Children's Author
Helen Laycock
An imaginative circus-centric story that goes far deeper than simply marvelous acts in a traveling circus. It holds deep emotion and nuanced backstories. Though it's marketed for children, as a 36 year old, I really enjoyed the book. I appreciated it for its tight yet beautiful prose, dynamic main characters, and layered plot. I plan to purchase a copy for my niece this upcoming Christmas, and I know she will love it.
I have no business reading books meant for children. Yet seeing the world through a child’s eyes is refreshing. How can an adult not empathize with the innocent self they once were? That children are at the center of Glass Dreams and drive its conclusion are absolutely my favorite elements.
The protagonists are three-dimensional, each having good and bad qualities which shade them with realism. They experience fun and inner pain. They take chances, make decisions, and adjust as consequences require. All the while, they grow and mature.
Any reader will identify with the main characters and find common interest. Life doesn’t always leave them easy choices when it comes to doing the right thing ethically and morally. We watch and learn as they lead with their hearts and trust with their minds.
Buy this book for your children and read it yourself. You’ll find the world is small after all and decent if we don’t get bogged down in the messes surrounding us. The author drops juicy twists and teasers that keep the action high. The pages fly by nineteen to the dozen.