Graci Kim on Dreamslinger

In this post, we feature author Graci Kim, whose acclaimed, popular novels include the titles in the Gifted Clans Trilogy. You can hear her speak about her new novel, Dreamslinger, and try her “invitation to imagine” activity. You’ll also find other resources to explore. Thanks for joining us, and let us know what you think in the comments below!

Dreamslinger

Written by Graci Kim
Published by Disney Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Books
Release date: April 29, 2025

Fourteen-year-old Aria Loveridge lives at the Resthaven Home for Dreamslingers, a safe haven for children born with a genetic mutation that transports them to a powerfully magical realm while they sleep. But this magic can be unpredictable—even deadly. After all, it was only ten years ago when members of the Royal League of Dreamslingers caused the Great Outburst—a tragedy that killed hundreds of people, including Aria’s mom. Since then, Aria’s dad has become a leading expert on Dreamslinger Welfare, which means Aria knows better than most what it takes to keep society safe from her, and others like her: separation, identification, and most importantly, power suppression. So, when the Kingdom of Royal Hanguk announces the first Dreamslinger trials where teenage slingers from around the world are invited to compete, Aria knows what she must do: join the trials and take down the League from the inside. Aria’s quest to find the truth, including about herself, drives this thrilling start to a new series about confronting power, family legacies, dark secrets, and the sustaining force of friendship.

From Dreamslinger, written by Graci Kim.

“Learning you suffered from the same genetic mutation as the people who killed your mom was enough to scar a kid for life.”
Click here to view a longer preview of Dreamslinger, written by Graci Kim.

Explore Dreamslinger

Listen to Graci Kim talking with TeachingBooks about creating Dreamslinger. You can click the player below or experience the recording on TeachingBooks, where you can read along as you listen, and also translate the text to another language.

Invitation to Imagine

TeachingBooks asks each author or illustrator on our Virtual Book Tour to share a writing prompt, a drawing exercise, or just an interesting question to spark curiosity and creativity. Enjoy the following activity contributed by Graci Kim.

Imagination Activity with Graci Kim

Imagine you have a dream where you find a mysterious gleaming key on the ground. You can’t help but pick it up. Then you wake up and realize that the key is still clutched in your hand. Just then, there is a gruff, impatient sounding knock on your bedroom door. You know it doesn’t belong to anyone in your family. You hold your breath as the door jerks open, and. . . [continue this story using your own imagination!].

Finish This Sentence . . . with Graci Kim

As part of our Virtual Book Tour, TeachingBooks asks authors and illustrators to complete short sentence prompts. Enjoy Graci Kim’s response.

“Where I work is…”

So I like to keep things different when I work. Sometimes I work in my office upstairs with my laptop plugged into my large monitor (good for my terrible eyes). Sometimes I work with my laptop downstairs on the couch or sitting at the kitchen bench. Sometimes I work in cafes, surrounded by the sounds of whirring coffee machines and peoples’ chatter. But below is a picture of one of my favorite ways to work—with this writing buddy. Would you believe this cat is not ours. I don’t even know how he gets into our house!

An image of a brown-and-black cat with the following text: "My writing buddy who is not actually our cat. I don't know how he gets into our house everyday but he manages to get in and keeps me company while I write. Guess you could call him my muse... or rather, my meowse?"

Thank you!

To wrap up this Virtual Book Tour, we thank Graci Kim for signing a book for all of us.

The title page of Dreamslinger, signed by the author, Graci Kim, with the message, "May you rise to be exceptional!"

More Connections to Graci Kim and Dreamslinger

Explore all of the titles featured in the TeachingBooks Virtual Book Tour: one link with author interviews, lesson plans, activities, and more!

All text and images are courtesy of Graci Kim and Disney Books and may not be used without expressed written consent.