Ross Mackenzie - Zac & The Dream Pirates - Book Review

                                       Zac and the Dream Pirates

Everybody dreams. That's the problem. Good dreams are sweet. Bad dreams are scary, but what happens if the worst sort of nightmares take over? Zac Wonder is about to find out. On the stroke of midnight, he is plunged into an extraordinary world on the other side of sleep. Is he still dreaming? Has he gone nuts? Or, is he really meant to save us all from vampires, werewolves and the dream pirates who threaten to keep us awake forever............

If you ever want to get lost in a book and be instantly transported back to your childhood, then this is the book for you. From the very first page to the last, this is a magical adventure that is full of crazy ideas which are spun into every page enabling your imagination to run wild. 

The book finds Zac living a normal life with his granny. However, Zac has started to have vivid dreams which begin to unsettle him, as they feel too realistic. One day he finds his granny acting strangely and follows her into a full-on adventure. This story will have you spellbound, as you fly through the pages in a zany camper van - fighting skywaymen, a variety of monsters and blood-thirsty vampires that have come straight out of your nightmares.

This book is packed with action - it will leave any reluctant reader wanting much more. The stand-offs between the Knights of Nod and the Dream Pirates have a film-like quality that bring your imagination to the boil. It's full of nasty creatures that want to eat you, suck your blood or indeed just kill you . . . . . !

The one thing I was a little unsure about involved the book cover. Whilst it glows in the dark, which is a great marketing idea to entice the younger reader. I would have liked to have seen a more appealing book cover to entice a wider audience. This, I feel, would attract more readers because this is certainly a book that screams out to be read by everyone.

This is a great debut book by Ross - it's well written and I think it has a great future.  Ross should begin to develop a good following, as every reader who picks up this book up and turns the pages, should be eager to see what he writes next. I for one, can't wait.

Book Published by Chicken House -  6 September 2010

Comments

Pragmatic Mom said…
Is this a chapter book? What is the age range you suggest? Sounds like an intriguing book!

Pragmatic Mom
Type A Parenting for the Modern World

http://PragmaticMom.com
I blog on parenting, education and chldren's lit.
I would suggest the age appropriateness of this book is within the 9-11 age range. Although according to the Chicken House website they state it as being for the 8+ age range. This is not a picture book.