num_pages: 300
description: Largely set in New York City in the early years of the 20th century the novel follows the exploits of three writers working to create children's series (think Nancy Drew &amp; The Hardy Boys).Robert Parrish s childhood obsession with series books like the Hardy Boys and Tom Swift inspired him to become an author. Just as his debut novel becomes a bestseller his relationship with his girlfriend Rebecca begins to fall apart. Robert realizes he must confront his secret demons by fulfilling a youthful promise to solve a mystery surrounding his favorite series the Tremendous Trio.Guided by twelve tattered books and an unidentified but tantalizing fragment of a story Robert journeys into the history of the books that changed his life hoping they can help him once again. His odyssey takes him to 1906 Manhattan a time of steamboats boot blacks and Fifth Avenue mansions but every discovery he makes only leads to more questions.Robert s quest intertwines with the stories of three young people trying to define their places in the world at the dawn of a new and exciting century. Magda Gene and Tom not only write the children s books that Robert will one day love together they explore the vibrant city on their doorstep from the Polo Grounds to Coney Island s Dreamland drawing the reader into the Gilded Age as their own friendships deepen.The connections between the authors their creations and Robert s redemptive journey make for a beautifully crafted novel that is an ode to the children s series books of our past to New York City and above all to the power of love and friendship.
language: English
title: Escaping Dreamland
publisher: Blackstone Publishing