing people who are different from us?
Book Details
- Author: Lizz Huerta
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, Great Girl Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
- Publication date: March 1, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 14 - 18
- Number of pages: 384
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: April 1, 2022
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