Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Dare to Dream by Amanda LaPera is the first book in the Desert of Dreams series. In it, Kiara ends up in the ironically named desert environment of Lake Los Angeles after her parents’ divorce. Her mother calls it affordable housing, but to Kiara, it’s an oppressive place. At a nearby one-room school, she meets Cole, a bright-eyed boy who offers the first spark of happiness in the vast emptiness. While trying to manage life with her younger brother and a mother who is emotionally distant, Kiara faces the struggles of adolescence in the 1980s and 90s, dealing with complicated friendships, confusing relationships, and feelings of being alone. When Carolyn enters the picture, Kiara’s trust in others is tested as she longs for a life beyond the desert.

Dare to Dream by Amanda LaPera is a wonderful coming-of-age story. The writing is organic and textured, using the harsh desert landscape as a mirror to Kiara’s emotional state. Descriptions like “The shadows of the buttes loomed larger” evoke a real feel of desolation, reinforcing Kiara’s isolation. LaPera also does an excellent job of portraying Kiara’s growing autonomy, particularly as she begins to withdraw from social expectations, choosing to control her own narrative instead of succumbing to the chatter from less-than-friendly classmates. Her relationship with Carolyn acts as a key turning point, and I like how Kiara’s perspective is challenged, pushing her toward greater self-awareness. This thoughtful tale of personal agency and identity through amazing, emotional settings makes LaPera’s novel a powerful and very worthy read. Recommended.