Dreamsleeves

by Coleen Murtagh Paratore

A powerful, radiant story about a girl who wears her dreams on her sleeve . . .

Aislinn is a girl with a lot of dreams, but due to family issues (caused mostly by her hard-drinking father), there's a lot standing in her way. While she should be enjoying the summer with friends, Aislinn is kept under lock and key and put in charge of her younger siblings. The average girl might give up, but not Aislinn. A person, she says, should write their dreams on their sleeve, putting them out there for the world to see, because there's a good chance that someone might come along and help you make your dream come true. What begins as a plea for help for her father to stop drinking, turns into a spark that has the whole community making their own dreamsleeves. At times heartbreaking, DREAMSLEEVES is also surprising, powerful, and luminously hopeful. Everyone will see a little of themselves in Aislinn, a girl with talent, ambition, and big dreams.

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary, Childrens

288 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2012

About the author

I majored in English at The College of Saint Rose, in Albany, and after two internships in advertising and public relations, decided to enter the communications field, which is a place where writers can write and make a living too. I got married three months after graduation (my husband Tony and I will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary next August ), and we moved to Connecticut. I worked at a large advertising/pr firm during the day and got my master's in English at Trinity College nights. When we moved back to the Albany, New York area a few years later, I took a job as a publicist for Russell Sage College in Troy and soon became Director of Communications for the Sage Colleges. Our son, Christopher, was born in 1989. Two years later I took out a small-business loan, left my "safe job" and founded Books Worth Writing, to develop and publish The Remembering Book, an heirloom-quality tribute to a loved one's life (created after losing my best friend to cancer and wanting to be sure the story of her life was remembered and celebrated). This book-product is now in its 3rd printing, 10,000 copies sold. Around that same time, I began teaching as an adjunct instructor in the English Department at Russell Sage, doing freelance public relations assignments for business and nonprofit clients, and leading public-speaking workshops for women. Our son, Connor, was born in 1992 and then our third son, Dylan, in 1994.
After Dylan was born, I hopped off the career train for a few years to chase after three boys under the age of 5. I wrote a song for each of my sons and sang their special songs to them as bedtime lullabies. I kept a journal (I have on and off since college), wrote poems, and "roasts" for friends' birthdays, planted a perennial garden, a vegetable garden, read tons of books, started a book club, cleared a walking trail in the woods behind our house…and with my three young sons in tow, I returned to my "library days."
We devoured books together, morning, noon and night. We'd fill an L.L. Bean sack full of picture books every week, snuggle up on the couch, and read, read, read. I didn't know it at the time, but in addition to it being enormously FUN, this was fabulous research. As I was devoting my best creative energy to my children and sharing my love of books with them, I was soaking in lessons in characterization and plot and structure and language... feeding my writer's voice in happy hibernation.
I still didn't know that I would write children's books, yet everything in my life was leading me on that path. Ironically, I'd meet former business colleagues out and about and they'd say, "you're writing children's books, right?" I can't tell you how many people asked me that. It wasn't my goal or my intention.
Breaking into this business was the hardest and longest race I've ever run. I wrote stories for four years before I felt the work was ready. And then, once my writing was of publishable quality, it took two years of submitting before I got a contract. 179 rejections later. You've got to want it badly. You've got to read, read, read, and write, write, write and revise, revise, revise, and listen to people who are wiser than you, and learn from your rejections, and take comments from editors very seriously, and be willing to catch the fireflies of inspiration before they fly off forgotten, and, most of all, you've got to BELIEVE in yourself. Believe, believe, believe.
Emerson said "nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." Write on.

Reviews

[ILoveBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could you run a house at age twelve? Aislinn has recently finished the seventh grade and is home for the summer taking care of her four younger siblings while her parents work full time jobs. Capable of caring for her young siblings and running the house, Aislinn is very mature. She understands that her father is an alcoholic. When drunk, he becomes abusive to her, the younger children, and her mother who struggles to defend them. As a result of her father’s drinking, the family lives with her father’s mother and her father issues unreasonable commands. Aislinn is not allowed to leave the yard, talk to boys, or go to other people’s houses.

Recently, Aislinn’s father has been drinking more and more. Bills are beginning to go unpaid and he is becoming more and more abusive. In an attempt to get help for her family, Aislinn creates Dreamsleeves. By writing her wishes on a sticky note and wearing them on her shirt sleeves, people cannot ignore her hopes.

Aislinn is a great character who could be described using all the adjectives of a noble heroine. She protects her siblings, confronts her fears, and inspires others. Paratore conveys all Aislinn’s worries and qualms in such a way that Aislinn seems to become real. The reader wants to meet the brave girl whose thoughts they read. This author does an excellent job telling the reader Aislinn’s story. Dreamsleeves seems appropriate for any female reader older than age twelve. Aislinn motivates her readers to achieve their dreams. Dreamsleeves receives five stars; it is a great book everyone should read.


*Reviewed by Kristin*

[Marisa Whitaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this because this author has finally turned my daughter into a reader. Laney loves her "wedding planner's daughter" series. After reading this book, I can see why she likes her.

This is a story about a sweetheart of a 13 year old girl, growing up in the 60's, who unfortunately is growing up with an alcoholic father. It doesn't focus too much on the ugliness of that reality, rather, it focuses on how this sweet girl deals with that huge challenge, while taking care of her 4 siblings and her mother.

I really enjoyed this book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant book about a girl named Aislinn (old Irish for "dream") who is coming of age in a household with an alcoholic father. She is the oldest of five children, soon to be six, and she is given an inordinate amount of responsibility to take care of them. She has her first love, Mike. Her best friend Maizey has a new, shinier friend named Sue-Ellen. Aislinn is trying to juggle all of these different situations and invents an ingenious solution for manifesting one's dreams. She knows that dreams only come true with help. She decides that you should write down your dream and place it on your sleeve. (Thus the title of the book.) Then, eventually, the person who can help you make the dream come true will see it and offer their assistance. A lovely aspect of the story is that Aislinn can identify the people who surround her and care about her--examples: her grandmother and the young married couple named Maria and Leo. They are great role models of what she can reach for her in her own adulthood. The setting is New York. I kept thinking of A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN. Thanks so much to Kimberly Leisgang for reminding me about this book!

[Anna Walston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a girl named Aislinn O'Neill. She has a very tough life. Her dad drinks a lot and her mom is always at work. Aislinn has 4 younger siblings that she is particularly in charge of 24-7. The name Aislinn means "Dream". She has so many dreams that she keeps in a book. One day she comes up with an idea called Dreamsleeves. That is when you write your dream on a piece of paper and stick it to your sleeve. This way, people can help you accomplish your dreams. I think a possible theme for this book is to always be optimistic. Aislinn had a horrible life at home but was always optimistic no matter how hard he life got.

[Bella Puentes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bella Puentes p.6
Dreamsleeves
Coleen Murtagh Paratore


1~ The story “Dreamsleeves” took place in her grandmother's house. With a total of 7 family members and a baby on its way. Aislinn is the oldest of the children and the person telling the story. Her family is going through a tough time with her father having a drinking problem, her mother having difficult time with a new baby on its way, and her grandmother leaving for a while to take care of her daughters new baby on its way. Meanwhile, Aislinn, is having to take care of B,C,D, and E , her siblings. Until her parents came home from a long day of work. In this difficult time, she finds a powerful idea of a dream on your sleeve, she calls them “dreamsleeves”.

2~ The characters have real life relationships that some people can relate to. Like if you have a lot of siblings and you're the oldest, maybe you have to babysit them or take care of them in some way. Aislinn has to take care of all four kids for the whole day for the summer. All of the main characters from “Dreamsleeves” act and seem like there believable from their actions and dialogue.

3~ The main characters look like a normal family from a glance. But there story explains everything like from the clothes they wear because of their money struggle to the way they act of the fear there father yelling to their mother while they live in their grandmother's house trying to get their feet back on the ground.

4~ When Aislinn stated that she needed a new bathing suit for a party, she used the idea of using a sticky side paper, put it on her sleeve and but her dream on it. Her parents noticed it and soon got a bathing suit. She was thrilled to find she was finally getting a new bathing suit.



5~ What Aislinn does in the story that changes dramatically. Is when she comes up with the idea of “dreamsleeve”. When she goes to church and made a lecture of how it will help the community make your dream come true so others around you can make it happen. Aislinn helps many with her brilliant idea. She helps many people, but this one is special to her because he was always the quiet one at church and she always wondered about him. She helped him reach to his daughter and forgive her for something he did in the past. He soon tells her at the family picnic and he comes up with his two granddaughters and thanks Aislinn for everything she did, Aislinn will always remember the ones that she helped.

6~ This was a very inspiring novel. I thought this book was very interesting and wanted me to keep reading more. It showed me what it might for families have it the hard way. It was a touching family story. Aislinn and her father came closer then ever at the end. He was so proud of what her daughter she had become. In the beginning, he had a terrible drinking problem, it got worse. It hurt the family terribly, he spent the family money toward the future house with his liquor. It was an amazing family story at the end.

7~ The theme in the novel “dreamsleeves” is you can make a difference if you believe so. Aislinn made a difference to many people. She never gave up to help make her father stop drinking. She begins for help for her father to stop drinking, turns into a spark that has the whole community making their own dreamsleeves. It shows that you can do anything you put your mind to.

[Delaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

DREAMSLEEVES wasn't a difficult read. It might have because it involves growing up, being 13, being free, alcohol, not having privileges, her dad a little mad and angry at times, and just learning to dream. But how she formed the atmosphere the "mood" for the story, it just wasn't strong enough to be a hard read. When you dream, your free. Because dreaming is worth succeeding.

Aislinn (A) takes cares of her siblings, never is allowed to be out of the house much. And dreams to be normal, to get to go to places normal girls get to go to and do. I actually had things relating to A like how we are both going to be in 8th grade. How she is 12. But the differences made me capture her more and I just felt for her more and more as her father was drinking more and more. Her mom, I really loved her mom. It made me think of those times when my mom would do something and not tell my dad or let me do something and not tell my dad. She, I could understand why A's mom would want peace in the household because once the yelling starts, it doesn't end really quickly. But, I can tell that she was fighting, and even though her husband was drinking, she still loved him. Besides, koodos to the pregnant woman! Her dad, I actually loved him. At times I would think "what is he thinking now as he's doing that, as he's yelling?" I could get an image of a father and that he can be really kind. Beck, Callie, Dooley, and baby Eddie, I think they are wonderful. They are Aislinn's siblings where they named them in alphabetical order (A,B,C,D,E, and a coming F). They misbehaved, mostly followed instructions, and just were little kids having fun.

The setting was set in the olden days were around the Brady Bunch and Jackson 5 and going to supermarkets to get food was around $2 and that was expensive for whatever needed to buy. I was kind of shocked of this setting because until it finally clicked with all the oldie music mentioned, it could feel like present tense now. But, the setting fit the story, molding it more, and it worked!

I would really have liked it if the ending part where her father gradually gets better, Paratore would take the time to show the effects of AA and to show how he is getting better. I would really have loved it, if in the end, she would make the whole 'Dreamsleeves' thing a bigger deal, but, hey, it's still new, so I guess that's why it's "getting into action"

Thoroughly, I enjoyed reading of A and her family. Her story, her growing up. Her being free. Her family getting better.

[Keziah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's fun to dream,but dreaming big is even more fun! In the book Dreamsleeves it inspires readers to dream.This book is relistic fiction. I thought this book was great, because I like how it tries to inspire people.

The book is about a girl named Aislinn ,her name is in Irish and it means dream.She tries hard to live through her difficult life, taking care of her four siblings, Beck, Callie, Dooley ,and her baby brother, Eddie and also her father ,who drinks often.Aislinn has three dreams she wants to achieve.The book is called Dreamsleeves because Aislinn came up with an idea that people should where their dreams on their sleeves incase someone could help make their dreams come true.The setting is in New York because she lives there. The conflict is person vs. person because she struggles with what to do with her problems and how to solve them.

Dreamsleeves is a good title for this book because throughout the book it mostly talks about dreams.I was angry about how her dad was mean to her because he makes her life harder .

The author's purpose is to inspire because she wants people to dream. I thought the ending of the book was great because she teaches people her idea .

I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars
because the author teach you to believe in yourself . also. The author did an awesome job in writing the book . I recommend this book to people. who like to read realistic fiction. If you're looking for inspiration and motivation then ,you should readdream sleeves .

[Melissapalmer404 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book #64 Read in 2012
Dreamsleeves by Colleen Murtagh Paratore

I enjoyed this book a lot. This book was written by an author who lives locally and I loved reading about colleges and cities that I know. Additionally, the characters in this book were ones I immediately cared about and they felt like family.

Aislinn takes care of her younger siblings. Her father is an alcoholic; her mother tries to keep things peaceful in the house so that her husband does not fly off the handle. Aislinn's dream is really for her father to stop drinking. Aislinn comes up with an idea she calls "dreamsleeves", writing one's dream on a label sticker and sticking it on her shirt sleeve. She does this and her younger siblings do as well.

One day, she wears a dreamsleeve to church which says her dream of her father stopping his drinking. The priest comes to their house after church that day and speaks to her father. He flips out on Aislinn afterwards and accuses her of lying to the priest.

Readers will have their hearts ache for Aislinn, her mother and her siblings. This book has drama, humor and a touch of young romance. I enjoyed this book.

http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com

[Stephanie A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet middle grade novel about a girl in a suburban working-class Irish family in the 60s, the eldest in a string of five children whose life is chiefly governed by babysitting her siblings, and staying out of her alcoholic father's way, as whenever he drinks he gets verbally and sometimes physically abusive. They live on the top floor of their grandmother's house, ostensibly to save money for a picturesque house in the country, but really because despite both parents working full time, a large percentage of their money goes down the bottle.

Aislinn is a likable protagonist, sympathetic in her periodic heartbreak but a determined optimist, despite being stretched very thin between worrying about her overworked mother, taking care of the little kids while her grandmother is out of town, trying to think of ways to fix her dad's problem and, in her limited spare time, desperately trying to reconnect with her best friend and hoping for passing encounters with the boy she likes and whom her dad despises for being both a boy and Italian. Captured the time period well while making the plot feel timeless.

[Shalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book of Dreams
This is an amazing book and so far the best book I have read. This book wasn’t a difficult read, it was simple but tells a beautiful story. This book deserves 5 stars for the message is gives out and for being very relatable.

This story takes place in 1960s America. It tells a story about a 12 year old girl, Aislinn O'Neill, with a burdensome life and the only way she can escape it is by having dreams. She is left with all these responsibilities having to watch her four younger siblings and another baby on the way, she’s feeling imprisoned at home because of her strict alcoholic father. Her mother doesn’t stand up to him because she wants to keep the peace for the family. Aislinn wears her dream on her sleeve for others to see for it to come true. That’s wear the title “Dreamsleeves” come in place. The plot is very realistic. I like that this book can be relatable to anyone and you can imagine yourself being Aislinn.

This book gives out a message to follow your dreams and try to make things better through the tough time we endure in life. Dreams aren’t supposed to be hidden and forgotten about. We need to share our dreams with others. We need the help of others to make our dreams come true. I highly recommend this book to everyone, all ages, and genders, especially someone dealing with the same situation. More people need to know about this book!

[Huibuh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually I took this book randomly from a shelf in a children's library, just to kill time, while having a company with my daughter. I thought I would drop it as soon as she cries for home, it turned out I brought it home, and read through it page by page till the end.

A is indeed a heroine in my eyes, she have done much that many adults couldn't, managing his own things at school , and meanwhile, taking care of her siblings, even her mum sometimes. I can have A as a great example for my daughter, be independent, caring, and most of all inspiring.

The vivid description of the innermost part of A is amazing. It was like you are in the spot when she was under stress, confused, nervous upon meeting her first love, jealous when her best friends has an alternative option over her....

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

‪Wanted to read an easy youth novel since my last read was huge and intense...this book wasn’t it! It’s full of life lessons, hardships, alcoholism, negative family situations, and failed dreams. I’ve had a lot of experience with Alcoholics Anonymous, so this book touched me a little more than usual.

The main character’s name is Aislinn, which is an old Irish name for dream. I now know what I’d name a daughter if I ever have one. 🥰

Book is cute. It’s simple. It’s short. I hope to gift it to a friend who has a daughter around 12 or so. I think they’d enjoy it.

[Rebekah Haas · Rating 4 out of 5]

"There is always time for tea. Tea is my Nana's answer for everything- a blizzard, a heat wave, the chicken pox, all ailments of the mind and body and heart."

A girl grapples with a less than perfect home life, where her dad's an alcoholic, her mom's a mouse, and Aislinn is expected to care for her four younger siblings. It's a heavy topic for a MG book, but Paratore handles it well.

[Mac Sefah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most inspiring books I've ever read. The main character Aislinn shows her community that dreams come true. Sometimes you just need a little help. This is why she invented dreamsleeves. If you like "touchy-feely" books I would recommend Dreamsleeves by Coleen Murtagh Paratore to you.

[Maria Nicopolis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this novel a 5 star rating because it was one of my all time favorite books! I liked this book because it is about a girl and she is in eighth grade and her name is Aislinn. This novel is about a girl and she keeps studying her dreams and she wants to fulfill her dreams.

[Reese R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good book, and it will teach you a lesson. This is a very good game because it is not super sad, but its sad because the dad makes her life terrible. Read this book to find out more.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing really earth shattering here. A simple story with a straight-forward message.

[Sarah Peetz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just beautiful.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Depressing!

[Sonia‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way this book made school me cry when I was younger 😭

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's really good! I really enjoyed! I really hope you decide to read this!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

As in the case of Willa in The Wedding Planner series, the author has once again created a likeable character that is sure to remind many readers of themselves and their own life challenges. In some respects, Aislinn (A) O'Neill brings to mind Amber Appleton from Sorta Like a Rock Star. Both characters never stop hoping and dreaming that things will get better even when they seem especially bleak. In Aislinn's case, the problem is her over-controlling father whose drinking seems to worsen during the summer before her eighth grade year. Eventually, Aislinn realizes that her father, too, once had dreams that seem to have evaporated before his eyes. As she spends the summer babysitting her four siblings, her best friend Maizey looks for fun with another girl, the very girl who teased Aislinn for smelling like pee during the fourth grade, and she feels the first buds of attraction to Mike Mancinello despite her father's refusal to let her date until she graduates. The author includes language and cultural references that bring the novel's Vietnam War era setting to life as Aislinn fights her own battles on the homefront and in the social pecking order controlled by the more priviledged Sue-Ellen who is already making plans for who will be in and who will be out once the girls head to high school. Although the storyline involving an alcholic, abusive father isn't particularly new, what is new is Aislinn's determination to wear her wishes on her sleeves so that others may help them come true. Her courage in expressing her wishes in that fashion is truly inspiring. There are many touches in this book that make it memorable; for instance, the slow revelation that, as responsible as she is, Aislinn still wets the bed on occasion and the family's naming their children in alphabetical order. References to the Niagara Falls make sense since the story is set in Troy, New York.

[Callie Ridgeley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Amazing Book...

Dreamsleeves by Coleen Murtagh Paratore is absolutely an amazing book.

Its summary:

"A" O'Neill is almost 13 years old, and about to be in the eighth grade. She wishes that she'd have a normal summer, live like girls her age. But she's not allowed to go out and talk to boys. Besides her father is an alcoholic and she's forced to practically raise her younger siblings "B", "C", "D", and "E". Her mother is too weak and emotionally beaten down, so she looks after her too.

"A" may not dream when she's asleep, as far as she knows. But when she's awake, she has a lot of dreams, enough to fill an entire book.

Her dreams are to make her dad stop drinking and have her crush Mike be her boyfriend.

However, those dreams aren't easy to pursue...

Then she comes up with a great idea. She decides to write down her dreams on pieces of paper and "wear" them on the sleeves of her shirt. People will notice her dreams, and help her pursue them.

What I Think of It:

I love the characters (except for her dad, her so-called best friend, and Snoopy Melon) especially "A" and her adorable, funny siblings. "A" is responsible and mature, and I can relate to her in many ways. She's sweet and caring.

And I LOVE the concept of "Dream sleeves". It's such a creative, original idea.

I highly recommend you read this book. Its reading level, I'll say, is about middle school age, but it's great for pre-teens, teens, and adults! Read this book. I promise you won't be disappointed.

[Marisa F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dreamsleeves by Coleen Murtagh Paratore is about a girl thirteen year old girl named Aislinn O'Neill, or "A"who has many dreams; and reveals the true meaning to dreaming. Aislinn has four siblings and one on the way. Aislinn teaches her younger siblings, B, Beck, C, Callie, D, Dooley, and E, Eddie. Aislinn is the oldest in the family and E is the youngest, well not for long. Aislinn figures out her mom is pregnant, however there is a problem, she smokes. Smoking while pregnant can affect both the mom and baby. It can leave to birth defects and be fatal to the mother. Aislinn's dad also has an extreme drinking problem. It went from every weekend to every night Aislinn realizes her dad's behavior is affection her family. What will she do? Aislinn steps up to her dad and prays for his drinking problem to go away. However, told by their father from church, they can stop him, it is something he must learn from. One day, Aislinn finds her dad laying in a pool of blood in his bathroom. Aislinn is feeling mixed emotions because she has fallen in love with her friend, Mike. Will her dad get in the way? Yes, Her dad is affection Aislinn in so many ways. Even her best friend has turned to her enemy because Aislinn is always "locked away in jail" (up in her room) and isn't available most of the time. However Aislinn finds a solution. Her new invention, Dreamsleeves saves the day. Aislinn has figured out how to grant her dreams by showing them to others, because even a person on the street can change you, your dreams, and how you live. FOREVER.

[Mari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rated this book a three stars, but I can easily see how this might be a favorite with a younger reader. It is an ideal middle-grade book, one with a lot of heart and honesty and a beautiful concept.

Aislinn is a great character, a 12-year old faced with her father's worsening alcoholism, caring for her four young siblings, losing her best friend and her first real crush. A's narrative voice is enjoyable and suitably young, yet perceptive. I felt for her and related to her and was really hoping for her until the last page.

The story is a little climatically slow, so it's good that interest in A and her well being pull you along. I kept reading because I cared for Aislinn, but not because one specific plot point had any real pull.

And then, there is the idea of the Dreamsleeves. I'll admit that I find it absolutely adorable. What a great idea, to be brave enough to put your dreams on your sleeve. I wish that this concept were featured more heavily in the book, or perhaps with more gravitas. The BIG dream was only worn for a second, though that may have been the point. It only takes a second of bravery, sort of thing. I don't know. I just would've loved to see the Dreamsleeves taken further.

That was my only gripe, though. This was a sweet, easy read I would give my friends a thumbs up about if they picked it up. I would only actively recommend to younger readers.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aislinn is a dreamer. She lives a hard life: her parents work hard but finances are tight, just like the family's living quarters. She has a handful of siblings with another on the way and with so many little ones running around she has way more responsibility than any 12 year old girl should have on her shoulders at such a young age. And despite all of her good deeds and dreaming she cannot wish away her father's drinking problem.

A heartbreaking story about a preteen girl who struggles to watch over all of the members of her family while she hides a hideous secret. Somehow, though, she manages to remain hopeful and even devises an idea she calls Dreamsleeves which encourages people to write their dreams quite literally on their sleeves so that other people may intervene and help turn those dreams into realities. Honest, hopeful, hard to read, Dreamsleeves is a story about a brave girl who wants what most 12 year old girls want (friends, freedom, and a boyfriend), but who has to work a lot harder than other girls her age to attain those things. Recommended for readers grades 5-8. Girls will relate to the main character a little better than boys maybe (especially as Aislinn dream-plans her 1st kiss), but young readers regardless of gender will be moved by this book (doubly so if this book's subject matter hits close to home).

[Bailey]

I think this book would be a great book for people who love to read about dreams and how they are so funny and crazy, I think that people that are looking for a good book you should read this one, you can read all the fun and crazy times she has with her friends and family.
If your looking for a good book and you can't find one, look for Dream Sleeves. You will love the wonderful times she has with her perfect family, not to include B,C,D,E her brothers and sisters she has. her brother Beck, her sister Callie and her brother Dooley, and you can't forget the youngest Eddie.
Do you ever think that your going to mess up your dreams?
Sometimes because when your writing them you get confused because you don't remember what you dreaming about so you have to stop writing and go to another one.
Do ever get annoyed with your brothers and sisters?
Yes because they can get into the way of writing or sometimes they just dont leave me alone. but they are sweet and kind and callie wants to start school so bad that she cant because she isn't old enough she wants to be by Beck all the time because there two pees in a pod.
I think this book is a great book for people that want a great laugh and a great family story.

[Nadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is as sweet as any book gets. Aislinn (old Irish for dream), nearly 13 years old has four brothers and sisters with another one on the way. She spends her summer holidays babysitiing them and they completely adore her.She teachers them stuff and plays intersting games and makes the best grilled sandwhichs. Her mum works part time and also tries to write while her dad works full-time and is an alcoholic. She is a prisoner in her own house and she is losing her best friend and she can't talk to guys on the phone. Her dad will be pissed. So, after she get frustrated with everything she comes up with an idea: "dreamsleeves". She wears her dreams on her sleeve and it really works. Although, she is a less than perfect girl living in a less than perfect family, she proves that dreaming makes life beautiful. And while you have your dreams, you are always free.
Heart-warming book with all the right ingredients by Coleen. Go on.. pick up a copy of Dreamsleeves and I assure you, you will not be disappointed!

[Lina]

This book was amazing. I could not put this book down. This book got very intense at the end. A got her dad to stop drinking, A's mom had a baby, and three of her siblings almost died. I am very happy for A because ever since her dad stopped drinking she's had a lot more freedom. For example, she now aloud to talk to boys, hang out with friends and even go on dates.
I really liked A's idea of the dream-sleeves thing. Everyday you have to write down your dream and put it on your sleeve. Lucky for A, all of her dreams came true. I was really happy for her. Who knows it may happen to work.
The only bad part about this book was that it was very predictable. For example I knew from the very beginning that she was going to get her dad to stop drinking, and i also knew that her crush was going to ask her out. But overall I loved it even though it was easy to predict. The thing I liked about this book was that throughout it the characters personalities changed a lot, and i really liked that. Overall I would recommend this book to anybody who likes realistic fiction

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended for gr. 5-9. Alcoholism, verbal abuse

Aislinn (known a A) is a 12-year-old with a difficult life. She takes care of her 4 younger siblings while her parents work. The reader learns that her cheerful father is a sometimes abusive alcoholic and her loving mother seems to deny that there is a problem. "A" yearns for freedom to have a normal life. She is spending the entire summer entertaining the younger kids, fixing their meals, bathing them, putting them to bed, cleaning the house and more. Her father forbids her to date or even talk with boys until she is 16. Fortunately, she has a supportive best friend, and a sympathetic neighbor. "A" comes up with the idea of writing out her dreams and putting them on her sleeve for others to see. The idea catches on and creates happiness in the neighborhood. The ending wraps up a little too neatly, but that is not inappropriate in a book for this age group.