Overview

Age range 9 to 11 Dream Warriors are magical beings who battle ""nap to night"" to keep sleeping people safe from bad dreams. Each Dream Warrior is assigned a person to protect with whom they share a special connection. Their fight is honourable. They're the reason humanity can continue to dream.Now, all of that is at risk. The Bad Dreams have teamed up to conduct a multi-layer plan to convert all dreams into nightmares and permanently scar the human race. It's up to the Dream Warriors, including newbie Khi, to defeat them. But, Khi, misses his old life and is still just trying to figure out his new normal: living in the dream realm and being...well...a super hero. Will he muster up the courage to embrace his new life? Will he be able keep his slumbering sister safe while she sleeps at night? And will he and the other Dream Warriors be able to protect the earthly realm from the Bad Dreams for good?

Full Product Details

9781223187938

Table of Contents

Reviews

""Byrd's imaginative story is superbly realized by the bright, bold, and energetic artwork, which boasts an impressive array of inventive character design and world building... A fantastic romp for kids who like dense storytelling and videogame-like plot structures."" --Jonathan Khan, Booklist (October 2025) ""Byrd establishes an intriguing premise through compelling worldbuilding...Santiago's zany, frenetic illustrations translate the dream realms into battlefield landscapes rich in varied colors."" -Kirkus Reviews In this bustling graphic novel by Byrd (Dancing with Dante), 12-year-old Mekhi Glover, dreaming of sailing in a paper boat along a cosmic river, jumps ship into Cloud 9, the mythical realm of the Dream Warriors (""the Happy Hunting Ground... a strange mix of Fólkvangr, Valhalla, and Hel""), and there becomes the organization's newest recruit. The goal of a Dream Warrior is to protect slumbering individuals from Fears--villains from nightmarish world Pit 6--a task that Khi is reluctantly wrangled into. As Khi undergoes haphazard training and is absorbed into a group of warrior comrades, he yearns to return to the waking world, where he feels responsible for protecting his younger sister Lolo from a local bully. Santiago's saturated colors and thick lines render the vibrant worlds of Cloud 9 and Pit 6, which buzz with high-adrenaline, video game-like action sequences and classic comic superhero machinations such as training montages and prophecies. Though underdeveloped supporting characters occasionally lean into stereotype, brown-skinned Khi, sporting locs and a baggy rainbow ombre shirt, proves a dimensional and determined hero in this exciting series launch. -Publisher's Weekly

Author Information

Jesse Byrd is an international award-winning children's book author and the youngest NPR Board member. At 6'8"", Jesse pivoted from playing basketball at UCSB to pursue his passion for storytelling. After working at Google in Silicon Valley and later EY in Dubai as Director of Communications for Middle East and North Africa, Jesse turned all of his energy toward his deepest love: making stories for youth and families with a focus on supporting diverse creators and #own voices material. He's written six children's books and helped produce over 40 others as an editor, art director, and publishing consultant. Jesse is based in Los Angeles, CA.

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