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Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
In Closet of Dreams, written by Mark Ukra and Tara Mesalik MacMahon nine-year-old Child faces bullying from Eddie Whitney. Seeking solace at Kids Park, where Gamma, his grandmother, works, Child befriends Randi, sharing dreams of Little League, and ultimately a talking dog named Hilda, who turns out to be wise and helpful. A storm prompts Child to seek safety in the Closet of Dreams, where Hilda guides him. Adopting Hilda, Child discovers her power when bullies steal his Little League application. With Hilda's help, they retrieve it. When Kids Park is vandalized, Child proposes forming a baseball team to encourage unity. Child is intent on proving his team's worth and persevering in the face of resistance and, worst of all, Eddie's intimidation and bullying.
I had as much fun reading Closet of Dreams as my youngest reader, and I found myself explaining why I could not stop laughing at a little kid saying, “I’ve been waiting my whole life to hear those words.” Get in line, kid; I've been here longer! The writing is exceptional, and I adore the blend of real-world issues and fantasy elements. Better still, while Gamma and Hilda and a whole natural and fantasy support system rally around, Child is the one who must overcome adversity. Child learns, grows, and finds encouragement, but Mark Ukra and Tara Mesalik MacMahon make sure that he uses his own agency to sort it out. At the end of the day, reality triumphs through action, which is an important theme. The book incorporates wonderful line sketch illustrations by Donna Dyer that breathe life into the story and are really beautifully executed. Overall, this is a home run and a solid start to what promises to be a good series.
