Book Review: Dream Smashers

Dream Smashers
Author: Angela Carlie
Pages: 244 pgs
Reading Level: YA
Publihsed: March 24th 2011
Review Source: Author
Available: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Summary: (from goodreads) Sixteen-year-old Autumn has spent her entire life worrying about others. Her ailing grandma, meth-addicted mom, and a best friend who is always in trouble. She's spent the last few years attempting to worry less, to be carefree, without success.

Enter Evan, whose radiant attitude is an Autumn magnet. With Evan at her side, Autumn's able to let some of her worries go as they trudge through life's difficulties and fall for each other in the process.

A girl who no longer wants to care and a boy who cares enough for the both of them, Dream Smashers is a love story, but most of all, it's about letting go.

“Dream Smasher” is a very strong and emotional story about a young girl named, Autumn Winters. Her mother has been addicted to drugs pretty much all her life. Autumn’s grandmother has had to take care of her after child services took her away from her drug addicted mother. Now Autumn is a teenager and is not only having to deal with normal teenage problems, but problems that no teenager should ever have to deal with. Ms. Carlie does an incredible job describing Autumn’s drug addicted mother, Jacinda, who by the way is as evil and self centered as they come. Autumn’s character is very inspirational and heartwarming. She is one touch cookie. Rainy, Autumn’s best friend, is also dealing with some serious issues with her brother and her parents.

At first I didn’t think I was going to like this book because of the religious aspect of it, but it turned out to be a pretty good and inspirational read. It shows us that with a little faith, we could get through anything. There will always be Dream Smashers in the world, we just have to do our best to stay focused and on the right path.