When We Got Lost in Dreamland

Good storey, good ending. Crazy adventure and dreamland which kept our attention throughout. Recommended book for older primary school aged children as slightly scary!

Got a few chapters in reading this to my children (10 and 12) and it was just felt a little silly/young for them. His previous books are absolutely amazing.... Maybe I read those to my children when they were just a little younger, but it still feels like those books were more instantly engaging (for both children and adults). Will probably pick this up again when I've read them something else. 3 stars for now, benefit of the doubt that it's worth finishing

such a good book it is the best you should ddefinitly get it and well done for making a great novel five stars because it is brilliant and amazing :)

This book was a great hit with my son. He loves all Welfords books!

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4.5 starsWelford comes up with winner after winner - ideas that children themselves will identify with as desires, wishes or questions. Time travel, invisibility, and now controlling dreams.A pair of brothers give a lifelike sibling relationship to the story. Malky is the elder, talked into a minor crime by a school bully, and unexpectedly finding himself with a Dreaminator device. Seb is the younger of the two, and pretty keen to try out the 'dream control' object to enjoy the caveman dream of his favourite book.Who wouldn't want to be able to control their dreams?! It's a fantastic idea. Sadly, because Malky lets Seb get his way, most of what we see is the same dream setting - I would have loved to see Welford experiment and explore the concept more to show us a greater range of settings and possibilities before continuing with the plot. Oh well.The plot does become rather intense quite quickly. Seb cannot wake up from their shared dream - what can Malky do to bring his (annoying) little brother back into consciousness?There are other issues woven in expertly - not only a bully, but a protagonist who isn't the typical 'hero' character - Malky is more a grey-area boy, who gives in to pressure, who doesn't come across as a good friend, who has his own demons he's afraid to face.We meet a bit of a young '(manic) dream pixie' and her grandmother who conveniently befriend Malky and have insight into his dream situation, as well as an aged former 'someone' who has his own Dreaminator story.A lot of threads do come together, and Welford does deliver on the dream front ultimately in some senses, though I did feel it followed a path I expected and didn't add what I felt was hinted at and potentially new and exciting.It's touching, exciting, funny, and very enjoyable to watch Malky's adventures with a new friend in tow, and some in-jokes that readers are 'in on', but the characters aren't.A cut above most books for the target market, full of imagination and heart.For ages 9-12.With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

When We Got Lost in Dreamland is a captivating and imaginative adventure which hooked me in right from the beginning.When 12 year old Malky and his little brother Seb end up in possession of two 'Dreaminators' (remarkable contraptions that allow you to control your dreams) they can't wait to go to bed and have the adventures they have always dreamed of. However, things soon start to go wrong - dreams become nightmares, reality becomes blurred and Seb becomes lost in Dreamland. Can Malky overcome his fears and save his little brother before time runs out?The well crafted plot is pacy and full of humour, excitement and several tender moments. All the characters are well-developed and convincing. Malky's flawed character was very endearing and I enjoyed how his relationships with the other characters developed throughout.This was the first Ross Welford book I've read but it won't be the last as I have now got several others lined up; I don't know what has taken me so long!

This was a truly magical tale, and it would have captivated my imagination so much as a kid. The idea of controlling your dreams and being able to live them as if they are real, but also to ward off nightmares, is one I was fascinated with when I was little. I've always had quite vivid dreams, but there's a big difference between that and being able to actually decide what happens.I liked Malky and felt a little sorry for him, as it was clear he was just a bit misguided and easily lead astray, rather than the bad kid everyone seemed to think he was. It was nice to see his relationship with his little brother improve across the book, as well with some of the other characters around him. He was clearly struggling to find his way in the world after his parents split, and it was wonderful to see him gradually learn to stand up for himself and his friends as the book progressed.I really laughed out loud more than once whilst reading, there is so much humour on offer. The boys not understanding their mums 'friendship' with 'Fit Billy' from next door made me giggle every time it popped up. Susan's grandmother also was just wonderful, not mincing her words and putting Malky in his place whilst still being kind. There is also a particularly bizarre but entertaining sequence that involves Hitler and nerf guns.Whilst the magical dream aspects could be quite lovely, I did really enjoy that there was a darker undertone to the book. There are actually some really difficult issues that are subtly addressed, the consequences of addiction, grief and the loneliness that many elderly people find themselves living through. These weren't ever thrust obviously in your face, but were just there enough to get a small mind thinking. Also the idea that sometimes reality can be even scarier than a nightmare, that mortuary scene made me shudder so much!!Malky's adventure with the Dreaminator was definitely a lot of fun, and sometimes a little terrifying. I would definitely recommend this one for younger middle grade readers, and all those who've dreamed about being able to walk through their own dreams.