Red Hart Magic - Tapa dura

When Nan's mother marries Chris' father the two resentful children are dumped on an aunt while the parents travel, and soon their mutual hostility is eroded by shared dreams (real ones, not daydreams) of historical adventure, all set centuries back in an old English inn of which Chris has just bought an "antique" model. Whether the dreamed episodes ever really occurred or those "other" Nuns or Chrises existed is wondered only in passing; what seems to matter is that, inspired by their bravery in these crises, Nan stands up to real-life shoplifting classmates at her new school and Chris to cheating bullies at his. Otherwise there's not much connection between the night battles (with King Jamie's men, smuggling vigilantes or the local squire) and the present, city apartment reality - and not much point to any of it. (Kirkus Reviews)