The Tunnel of Dreams
Bernard Beckett
Text Publishing
pub. 2020

02 March, 2021

The Tunnel of Dreams begins in the dusty shadows of an abandoned house. Identical twins Arlo and Stefan discover a girl called Alice. She is not happy to have her hideout found but needs the boys’ help.  Her own twin sister is locked in a cage suspended over a mysterious mine in a parallel world.

I think any kids from the age of 8-11 would like this book, because of the ‘kids save the day’ plot, interesting characters and an original magic system. Fans of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia would probably enjoy this jewel of a novel.

The Tunnel of Dreams is about dreaming big and achieving the impossible, and the power of friendship, loyalty and honesty. It shows kids how to be brave and stick up for their friends and what is right. I think a year five and six school class would enjoy doing this book as a read-along, because of the suspenseful plot and relatable characters.

My favorite character in this book is Alice, because she stands up for herself and is brave. She never gives up and will do anything to help her sister. Alice is a fantastic role model for girls who love to read, because she is a likeable and strong heroine for people to relate to.

One of the reasons I found this book interesting was the way it compared magic and technology. In this book, it explores a parallel world where there is magic, but no technology. In this universe, the world split into half after a war: one half chose to keep magic and the other side chose technology.

Another theme it explores is the magical bond between twins, especially identical twins.  In this book, Arlo and Stefan use their twin magic and compassion to save the day and help their friends.

I reckon this book would appeal to girls and boys equally, because there are main characters of both genders who cooperate. It also has plotlines of action as well as friendships and magic, which makes it an overall appealing book for everyone to enjoy.

The author, Bernard Beckett, has written young adult book in the past; The Tunnel of Dreams is his first middle grade novel. I think this doesn’t matter, because he has done a fantastic job of writing for younger kids. It is also always super cool to see a New Zealand author writing such entertaining books for Kiwi kids.

In my opinion, this book will be enjoyed by many, because the writing and plot are spot on, the characters are realistic and relatable, the new magical world will enthrall and entertain and the cover is simply gorgeous, with bright stars and rainbow colors, which are appealing to a reader.

The Tunnel of Dreams is a sweet, lovable book, which I believe will be enjoyed by girls and boys aged about eight to eleven, and even adults who like to read cute stories sometimes, for Harry Potter, Narnia and Lord of the Rings fans, and everyone else in between.

• Sasha Maclean is 13 years old and a student at Sacred Heart Girl’s College, New Plymouth.