Summary: Bea has been having strange dreams that are so vivid that they seem real. In her dreams she involved with a handsome soldier Alan Warren who is a ranger in the Revolutionary war. Even though they are distracting her from her everyday life Bea plunges into a dreamworld that blurs the lines between reality and fantasy. With romance, adventure and danger are they just dreams or something more? Add a dash of real life romance and the everyday struggles of school and friends Bea soon finds herself wondering if its better to stick with the fantasy.

Awards and Recommendations: None

Themes:
Revolutionary war
Knowlton's Rangers
Romance
Relationships
Dreams/meanings
Family conflict
Friendship
Historical adventure/danger
General Washington
Independance

Comments: It is hard to find good graphic novels for teen girls that are not candy fluff and one dimensional flops. The Dreamer fills a much needed niche with a good complex (but not overly so) storyline, romance, adventure, danger and life choices that teen girls might face. Bea is a typical teenager with almost unbelievable dreams. Innes does a great job of making the reader believe and relate to the dream world she has created. The added historical reference is well placed and fits in with the story without making the reader feel like their reading a textbook. I highly recommend this for any school or public libraries graphic novel section. You can also read most of the first book for free online to formulate your own opinion and to see if it fits in your collection.

Extensions: This would be a great addition to a Revolutionary War study. Students could research the Knowlton Rangers and their contributions to the war effort. Additional studies could be done on how women and young teens played roles in the fight for our independance.