Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for granting me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! Unfortunately, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

While I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, all opinions remain my own.

Not having read the first book in this series, I worried I would be a little lost. That was not the case. I loved this story. It has relatable characters and a story that keeps you flipping the pages. It isn't too scary for younger readers, but has enough mystery to keep even me reading.

I loved the first book in the series and this one was very fun too! I think the premise is so unique and the vibes of the story are magical. The writing is compelling and keeps you intrigued. I's a fast-paced fun read perfect for kids and adults alike.

The Dream Spies instantly pulls you into the story, balancing the careful act of bringing a reader up to speed on the series and kicking the action off immediately. The cover perfectly captures the magic, mystery, and whimsy of the story, which will surely delight middle grade lovers.

I liked this second installment of the series (The Nightmare Thief)- a magic Dream Camp was a great bridge after the magical store and I loved seeing more of Hallie and Maren.

This was such a fun book! I absolutely loved the woodsy and camp vibes. Definitely gave me Percy Jackon vibes, but with a bit of its own twist.

This book reminds me of the Arlo Finch series and I really love it. I love camp and woodsy settings. I enjoy nightmare tropes. This is a very realized world with well-developed characters.

I adore the dream shop and selling dreams. I think it is one of the coolest things I have read about in Middle Grade in a long time. The writing style reminded me of Graci Kim and Roshni Chokshi.

Maren, Hallie, and their grandmother go to investigate a camp for dreamers, then things go weird when campers wake up humming the same song. It is clear something is happening. What big evil plot is at hand?

Anyone who likes Fantasy that blends the real world with magic, will enjoy this. Rick Riordan Presents fans will love this as well.

This book starts off shortly after where book one ended, with Hallie doing better and everyone returning to normal. This story starts off at a much faster pace than book one and was thoroughly enjoyable. I am hoping there will be a third book in the series, I am looking forward to further adventures of Maren, Amos, and possibly Ivy?

Highly recommend.

In The Dream Spies, the second book in this series, Maren and her friends go on a mission in a mysterious summer camp where the campers supposedly learn how to make dreams.
This book is a very enjoyable, fun read. I loved how it uses the characters from the previous book in an entirely different, yet similar story. Sometimes it gets a little predictable, but it has some twists that I definitely didn't see coming.
Overall, it's a good second book, and it keeps the spirit of the first one in its entirety.
I'd highly recommend this book, along with the first one —The Nightmare Thief— to fans of middle grade books.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

trigger warning
<spoiler> being drugged, mind control, kidnapping </spoiler>

Summer is here, and it brings an advertisement for a seriously shady-sounding summercamp that centers around dreammagic. Magic Maren and her family have, so they have an interest in a good image. Since it sounds shady but not dangerous, Maren, her sister and her gran go undercover.

Same as in book one: Soft magic system, some families simply have these special abilities and Maren's family crafts dreams, tiny sachets that dissolve under your tongue and give you a certain dream. Some effects may last after waking, and thus can be used therapeutically - and so consent is a big thing in this series, which I like a lot.

Maren and Hallie, her sister, assume fake names and mingle with the campers while their grandmother gets a job in the cafeteria. Of course Henri, the grey parrots who curses in French, is with her, and since they need to maintain a low profile he curses in German. ... no that doesn't make sense, but Henri does what he wants, so whatever. Don't argue with the animal with the strong beak and pointy claws.

Of course, things get dangerous before they can pull out, and so they have to see the thing through. I like that we have a reasonable explanation as to why our child characters have to solve the case: They're in a summer camp, they can't trust most adults there, and they have one adult at their side. They simply can't meet her asap since all of them have to maintain covers.
And of course the summer camp is in an area without cell reception. They have their phones, but can't really do anything with them.

The ending, the very last scene, felt a bit random and rushed. Apart from that, no complaints from my side. Fast paced, likeable characters, no gaping plotholes. It was fun.
I can't remember if this was planned as a duology or not, but I'd be down to read more, or read more by the same author.

The arc was provided by the publisher.

I have not read the first book in this series and my library did not have it. Nonetheless, the action of this book was easy to follow. There were mentions of the previous book, but I was able to get along fine without having read it.

The worldbuilding was interesting, with the idea of being able to custom craft dreams as one might compound a recipe or a medicine. Maren is still clearly feeling some guilt and trauma from events of the previous book. She’s also jealous of her twin’s popularity. While this is mentioned several times, it is not an actual part of the action of the book, and nothing comes of these unresolved feelings.

When Maren, twin Hallie, and best friend Amos, go undercover with “Gran-Gran” Lishta to a sleep-away camp all about dreaming, they find that things are definitely veering more into the nightmare category. The dreams seem to be affecting campers waking lives. Then they start sleepwalking…and some of them won’t wake up. It is up to Maren and company to figure out what’s going on. Maren has to decide who at camp is trustworthy and whom to avoid.

The actual plot behind this camp was telegraphed fairly well, and I was unsurprised when the baddie announced their evil plan. (As baddies are wont to do.) Getting the problem solved took a lot of ingenuity and some backbone that shy Maren, in contrast to her popular sister, didn’t always have.

The characters are fun and realistic for their age. The spunky grandma is a bit cliché for my taste. But her parrot, Henri, who can insult everyone in both French and German, is a delight.

If another book in this series comes up on my NetGalley lists, I’ll be sure to request it.

Possible objectionable material:
As with so many middle-grade novels, sneaking around is an issue. People lie. The kids break into an office. There is no swearing, no romance. There is the magic of making dreams.

Who might like this book:
If you like adventure and solving a mystery, this is a good selection, especially if you like to have fantasy elements to go along.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the EARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2022/01/january-11-releases.html

It is summertime, and siblings Maren and Hallie have no big plans besides helping their grandmother in her dream shop. Gran-Gran is famous for the dreams she creates and sells, and Maren and Hallie are preparing to follow in her footsteps. When Gran-Gran comes across a summer camp for creating dreams, she is immediately intrigued and applies for a job to learn more about it. Begrudgingly, Maren and Hallie’s parents permit them to tag along, joined by their friend Amos. Nothing at the camp is what it appears, and it is up to Maren and her companions to get to the truth and save the other campers before it is too late.

The second in its series, this story transports readers back into the magical reality of Maren and Hallie’s life. Reminders of events from book one are strategically placed within the narrative, and readers will easily reconnect with each of the characters. Gran-Gran’s pet parrot Henri provides especially charming comic relief as he shouts insults in both French and German while supporting the action within the story. The stakes in this second installment are higher than in the first book, giving middle grade readers an emotional challenge as they graduate to this sequel.

Maren is the focal point of this story, and readers are exposed to her range of emotions as she grows and matures throughout the narrative. While she is excited about attending camp, she is nervous about being away from home and the comfort of her own bed. However, she works hard to step outside of her comfort zone and solve the mystery taking place around her, becoming a more independent young adult in the process. Young teen readers will recognize many of Maren’s sentiments throughout her adventure and will be inspired to showcase bravery of their own.

This book reads easily, capturing readers’ attention from the very first chapters. While the story can be read on its own, it is best to read The Nightmare Thief first to understand all of the references in this book. The climactic action sequences are compelling and unique, tossing characters into and out of dreams with some frequency. Placed in a familiar summer camp setting, this story adds a spin of mystery and magic that will happily engage middle grade readers. This is a lovely companion story that is well suited to young readers who are transitioning to more complex and lengthy narratives.

I always appreciate early access to reading books through NetGalley.

Absolutely LOVE this book! Years ago on the Fl SSYRA middle grades list was one of my favorites called The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy. I loved that book and it spurred my interest in twisted and modern-day fairytales.

I did not read the first book prior to this one, but I easily managed to understand and I am grateful to the author for the background nuggets. I definitely want to read the first book now! I loved the elements of friendship, sisterhood, betrayal, spies, dreams, and more. Its a mystery/fantasy/adventure with all the good things a middle grade book can have.

Maren, Hallie, and Amos set off with Grandma to a suspicious summer camp that claims to make dreams & teach its campers how to as well.  It doesn't take long at camp for Maren to know there is something wrong with this camp and it's creators.
This is the second book in the series & I don't feel like I missed too much not having read the first. Even for an adult woman, The Dream Spies is super entertaining. At no point was I bored. The writing is excellent, the book intriguing, and the cover design eye catching. Thank you to Sourcebook Young readers and Nicole Lesperance for letting me take a sneak peak into this book! Pub date is coming in January so be ready to add this to your young reader's shelf. Also, preorder is available on Amazon!

Marin's life is getting back to normal after the events of the first book. Her sister is doing well and the dream shop is doing great. Her and her sister are making dreams with their grandmother and while they are there their grandmother sees an ad for a dream camp and thinks something is suspicious and after making some calls around and it seems nobody else in the dream making community know anything about it. 

Lishta, their grandmother decides she is going to go under cover at the camp to see if it's the real deal or if something else is going on. Marin and Hallie decide they want to go with her and after some talking it over their parents decide to let them go. 

Something is definitely off about the camp and it's up to Marin, Hallie and Lishta to figure out what it is and help those that are at the camp.

I like Marin she has a lot of spunk and loves her family and after what happened in the first one she gets spooked easily and always worries about the bad person getting to them again even though it's not possible, but that doesn't mean another baddy can't take that ones place. Her, her sister, their friend Amos and Lishta work hard to keep everyone safe. It's just a fun book.

I remember encountering a trade review for this book that used the word "bananas," and not gonna lie, that about sums it up.

THE DREAM SPIES is a whimsical, wild twist on the summer campy mystery. Nicole Lesperance's prose is just as evocative as I remembered from her previous MG, THE NIGHTMARE THIEF, and I was delighted to dive back into Maren's colorful world.

This is a sequel, but it stands alone quite well. And although the plot might occasionally feel a little TOO heady & bananas for some readers, it's also a fun fantasy romp with an unforgettable magic system. I'll definitely be checking out the author's YA books in the near future!

Lovely fun book that I cherished a lot, just sped through this book, the story was adorbs! The series is absolutely beautiful and I love this adventure series a lot!
I love the little bit of mystery because that made things so much more worth it!

So I really should pay attention when picking arcs. I don’t feel I can give this a fair shake without reading the first book.
However, it is well written with an interesting story. I could see my 12 year old being really interested in this.

You need to read the previous book in this series to fully appreciate the proceedings. This author writes good exciting well written stories and the two books (so far) in this series are great. The stories follow the adventures of Maren who comes from a family of dream makers (yes magic !).She is a girl with a good heart and strong sense of right and wrong. Her adventures are mildly scary but sooo exciting ,great for preteens to post retirement , even better when read aloud.