Hello Yellow - 80 Books to Help Children Nurture Good Mental Health and Support With Anxiety and Wellbeing - The second instalment of the Krasnian series will be published by Usborne in 2023. Written by David Farr and illustrated by Kristina Kister, it continues the epic adventures of Rachel and Robert Klein, the “spirited” Meyer family and the strange world of the Hinterland. With a gorgeous cover like that and with the tile of The Book of Stolen Dreams I had high expectations for this adventurous middle grade novel. Unfortunately those were not at all met. j’ai bien bien aimé. c’est de l’aventure plus que de la magie, mais j’ai quand même apprécié ma lecture! et que dire de la première de couverture! elle est magnifique et est représentative de la belle histoire qu’elle contient. Farr’s beautifully crafted, thought-provoking story isn’t an easy-breezy read, but Farr is intimately acquainted with its stakes: The Book of Stolen Dreams was inspired by his own German Jewish family’s escape from Nazi Germany between 1935 and 1938. The novel grapples with tough, weighty questions: Is happiness possible under government oppression? When is a risk worthwhile? What do we owe our fellow citizens?

We don’t know why this has happened, but Farr immediately sets up a tense and unsettling atmosphere. We are introduced to our protagonists, Robert and Rachel Klein, when they accompany their father to the lending library where he works. This journey is done at night, and nobody is told about it so we know it is dangerous. All we know is that it has something to do with The Book of Stolen Dreams that Felix Klein steals - rumours are that it is scheduled to be destroyed - and charges his children with protecting until they can hand it over to a man called Solomon. I love medieval Books of illumination. They are strangely magical. In actual fact very often each image - a bird, or an animal or an object - symbolises something very specific. But over time that meaning has stretched and dissolved and, in its place, comes something almost more wonderful. So, this sense of a book that has seen centuries was to me very significant. The Book of Stolen Dreams is great. This book is about a girl called Rachel Klein and her older brother, Robert. When their mother passes away and their father gets sent to prison, they are in big trouble. Before their father was sent to prison, he was hiding a very valuable book, called The Book of Stolen Dreams, from an evil president called Charles Malstain. This president wants to destroy the book and now it’s Rachel and Robert’s job to hide it. I like the poems of dreams that come after a few chapters.... Read Full Review No. I suspect you come from the poorer north of the city, from a family of artists. Your eyes are musical, and your nose gives me the strongest impression that you have a piano in your living room.” The magic that was uncovered proved fascinating. I loved its slow introduction in the book and loved learning how it impacted the lives of these children. David Farr integrated it seamlessly into the story and I was engaged in all the different aspects that combined to make this a fascinating and fast-paced story.Did you feel very engaged when you were writing their story, as that is suggested by the authorial voice?

Courage, understanding and compassion’: Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Tom de Freston’s Julia and the Shark. Illustration: Kiran Millwood Hargrave /Tom de Freston Along the way we meet a host of characters - at both ends of the spectrum. Malstain is a shadowy villain, orchestrating terrible deeds for his own selfish reasons. Opposing him are a motley crew, and not all are guaranteed to do the right thing when asked.

The book doesn't focus much on character development. Each character has his/her own strong points that they utilize to their favour when the time comes. And that's kinda it.

The Book of Stolen Dreams follows a girl who has a missing brother, a father in jail and a mother who has passed away. When visiting a city, she meets a man who takes her on an airship and despite her father's warnings about not trusting strangers, she still follows through with it. This turns out to be a bad decision when she ends up being kidnapped in exchange for some money. Rachel has no choice but to try and escape, but will she? This is a superbly written book that I highly recommend for children who are not put off by a little darkness in the stories they read. But, my dear—why do you look so sad? Is it the poor quality of the hot chocolate? No, I see now. Your parents aren’t here with you. You are alone. Where are they?” When I was reading this book I felt like I was in the adventure with Robert and Rachel, the main characters, and I didn't want to stop reading it. This book is great for anyone who likes mysteries and suspense, and it appeals to both boys and girls. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes an adventure and a good plot. Farr is a master storyteller as evidenced by his phenomenally successful screenwriting and directing for the stage. This is evident in the confidence with which he controls all the elements in this complex, engrossing fantasy thriller – his first novel for a child audience.An exhilarating, awe-inspiring debut from a master storyteller writing for children for the first time, perfect for fans of Philip Pullman, Katherine Rundell and Eva Ibbotson. The children escape, but have to watch their father beaten by Malstain’s forces. They are subject to intimidation in their home as those under Malstain search desperately for the Book that the children vow to protect, though they don’t really know why. You're a screen writer and film director by trade - what has been your outstanding career moment to date? Rachel is escaping her home in the city of Brava and heading to Port St. Clement to find her brother. Her mother is dead and her father in prison. She is cold, hungry and hasn’t slept for days.

As a screenwriter, whether it's for plays or films or TV, you're endlessly writing dialogue that will only be read by your colleagues. In novels there's only you. But in screenplays you write very much from a point of view so I used this to begin by writing from Rachel's point of view and kept at it. A mysterious book with an intriguing story; a ruthless dictator who will stop at nothing to continue his rule; two children who will do everything in their power to save Krasnia.... The Book of Stolen Dreams is an absorbing, tense adventure set in a timeless city, where two siblings risk everything to try to bring to an end a ruthless dictatorship. Inspired by author David Farr's family and their escape from Nazi German, the story explores leadership, imagination and the power of stories and our dreams. You haven’t heard from him? Do you know where he lives? You don’t even have a telephone number? Then how will you find him? Now don’t cry, I was only asking a question. Of course you will find him, even though Port Clement is a city of seventeen million people and he has no idea you’re coming. Why are you crying again? Here I am trying to cheer you up and I only make things worse! My problem, Isabella, is I speak before I think. My mother—a marvelous woman—was very critical of this flaw of mine. Forgive me.” I suppose Rachel is the protagonist because I've always loved writing indomitable female characters (I wrote the film and TV series Hanna for example), I think because I have a female centred view of the world because of my mother and my sister whom I adore, and I have two daughters. At university I co-founded a small theatre company, Cambridge Talking Tongues, alongside two female friends, including actor Rachel Weisz. It was very much about their voice.The Book of Stolen Dreams centres around the plight of two siblings, Rachel and Robert. All books have a certain magic, but the Book of Stolen Dreams is like no other - this book has the power to grant eternal life. Rachel and Robert live in an oppressed city, ruled by an evil dictator, who is unquestionably the best-named baddy that I’ve encountered in a long time - Charles Malstain. Charles Malstain is terminally ill. His reign of terror is coming to an end. And - like all narcissistic bad guys - death is not an option for Mr Malstain. He is desperate to get his hands on the Book of Stolen Dreams so that he can avoid death and continue to rule Krasnia. However, Rachel, Robert and their father, Felix, have different plans. They sneak into the library and steal the book. Unfortunately for Rachel and Robert, their father is captured and imprisoned, leaving them as sole protectors of the book. I am writing a companion novel set in the same vintage Krasnian world and again, about imagination and power. I like it because it's such a simple world for readers to escape into. Rachel will make a strong appearance in it and it's loosely about a ghost who gets lost. I'm hoping that my writing for young readers becomes part of my day-to-day work. Some children may skim over the deeper messages of this book, but they provide crucial opportunities for discussions, both at home and in the classroom.