The Dream Thieves by Maggie StiefvaterMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Book II of The Raven Cycle, The Dream Thieves, begins where The Raven Boys left off. The group of four boys, all students at exclusive Anglionby Academy, although with varying backgrounds, have become friends with Blue Sargent, a local girl from a family of psychics, in the search for a mysterious and lost Welsh king. So far this reads as your typical YA modern fantasy, but it is so much more.
While the story is terrific, and the writing propulsive, what really captivates me about The Raven Cycle is Stiefvater's clear eyed look at the divisions brought about by class and culture among teens. Some have it all, some want it all, and some just want to get away - but it is not always what you would guess from the outside. Another unusual feature of Stiefvater's, and one that reminds me a bit of John Green, is the adults. Unlike many YA novels where the adults are either absent, neglectful/abusive, or caricatures, the adults in The Raven Cycle are fully formed, real people.
I don't want to give away too much about this book, but I highly encourage you to read it. The book is solidly YA in theme, but I personally didn't see anything that would be inappropriate for a mature middle schooler. If you haven't read Raven Boys, you still have a two months before The Dream Thieves hits stores to finish it. Start now.
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