DREAMOVER

Two teens are swept into a shared dream amid the ups and downs of first love.

Under the glow of the lights from an arcade game, Amber confesses to her best friend, Nico, that she wants to be more than friends. He admits that he returns her feelings, and they spend the summer before 9th grade basking in the bliss of puppy love, much to the consternation of Nico’s Filipino mother (Amber reads white). When school starts, their relationship becomes a welcome escape from the social and academic pressures of high school, especially for Amber. But as the pair become more caught up in each other, they begin to alienate their once tight-knit friend group. One night, Amber and Nico fall asleep on the sofa while watching TV and find themselves sharing a strange but beautiful dream. Their journey across fantastical landscapes feels like the perfect place to hide away forever. The longer it goes on, however, the more it becomes clear that even a dream doesn’t offer a safe escape from the problems they’ve been dealing with in the outside world. How will things change for Amber and Nico when—and if—they wake up? The story takes place in 2008, but the cheekily portrayed, geographically ambiguous suburban setting lends a sense of timelessness. Expressive full-color illustrations in soft tones make for an uncommonly immersive read.

A breathtakingly drawn debut weaving together humor, sweetness, angst, and a bit of magic.