Long Island author publishes fantasy book for tweens

Stony Brook resident Sarah Beth Durst has released her 10th book, “The Girl Who Could Not Dream” (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Clarion, $16.99), a fantasy novel for kids in grades 4 to 6.

It’s about a 12-year-old girl whose family owns a secret dream shop where they buy, bottle and sell dreams. Sophie and her best friend — a cupcake-loving monster named Monster — have a grand adventure when someone starts kidnapping dreamers.

Durst is hosting a book launch party open to the public from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday at Books of Wonder, 18 W. 18th St., Manhattan. “There’ll be cupcakes,” she says. The first two chapters of the book are posted on Durst's website, sarahbethdurst.com, for kids — or parents — who want a sneak preview.

“I love writing fantasy. When you close a fantasy book, it makes you feel there’s something magical in the world,” Durst says. And she says she loves writing for 8- to 12-year-olds. “You can be as silly as you want to be ... you can go as wild into the imagination as you want.”