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Dream On #1
Dream On
Mega-bestselling graphic novel author Shannon Hale (Real Friends, Best Friends, and Friends Forever—over 2 million copies sold!) is back with a new middle grade graphic novel about hope, friendship, and heartfelt wishes, perfect for fans of Invisible Emmie and Click.
Something is missing from Cassie's life.
Her parents don't have much money, she has to share her bedroom (and bed!) with her sisters, and her family never seem to have time for her. To make matters worse, her best friend Vali is always busy with a new friend.
When Cassie gets a letter from a magazine sweepstakes with the words “YOU’RE THE WINNER” stamped on the front, she thinks it’s the answer to all her problems.
She could buy new furniture to replace their shabby old sofa. Or maybe a car so her family doesn’t have to take two trips to go places. Or maybe she can make Vali her best friend forever by taking her on a fabulous vacation. The possibilities are endless, like an all-you-can-eat buffet!
But will prizes really solve Cassie’s problems?
And what will she lose if she doesn’t win anything at all?
With bright and charming illustrations by Marcela Cespedes and Lark Pien, Dream On is a joyful story filled with imagination, big dreams, and wonder. This book is perfect for readers who want to enjoy a gentle and accessible friendship story, as well as anyone looking for SEL themes about empathy, kindness, compassion, and forgiveness.
This story also features children experiencing high sensitivity, big emotions, and feelings of sadness, making it a helpful tool to spark conversations and connections with young readers.
Something is missing from Cassie's life.
Her parents don't have much money, she has to share her bedroom (and bed!) with her sisters, and her family never seem to have time for her. To make matters worse, her best friend Vali is always busy with a new friend.
When Cassie gets a letter from a magazine sweepstakes with the words “YOU’RE THE WINNER” stamped on the front, she thinks it’s the answer to all her problems.
She could buy new furniture to replace their shabby old sofa. Or maybe a car so her family doesn’t have to take two trips to go places. Or maybe she can make Vali her best friend forever by taking her on a fabulous vacation. The possibilities are endless, like an all-you-can-eat buffet!
But will prizes really solve Cassie’s problems?
And what will she lose if she doesn’t win anything at all?
With bright and charming illustrations by Marcela Cespedes and Lark Pien, Dream On is a joyful story filled with imagination, big dreams, and wonder. This book is perfect for readers who want to enjoy a gentle and accessible friendship story, as well as anyone looking for SEL themes about empathy, kindness, compassion, and forgiveness.
This story also features children experiencing high sensitivity, big emotions, and feelings of sadness, making it a helpful tool to spark conversations and connections with young readers.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published August 26, 2025
17 people are currently reading
7338 people want to read
About the author
Shannon Hale
145 books14.1k followersShannon Hale is the New York Times best-selling author of six young adult novels: the Newbery Honor book Princess Academy, multiple award winner Book of a Thousand Days, and the highly acclaimed Books of Bayern series. She has written three books for adults, including the upcoming Midnight in Austenland (Jan. 2012), companion book to Austenland. She co-wrote the hit graphic novel Rapunzel's Revenge and its sequel Calamity Jack with husband Dean Hale. They live near Salt Lake City, Utah with their four small children, and their pet, a small, plastic pig.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
August 19, 2025
This will be a deeply relatable book for many children, but also many adults. Cassie as a main character stole my heart with her deep feelings and her daydreaming. This was my first book from Shannon Hale, but I can clearly see why her graphic novels are so popular.
April 4, 2025
This was really good, but also it stressed me out! Apparently I have some unresolved childhood friendship trauma.
January 31, 2025
This is another fantastic graphic novel by Shannon Hale! Cassie's struggles with friendship, feelings of being overlooked, her desire to do something nice for others, and her sensitivity will resonate with middle grade readers. The graphic format brought forth the character's thoughts and emotions, and the elements of "wonder" stood out clearly. I will definitely be recommending it to middle school readers, especially fans of Hale's previous work. I'm also looking forward to the sequel, "Dream Big," coming in August of 2026.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Roaring Brook Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Roaring Brook Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
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October 22, 2025I'm DNFing this at 20%. I'm just not feeling it and I have other things to read. I usually like Shannon Hale's stories but this was just too soft for me maybe. Like nothing much was really happening except the main character dreaming about winning a magazine sweepstakes because she has a big family and not much money. I think lots of kids would really love this, especially if they like low stakes, non-issue books, but I'm the opposite. I'm not rating this since it's definitely an it's-me-not-the-book situation.
July 11, 2025
Thank you to Roaring Brook Press and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Cassie Lu is one of 6 children and often feels overlooked in her large family. They never had a lot of money, making do with what they have. Cassie is one of those kids who is “super sensitive,” feeling and reacting to most things. One day Cassie finds a letter from a publishing company that said she has won a sweepstakes with some great prizes - she just has to order 3 magazines. Excited to help her family out, she sends in the request but keeps it secret. Cassie eventually tells her best friend Vali, who thinks it’s cool, and not-really-a friend Stesha, who tells her it’s not real. Cassie learns to take the good with the bad and open herself up to having more than just one friend.
Cassie is based on the author’s real childhood, struggling with friends and being “too sensitive.” Shannon Hale also believed she won the publishing sweepstakes. There are enough references and clues in the graphic novel for me to recognize that it takes place in the same time period of my childhood. (I am 6 years older than the author!) Shannon hale is very popular so the kids will love this book, even if they have to ask their parents why there is a telephone mounted on the wall!
#DreamOn #RoaringBrookPress #NetGalley
Cassie Lu is one of 6 children and often feels overlooked in her large family. They never had a lot of money, making do with what they have. Cassie is one of those kids who is “super sensitive,” feeling and reacting to most things. One day Cassie finds a letter from a publishing company that said she has won a sweepstakes with some great prizes - she just has to order 3 magazines. Excited to help her family out, she sends in the request but keeps it secret. Cassie eventually tells her best friend Vali, who thinks it’s cool, and not-really-a friend Stesha, who tells her it’s not real. Cassie learns to take the good with the bad and open herself up to having more than just one friend.
Cassie is based on the author’s real childhood, struggling with friends and being “too sensitive.” Shannon Hale also believed she won the publishing sweepstakes. There are enough references and clues in the graphic novel for me to recognize that it takes place in the same time period of my childhood. (I am 6 years older than the author!) Shannon hale is very popular so the kids will love this book, even if they have to ask their parents why there is a telephone mounted on the wall!
#DreamOn #RoaringBrookPress #NetGalley
November 26, 2025
I put this on the Newbery list for my students, as I wanted a graphic novel for them to read and Shannon Hale is always solid. I was surprised when they began rating it really low. I read it this month I needed to read an Utah author. Initially I marveled by how well Hale captured that feeling of being young, pining for attention and relishing the feel of coming glory in the guise of a sweepstakes windfall. Last week when I met with the Newbery kids, mostly 5th graders, I found that they found it Juvenile and boring. One boy in his own words, “It’s all about little girls wanting friends. Waa waa waa” I guess nostalgia does not translate all the well if you want to target a young audience. I’m am getting weary of all the graphic memoirs, and I’m noticing my students are as well. However I did love the wedding reception scene. No one can create what should be a celebration into a dour event like the Mormons. (Talk about nostalgia)
May 19, 2025
Firstly, a thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Here is the thing: Shannon Hale has another hit on her hands. I know it will fly off the shelves of the library and I won't be able to keep it stoked. Because it is Shannon Hale. She has a reputation for fantastic graphic novels that center around growing up and friendship. It's relatable and has funny moments so of course it is what you would expect.
(Side note, I so resonated with the hoped for sweepstakes drawing. I remember thinking I had been a winner once. lolol I never did get to the purchasing magazines part though.)
but I will be a little nitpicky. While Dream On is good, I found myself comparing it to the Real Friends trilogy. Perhaps I liked that better because I love LeUyen Pham's illustrations more.....perhaps it's because nothing fully set Dream On apart from other friendship graphic novels....that does not mean it is bad. But is it my immediate go to? not necessarily
Here is the thing: Shannon Hale has another hit on her hands. I know it will fly off the shelves of the library and I won't be able to keep it stoked. Because it is Shannon Hale. She has a reputation for fantastic graphic novels that center around growing up and friendship. It's relatable and has funny moments so of course it is what you would expect.
(Side note, I so resonated with the hoped for sweepstakes drawing. I remember thinking I had been a winner once. lolol I never did get to the purchasing magazines part though.)
but I will be a little nitpicky. While Dream On is good, I found myself comparing it to the Real Friends trilogy. Perhaps I liked that better because I love LeUyen Pham's illustrations more.....perhaps it's because nothing fully set Dream On apart from other friendship graphic novels....that does not mean it is bad. But is it my immediate go to? not necessarily
June 13, 2025
What a great story of friendship, feelings, and being ok being your true self! I loved this book and the depiction of the very real feelings kids have when they are navigating changing friendships. This book will be really relatable to many of my middle grade readers. Can’t wait to add this to my elementary library collection!
And thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
And thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
July 30, 2025
I enjoyed reading Dream On. Some parts reminded me of when I was a little girl and would have such big feelings and cry easily. My older sister often teased me about it, too. Cassie has big feeling all the time too. Her older sister will tease her too. Cassie is the middle child of her large family of eight. Sometimes she feels left out and other times not so much.
Changes seemed to start when her teacher rearranged everyone's seats in the classroom. Cassie was no longer next to her best friend Vali. Her and Vali did everything together, that's what best friends do. But now Vali is sitting next to Stesha. Stesha and Vali are doing more things together and Cassie is feeling left out. Plus, Cassie doesn't like the way Stesha treats her (Cassie), so she doesn't always want to hang out with them.
I liked the deep feelings Cassie feels throughout the book. She wonders if "being too sensitive" is a bad thing or a good thing. She has ways to deal with her feelings but they don't always work or too hard to do during class time. Cassie wishes she could talk with her mom more but she is busy a lot with the three little kids.
Dream On is a great graphic novel for those readers who enjoy realistic fiction, friendship stories. I think this book would be a great classroom read aloud to discuss having various feelings and ways to deal with them. Cassie never acts out in anger or frustration but still could use some help. She sad (depressed) and lonely a lot of the time too.
I also think this book would be a good read aloud together with a parent. Parents (I think) sometimes forget that their children need attention even when they may not be seeking the attention or maybe a 'checking in' time on a regular basis. I remember what it's like to have so much going on and never enough time to do it all. Parents sometimes forget. This book, could be a great discussion starter for both parent and young readers.
It's important to validate other people's feelings even if you don't agree with 'how' they are feeling. Maybe Cassie is "too sensitive", maybe she is "weird" like her teacher. It's okay to feel all the feels and being weird is okay too! That's what I took from this book!
@ShannonHale #ShannonHale #DreamOn #SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarians #PublicLibraries #PublicLibrarians #ReadABook #ReadThisBook #Books #Read #MGReads #MGBooks #MGLit #KidLit #ElementaryBooks #ElemReads #NetGalley
Changes seemed to start when her teacher rearranged everyone's seats in the classroom. Cassie was no longer next to her best friend Vali. Her and Vali did everything together, that's what best friends do. But now Vali is sitting next to Stesha. Stesha and Vali are doing more things together and Cassie is feeling left out. Plus, Cassie doesn't like the way Stesha treats her (Cassie), so she doesn't always want to hang out with them.
I liked the deep feelings Cassie feels throughout the book. She wonders if "being too sensitive" is a bad thing or a good thing. She has ways to deal with her feelings but they don't always work or too hard to do during class time. Cassie wishes she could talk with her mom more but she is busy a lot with the three little kids.
Dream On is a great graphic novel for those readers who enjoy realistic fiction, friendship stories. I think this book would be a great classroom read aloud to discuss having various feelings and ways to deal with them. Cassie never acts out in anger or frustration but still could use some help. She sad (depressed) and lonely a lot of the time too.
I also think this book would be a good read aloud together with a parent. Parents (I think) sometimes forget that their children need attention even when they may not be seeking the attention or maybe a 'checking in' time on a regular basis. I remember what it's like to have so much going on and never enough time to do it all. Parents sometimes forget. This book, could be a great discussion starter for both parent and young readers.
It's important to validate other people's feelings even if you don't agree with 'how' they are feeling. Maybe Cassie is "too sensitive", maybe she is "weird" like her teacher. It's okay to feel all the feels and being weird is okay too! That's what I took from this book!
@ShannonHale #ShannonHale #DreamOn #SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarians #PublicLibraries #PublicLibrarians #ReadABook #ReadThisBook #Books #Read #MGReads #MGBooks #MGLit #KidLit #ElementaryBooks #ElemReads #NetGalley
August 12, 2025
Thank you Roaring Brook Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I reached for this ARC because Shannon Hale’s Real Friends series is one of the most popular graphic novel series in my middle school library in Brooklyn. I was hoping for another graphic novel with a strong theme around changing friendships, and boy did I get it.
I’ve never identified as a “highly sensitive” kid, but I infrequently see representations of characters who are, and I have so many students who I feel would love seeing Cassie’s emotions depicted in Marcela Cespedes’ illustrations. When she’s feeling down, she has blue halos around her head, and when she’s mad, red ones. What I connected with most was Cassie’s deep longing for her mother’s attention as one of six children. Cespedes represents this with ghostly hands reaching out from her torso that read “notice me,” “talk to me,” “listen to me,” “care about me,” and “love me” when she is most in need of affection. These images were a punch in the gut I think young readers will especially empathize with.
I spent most of my time reading this novel wondering the exact age of the protagonist, since her siblings were given grades, but Cassie wasn’t until near the end of the novel. I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say she’s a fourth grader. Given that I teach at a 6-8th grade school, I’m not 100% sure that this will end up being a popular title in my library, but I think a lot of the kids who read Real Friends will not need any convincing to pick up another Shannon Hale book. Really I would rate this as a slightly lower grade MG title, like 3rd-4th or 5th grade.
3.5/5 stars
Pub date: August 16, 2025
I reached for this ARC because Shannon Hale’s Real Friends series is one of the most popular graphic novel series in my middle school library in Brooklyn. I was hoping for another graphic novel with a strong theme around changing friendships, and boy did I get it.
I’ve never identified as a “highly sensitive” kid, but I infrequently see representations of characters who are, and I have so many students who I feel would love seeing Cassie’s emotions depicted in Marcela Cespedes’ illustrations. When she’s feeling down, she has blue halos around her head, and when she’s mad, red ones. What I connected with most was Cassie’s deep longing for her mother’s attention as one of six children. Cespedes represents this with ghostly hands reaching out from her torso that read “notice me,” “talk to me,” “listen to me,” “care about me,” and “love me” when she is most in need of affection. These images were a punch in the gut I think young readers will especially empathize with.
I spent most of my time reading this novel wondering the exact age of the protagonist, since her siblings were given grades, but Cassie wasn’t until near the end of the novel. I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say she’s a fourth grader. Given that I teach at a 6-8th grade school, I’m not 100% sure that this will end up being a popular title in my library, but I think a lot of the kids who read Real Friends will not need any convincing to pick up another Shannon Hale book. Really I would rate this as a slightly lower grade MG title, like 3rd-4th or 5th grade.
3.5/5 stars
Pub date: August 16, 2025
December 24, 2025
In the 1980s, a sensitive middle child in a large family frets about getting attention from mom and coping with elementary school friendship drama. But she's sure the sweepstakes offer that just came in the mail will change everything when she wins the big prizes.
It's a borderline thumbs up as the angst and pipe dreams drag on a bit too long, but the characters are realistic and relatable and the lessons learned are worthwhile.
p.s. Pet peeve: Every character in the book gets a first name except Mom.
(Best of 2025 Project: I'm reading all the graphic novels that made it onto one or more of these lists:
• Washington Post 10 Best Graphic Novels of 2025
• Publishers Weekly 2025 Graphic Novel Critics Poll
• NPR's Books We Love 2025: Favorite Comics and Graphic Novels
This book made the NPR list.)
It's a borderline thumbs up as the angst and pipe dreams drag on a bit too long, but the characters are realistic and relatable and the lessons learned are worthwhile.
p.s. Pet peeve: Every character in the book gets a first name except Mom.
(Best of 2025 Project: I'm reading all the graphic novels that made it onto one or more of these lists:
• Washington Post 10 Best Graphic Novels of 2025
• Publishers Weekly 2025 Graphic Novel Critics Poll
• NPR's Books We Love 2025: Favorite Comics and Graphic Novels
This book made the NPR list.)
June 20, 2025
This graphic novel made me cry. Cassie Lu's inner thoughts felt so similar to my own thoughts growing up. Shannon Hale is able to capture the essence of a "sensitive kid," and reading through how this little girl feels and works through her emotions was so bittersweet. I loved the depth she was able to bring to these characters and she really shows what it is like to grow up as an anxious child who is worried about friendships, what their siblings think, and growing up as a middle child who is craving familial and friendly attention. This is a book I would recommend to my students who may be struggling with their identity as a young child who may be worried about making and losing friends. I loved this book.
August 1, 2025
So good. Shannon Hale knocks it out of the park again. It's a fantastic graphic novel about friendship struggles in middle school, finding your place in your family, and figuring out how to appreciate yourself when others tell you you are too sensitive. Sequel coming soon!
September 6, 2025
I have always appreciated Shannon Hale for remembering what childhood is like. That said, there was little difference between this and her Friends memoirs. (It wasn’t at all necessary to tell us in the author’s note that Cassie the protagonist shares many of her own qualities.)
July 8, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the eArc of this graphic novel. Dream On is a great companion to Shannon Hale's memoir graphic novel series. Though the characters here are fictional, the feelings are real and relatable for many juvenile readers. The family dynamics in this novel and how they affect our main character will be a mirror for so many and the storyline will help soothe the rough edges of navigating childhood friendships. Loved the story overall; the illustrations were great.
October 13, 2025
Shannon Hale encapsulates childhood so well. It’s definitely a younger GN, but I still think my 5-8th graders will enjoy.
December 6, 2025
(4.5) This was such a good middle grade story. My son was so engaged and related to the main character’s hypersensitivity since he’s autistic. Shannon Hale is so good at remembering what it’s like to be a kid, I’m amazed.
September 18, 2025
The book really nailed it on navigating friendships in elementary school. It also made me wish I had paid more attention to my younger siblings and how they were navigating living in a big family
September 18, 2025
Shannon Hale is great at writing about sensitive kids and Cassie is one to root for as she works through her friendship issues with her best friend and a new friend that is a bit of a mean girl.
March 21, 2025
Such a great story about growing up, friends, and living with a book family. Thank you to NetGalley for a free digital copy of this book.
April 24, 2025
I can already seeing this being a hit in my middle school library! It is so relatable!!! This story follows Cassie as she is learning how to handle friendships and life growing up in a large family. This is a story that many teenage girls can relate to!
I thought it was a fun enjoyable read that hit on issues that young readers could reflect on and learn from. I will definitely add this one to my library!
Thank you to MacMillan Children's, Roaring Book Press, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I thought it was a fun enjoyable read that hit on issues that young readers could reflect on and learn from. I will definitely add this one to my library!
Thank you to MacMillan Children's, Roaring Book Press, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 26, 2025
Cassie is part of a large family. The house is too small and her parents can’t give attention to every child when they need it. Cassie is old enough to take care of the younger kids, but not old enough for the things that her teenage sister and brother get to do. She desperately wants to be paid attention to.
Then, one day, she gets a piece of mail that says she may be a winner. There are so many cool prizes she could win, so she sends in her entry and dreams of what she could do with all the prizes.
And, as is typical in middle grade books, there is tension in her friendship with her best friend. She is torn with wanting to be cool like the other kids, and being herself, with an imagination. It is a hard spot to be in. Real friends, of course, wouldn’t care, but that is not something you can tell a middle schooler.
Great story. You feel Cassie’s pain. Great, quick read. Lot of feelings.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is being published on the 26th of August 2025.
Then, one day, she gets a piece of mail that says she may be a winner. There are so many cool prizes she could win, so she sends in her entry and dreams of what she could do with all the prizes.
And, as is typical in middle grade books, there is tension in her friendship with her best friend. She is torn with wanting to be cool like the other kids, and being herself, with an imagination. It is a hard spot to be in. Real friends, of course, wouldn’t care, but that is not something you can tell a middle schooler.
Great story. You feel Cassie’s pain. Great, quick read. Lot of feelings.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is being published on the 26th of August 2025.
September 18, 2025
Cassie is the third in a line of six siblings with an exhausted mother and a struggling dad who's out of work. Everyone has their own stuff going on, and 4th grader Cassie seems to have fallen to the margins. Her once bright spark and love of WONDER has begun to dim as family life gets hard... and social life gets hard... and school life gets hard... and it all just seems like too, too much--and that she's the common problem. When she opens the mail to discover she's won a magazine sweepstakes (I think this is the '80s) she thinks all of her problems have been solved. She can give the prizes to her family, her friends, and even her teacher (bless her heart) and she just knows that this will make them pay attention to her and solve everyone's problems. This poor kid just wants to be seen and loved.
Oof, was this one tough to read as a mom of multiple young kids! Younger readers may not be able to sympathize so much with Cassie's mom, but in my opinion, she was perfectly crafted by Hale, the author, and Marcela Cespedes, the illustrator, to be relatable. She is *exhausted* dealing with a baby, a toddler, a preschooler, an elementary schooler, a middle schooler, and a high schooler. She just wants to sit and have life be QUIET. I was particularly impressed with how well Cespedes was able to capture the chaos of their household with her full panels of *stuff* everywhere, covering every surface of the house. There are so many details for readers to notice on the page, which will help young readers especially start to understand that graphic novels aren't just about the dialogue.
That being said, as someone who's felt like Cassie's mom from time to time, I was GUTTED seeing her through Cassie's eyes. The characters' enlarged facial expressions clearly show emotions for readers. The panels with Cassie's arms just reaching out, desperate for her mother to sit with her for just a moment felt like a fist tightening around my stomach. Cassie's descent into depression as the story carries on was so expertly crafted without being didactic. It's gradual yet sporadic. There are glimmers of joy, but the duration of each lessens and the span between each grows as the story goes on. Cassie does get her happy ending, but there's certainly a lot of serious stuff that goes on in this book that I think will be relatable to many elementary-aged children.
Despite the younger protagonist, I'll be putting this book in my middle school class library, because it had such an impact on me as a non-4th grader. I'd bet I have students who can connect with Heidi, Cassie's 7th grade sister, who's been thrust into a maternal role likely against her will, and maybe it'll be a benefit to them to see how their younger siblings may feel from time to time.
Big thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Roaring Brook Press for the ARC!
Oof, was this one tough to read as a mom of multiple young kids! Younger readers may not be able to sympathize so much with Cassie's mom, but in my opinion, she was perfectly crafted by Hale, the author, and Marcela Cespedes, the illustrator, to be relatable. She is *exhausted* dealing with a baby, a toddler, a preschooler, an elementary schooler, a middle schooler, and a high schooler. She just wants to sit and have life be QUIET. I was particularly impressed with how well Cespedes was able to capture the chaos of their household with her full panels of *stuff* everywhere, covering every surface of the house. There are so many details for readers to notice on the page, which will help young readers especially start to understand that graphic novels aren't just about the dialogue.
That being said, as someone who's felt like Cassie's mom from time to time, I was GUTTED seeing her through Cassie's eyes. The characters' enlarged facial expressions clearly show emotions for readers. The panels with Cassie's arms just reaching out, desperate for her mother to sit with her for just a moment felt like a fist tightening around my stomach. Cassie's descent into depression as the story carries on was so expertly crafted without being didactic. It's gradual yet sporadic. There are glimmers of joy, but the duration of each lessens and the span between each grows as the story goes on. Cassie does get her happy ending, but there's certainly a lot of serious stuff that goes on in this book that I think will be relatable to many elementary-aged children.
Despite the younger protagonist, I'll be putting this book in my middle school class library, because it had such an impact on me as a non-4th grader. I'd bet I have students who can connect with Heidi, Cassie's 7th grade sister, who's been thrust into a maternal role likely against her will, and maybe it'll be a benefit to them to see how their younger siblings may feel from time to time.
Big thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Roaring Brook Press for the ARC!
September 23, 2025
I’ve loved Shannon Hale’s work since I was little- I grew up with ‘The Princess in Black’. Now more mature, I like to look back on the old books I’ve read, and I very recently re-read the ‘Real Friends’ series. This books feels a lot like ‘Real Friends’, and I can’t really decide if that’s a good or bad thing. Still, I did really enjoy reading through this book, and I think the book was truly well made and fun. It’s so different from what I expected! I thought the story would go a whole different route.
Let’s go into deeper detail, on what I liked about this book… and what didn’t like.
● What I did like:
• The plot! Right off the bat, I was surprised with the direction it went in. I thought the story was focusing on a young girl winning the lottery and like, spending her money or whatever, but the story is actually a peak into a young girl’s mind, and her story growing up. It’s very sweet and heartfelt. I loved the lottery side plot.
• The setting! It’s set in 1984. This was a fun change of pace.
• Cassie, the main character, is very sensitive! I am too, so I related. I also like how she uses big words sometimes, she reminds me a bit of Anne from ‘Anne of Green Gables’
• Mrs. Farmer! The fact that she’s based on one of Shannon’s real teachers is amazing! I think that her character is so dreamy and fun.
• This book felt mature, while also being plenty light enough for kids to comfortably enjoy. It’s a perfect blend.
• The buffet portion of the story!
• The fact that Cassie’s family is poor, and the way others sometimes treated them. It was sad but I liked how it was handled.
• The friendships!
• The way feelings were described and handled. Very well done!
● What I didn’t like:
• Sadly, the art. Although I can see how the artist worked very hard on it, I just wasn’t really a fan of the way it flowed. Still, I’m sure many would love it, and it’s in no way low quality, just not my personal taste!
• Some of the characters were a little too parallel to Shannon’s other characters from her autobiography. Stesha was a LOT like Jen, and other characters and situations felt like a rehash of ‘Real Friends’ It’s not a big deal, but it did bother me just a little.
I have very few nitpicks… Overall this was a wonderful book that any dreamy, sensitive kid, whether you’re still young or once have been, can enjoy. It was fun all around, and kept my attention. I would recommend this book!!
(This book contains a sensitive young girl’s feeling, which are sometimes a little dark, but never too heavy. Mild bullying is included, as well as a some secrets being kept, and a baby without a diaper from behind. There is an also a I would give this book an age rating of all ages!)
Let’s go into deeper detail, on what I liked about this book… and what didn’t like.
● What I did like:
• The plot! Right off the bat, I was surprised with the direction it went in. I thought the story was focusing on a young girl winning the lottery and like, spending her money or whatever, but the story is actually a peak into a young girl’s mind, and her story growing up. It’s very sweet and heartfelt. I loved the lottery side plot.
• The setting! It’s set in 1984. This was a fun change of pace.
• Cassie, the main character, is very sensitive! I am too, so I related. I also like how she uses big words sometimes, she reminds me a bit of Anne from ‘Anne of Green Gables’
• Mrs. Farmer! The fact that she’s based on one of Shannon’s real teachers is amazing! I think that her character is so dreamy and fun.
• This book felt mature, while also being plenty light enough for kids to comfortably enjoy. It’s a perfect blend.
• The buffet portion of the story!
• The fact that Cassie’s family is poor, and the way others sometimes treated them. It was sad but I liked how it was handled.
• The friendships!
• The way feelings were described and handled. Very well done!
● What I didn’t like:
• Sadly, the art. Although I can see how the artist worked very hard on it, I just wasn’t really a fan of the way it flowed. Still, I’m sure many would love it, and it’s in no way low quality, just not my personal taste!
• Some of the characters were a little too parallel to Shannon’s other characters from her autobiography. Stesha was a LOT like Jen, and other characters and situations felt like a rehash of ‘Real Friends’ It’s not a big deal, but it did bother me just a little.
I have very few nitpicks… Overall this was a wonderful book that any dreamy, sensitive kid, whether you’re still young or once have been, can enjoy. It was fun all around, and kept my attention. I would recommend this book!!
(This book contains a sensitive young girl’s feeling, which are sometimes a little dark, but never too heavy. Mild bullying is included, as well as a some secrets being kept, and a baby without a diaper from behind. There is an also a I would give this book an age rating of all ages!)
May 6, 2025
E ARC Provided by Netgalley
Fourth grader Cassie Carpenter is part of a close but large family that includes her and five siblings, some younger and some older. She is very talkative and anxious, and doesn't get as much attention from her mother as she needs. She has a good friend in Vali, but not that Stesha, a rather mean girl in their class, has lost her best friend, Stesha is playing Vali and Cassie against each other. It's even worse when her teacher, Mrs. Farmer, separates the girls during class, even though Cassie does start to talk to Tomas. Cassie occasionally hangs out with neighbor Trinh, but since she's a year younger, she's afraid people will make fun of her. She's tired of being called sensitive. When she sees an envelope in the mail that says she has won fabulous prizes, she fills it out, complete with stickers for three magazines, even though her mother says they can't afford the $19.95 to pay for them. She carries around the flyer and envisions what she will do with the money and trips, hoping that it will make things better around her house. The friend drama with Vali ramps up, and Cassie even calls Mrs. Farmer "weird" when talking to Vali and Stesha, which she regrets. She does apologize to her teacher, who is retiring at the end of the year and was once married to a prince! Cassie also starts to plan a retirement party, since she'll have the money from her prize. Even though there are some bright spots in her life, like going to the local buffett, there are so many sad things 9like her father being out of work and Vali's grandmother dying) that sometimes Cassie feels that there is no joy in life at all. Eventually, the guilt of the magazines and the friend drama overwhelm her, and she stays home from school and finally has a heart-to-heart with her mother.
Strengths: This is based on Hale's personal experiences, including having a teacher who was married to a prince, so the story really rings true. Not many tweens come from families this large, and it's always interesting to see what that would be like. Friend drama is always a popular topic, and fourth grade can be particularly brutal. This was set sometime in the 1980s, I think, so there are some historical elements that will appeal to readers. The illustrations are bright and colorful, so this will fly off the shelves.
Weaknesses: Middle school drama is slightly different from elementary school drama, so this will be more popular in lower grades, while this author's Best Friends and Real Friends more accurately capture the reality of friend drama for 11-14 year olds.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like graphic novels about anxiety and interpersonal relationships like Libenson's Invisible Emmie or Vivat's Frazzled.
Fourth grader Cassie Carpenter is part of a close but large family that includes her and five siblings, some younger and some older. She is very talkative and anxious, and doesn't get as much attention from her mother as she needs. She has a good friend in Vali, but not that Stesha, a rather mean girl in their class, has lost her best friend, Stesha is playing Vali and Cassie against each other. It's even worse when her teacher, Mrs. Farmer, separates the girls during class, even though Cassie does start to talk to Tomas. Cassie occasionally hangs out with neighbor Trinh, but since she's a year younger, she's afraid people will make fun of her. She's tired of being called sensitive. When she sees an envelope in the mail that says she has won fabulous prizes, she fills it out, complete with stickers for three magazines, even though her mother says they can't afford the $19.95 to pay for them. She carries around the flyer and envisions what she will do with the money and trips, hoping that it will make things better around her house. The friend drama with Vali ramps up, and Cassie even calls Mrs. Farmer "weird" when talking to Vali and Stesha, which she regrets. She does apologize to her teacher, who is retiring at the end of the year and was once married to a prince! Cassie also starts to plan a retirement party, since she'll have the money from her prize. Even though there are some bright spots in her life, like going to the local buffett, there are so many sad things 9like her father being out of work and Vali's grandmother dying) that sometimes Cassie feels that there is no joy in life at all. Eventually, the guilt of the magazines and the friend drama overwhelm her, and she stays home from school and finally has a heart-to-heart with her mother.
Strengths: This is based on Hale's personal experiences, including having a teacher who was married to a prince, so the story really rings true. Not many tweens come from families this large, and it's always interesting to see what that would be like. Friend drama is always a popular topic, and fourth grade can be particularly brutal. This was set sometime in the 1980s, I think, so there are some historical elements that will appeal to readers. The illustrations are bright and colorful, so this will fly off the shelves.
Weaknesses: Middle school drama is slightly different from elementary school drama, so this will be more popular in lower grades, while this author's Best Friends and Real Friends more accurately capture the reality of friend drama for 11-14 year olds.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like graphic novels about anxiety and interpersonal relationships like Libenson's Invisible Emmie or Vivat's Frazzled.
May 30, 2025
We are big Shannon Hale fans in my house. My daughter even dressed up as The Princess in Black for favorite character day at school this year. So, when I saw that she had a new book coming out, I couldn’t wait to read it. And wow! Let me tell you, I read it twice! The graphic novel is friendly and easy to read. I would hand this book to kids from 3rd grade to adult (truly).
The story follows Cassie, a fourth-grade girl, who can’t quite figure out how she fits into the world. She still loves to play pretend, make up games and plays, and dream big. Some of her siblings and peers, though, are feeling like those are babyish, and they are more interested in talking and listening to music. To make matters worse, she and her best friend Vali are trying out a trio friendship instead of just their duo. And it feels tricky when its two against 1…poor Cassie is usually the 1.
At home, Cassie is a true middle child. She’s not quite old enough to enjoy the things her older siblings like. And while she has the imagination to play with her younger siblings, she worries, again, about being too babyish. All she wants is some alone time with her mom, a little attention just for her. When she finally gets this moment, it’s so lovely to see their relationship blook (a kind reminder to parents for making this time to listen and talk with your kids!).
Reading this book, I was immediately transported back to memories of elementary and middle school. I related so easily to Cassie’s confusion about where she fits because she’s not quite an adult but also feeling less like a little kid. Cassie also feels big/deeply. Hale offers the good and bad of this, thus offering moments of introspection about coping with sadness, loneliness, and frustration.
I opted to read this book a second time to really focus on a parent and teacher lens. It really just made me love it even more. I found key excerpts that I would want to carry into a classroom and passages that I know I could use to talk through emotions with my own children. This will absolutely be a book I recommend to my students, my friends, and kids.
The book releases August 26, 2025, and it’s already getting some buzz with starred reviews!!! Pre-order this one from your local bookstore now. Gift it to kiddos in your life. Read it yourself.
Kudos, Shannon Hale. Thanks for continuously putting beautiful work into the world for kids of all ages.
The story follows Cassie, a fourth-grade girl, who can’t quite figure out how she fits into the world. She still loves to play pretend, make up games and plays, and dream big. Some of her siblings and peers, though, are feeling like those are babyish, and they are more interested in talking and listening to music. To make matters worse, she and her best friend Vali are trying out a trio friendship instead of just their duo. And it feels tricky when its two against 1…poor Cassie is usually the 1.
At home, Cassie is a true middle child. She’s not quite old enough to enjoy the things her older siblings like. And while she has the imagination to play with her younger siblings, she worries, again, about being too babyish. All she wants is some alone time with her mom, a little attention just for her. When she finally gets this moment, it’s so lovely to see their relationship blook (a kind reminder to parents for making this time to listen and talk with your kids!).
Reading this book, I was immediately transported back to memories of elementary and middle school. I related so easily to Cassie’s confusion about where she fits because she’s not quite an adult but also feeling less like a little kid. Cassie also feels big/deeply. Hale offers the good and bad of this, thus offering moments of introspection about coping with sadness, loneliness, and frustration.
I opted to read this book a second time to really focus on a parent and teacher lens. It really just made me love it even more. I found key excerpts that I would want to carry into a classroom and passages that I know I could use to talk through emotions with my own children. This will absolutely be a book I recommend to my students, my friends, and kids.
The book releases August 26, 2025, and it’s already getting some buzz with starred reviews!!! Pre-order this one from your local bookstore now. Gift it to kiddos in your life. Read it yourself.
Kudos, Shannon Hale. Thanks for continuously putting beautiful work into the world for kids of all ages.
September 6, 2025
If you go to the special thanks at the end of the book, you will read: "...The Richardson family..." I am part of that Richardson family. Shannon has known my family for decades. Clearly, there is no way I can write this review without admitting to some pretty delicious bias. Take what I say as you will, but I really enjoyed reading this book. Shannon has a gift at capturing those (sometimes subtle) moments growing up that shape us. This book is no exception.
It delights me that Shannon captured the chaos of the house I knew growing up. Moreover, she understood the hunger that children like me have felt in doing something to change their situation. I recall so many moments where I had truly believed in my heart that if I prayed a certain way, stepped on cracks in the sidewalk with the tip of my shoe, or picked the weeds in our jungle of a backyard that somehow things would be easier. Cassie, the protagonist, makes sense to be as a character. As a result, I found myself reflective after putting the book down.
One of the the biggest personal takeaways I had was about my mother. She gave over control of her house so that we children had friends. As a parent, I find it hard when I see my children's friends rocking back on kitchen chair or eating Cheetos on my couch. I am that mom in the corner who is always reminding the children to wash their hands, take their shoes off, and eat outside or in the kitchen. I loom and linger making it hard for my children and their friends to feel relaxed. I didn't feel this as a child. We were messy and cluttered and weird. But we were also a safe place to hang and there was an acceptance of everyone in the room. This was because to be in the room, you had to have accepted us and our family.
I don't often think back to my childhood because it was often challenging. But this read gave me a little light and laughter. It reminded me of some of the sweet spots. I hope it will do the same to other adult readers.
p.s. I remember the first time Shannon told me the teacher she had who was a real princess. I heard it a couple of more times after, and it never got old. I loved seeing it show up in this graphic novel.
It delights me that Shannon captured the chaos of the house I knew growing up. Moreover, she understood the hunger that children like me have felt in doing something to change their situation. I recall so many moments where I had truly believed in my heart that if I prayed a certain way, stepped on cracks in the sidewalk with the tip of my shoe, or picked the weeds in our jungle of a backyard that somehow things would be easier. Cassie, the protagonist, makes sense to be as a character. As a result, I found myself reflective after putting the book down.
One of the the biggest personal takeaways I had was about my mother. She gave over control of her house so that we children had friends. As a parent, I find it hard when I see my children's friends rocking back on kitchen chair or eating Cheetos on my couch. I am that mom in the corner who is always reminding the children to wash their hands, take their shoes off, and eat outside or in the kitchen. I loom and linger making it hard for my children and their friends to feel relaxed. I didn't feel this as a child. We were messy and cluttered and weird. But we were also a safe place to hang and there was an acceptance of everyone in the room. This was because to be in the room, you had to have accepted us and our family.
I don't often think back to my childhood because it was often challenging. But this read gave me a little light and laughter. It reminded me of some of the sweet spots. I hope it will do the same to other adult readers.
p.s. I remember the first time Shannon told me the teacher she had who was a real princess. I heard it a couple of more times after, and it never got old. I loved seeing it show up in this graphic novel.
May 6, 2025
Welcome Back,
I am sorry for the unexpected break last week, but I hope everyone got a ton of good reading in! I was able to pick up a few books and explore a new (at least to me) reading app, which I might really enjoy. During my time away, I was able to finish a bunch of graphic novels and other books. One of the graphic novels was an E-ARC of Dream On (thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions). I love reading graphic novels, so this one was the perfect way to kick off some quiet reading time.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Cassie’s life is kind of chaotic. She has a lot of siblings, and she lives with her parents, who are always busy helping a sibling, cleaning, or working. But Cassie has a best friend that she can hang out with and things she really enjoys doing. However, Cassie has recently started to feel like something big is missing from her life, and she can not quite place her finger on it. One day at school, another student starts to kind of take over Cassie’s best friend. Without her best friend, Cassie begins to feel very lonely, but what if she is just being overemotional? Cassie is struggling with some very, very big feelings, but hopefully, she can figure out how to navigate her life in a way that is best for her.
I really enjoyed my time with this story. I felt like Cassie was taking on some big feelings and situations in life at a really young age. Cassie is not a teen but rather in late elementary or early middle school. She is a bit independent, but also is very sensitive to how people around her treat her and others. Navigating friendships can be difficult at any age, and Cassie is just trying to do what might be best for her. This graphic novel hits shelves in August of this year. I definitely recommend giving it a try.
Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars
***Thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.
I am sorry for the unexpected break last week, but I hope everyone got a ton of good reading in! I was able to pick up a few books and explore a new (at least to me) reading app, which I might really enjoy. During my time away, I was able to finish a bunch of graphic novels and other books. One of the graphic novels was an E-ARC of Dream On (thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions). I love reading graphic novels, so this one was the perfect way to kick off some quiet reading time.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Cassie’s life is kind of chaotic. She has a lot of siblings, and she lives with her parents, who are always busy helping a sibling, cleaning, or working. But Cassie has a best friend that she can hang out with and things she really enjoys doing. However, Cassie has recently started to feel like something big is missing from her life, and she can not quite place her finger on it. One day at school, another student starts to kind of take over Cassie’s best friend. Without her best friend, Cassie begins to feel very lonely, but what if she is just being overemotional? Cassie is struggling with some very, very big feelings, but hopefully, she can figure out how to navigate her life in a way that is best for her.
I really enjoyed my time with this story. I felt like Cassie was taking on some big feelings and situations in life at a really young age. Cassie is not a teen but rather in late elementary or early middle school. She is a bit independent, but also is very sensitive to how people around her treat her and others. Navigating friendships can be difficult at any age, and Cassie is just trying to do what might be best for her. This graphic novel hits shelves in August of this year. I definitely recommend giving it a try.
Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars
***Thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.
April 18, 2025
Reading Dream On felt like looking into a mirror held up to all the tender, confusing, and often overwhelming parts of being a sensitive, thoughtful kid. Cassie, caught in the middle of six siblings and the messy realities of a working-class family in the '80s, carries so much emotional weight without always being noticed for it. That quiet invisibility—at home, in friendships, even in how she views herself—felt incredibly real and relatable.
What Shannon Hale does so beautifully is let us live inside Cassie's head. We feel her doubts, her longing to be special to someone, her love for imagination and magic, and her constant, almost painful, self-awareness. The book doesn't rush past those feelings; it honors them. As someone who often reassessed their own behavior in response to how others reacted, I found Cassie’s inner monologue achingly relatable.
A standout element is the way the book handles emotional growth. We watch Cassie move from quietly internalizing criticism to learning how to listen to her own feelings—learning that being sensitive isn’t something to fix, but something to understand. Her strained friendship with Vali, her discomfort with Stesha’s manipulation, and her bond with her eccentric teacher Mrs. Farmer all offer rich opportunities for reflection—both for Cassie and for the reader.
Dream On truly shines in how it wraps the messy, magical chaos of growing up in warmth, wonder, and honesty. Cassie’s story is full of humor and heartache, small victories and real hurt—and it’s told in a way that feels both comforting and electric. Shannon Hale reminds us that being sensitive isn’t a flaw—it’s a superpower. That wanting to be seen, to matter, to hold onto joy isn’t childish—it’s human. This book doesn’t just understand its readers, it makes them feel understood. And that, to me, is its quiet, beautiful brilliance.
What Shannon Hale does so beautifully is let us live inside Cassie's head. We feel her doubts, her longing to be special to someone, her love for imagination and magic, and her constant, almost painful, self-awareness. The book doesn't rush past those feelings; it honors them. As someone who often reassessed their own behavior in response to how others reacted, I found Cassie’s inner monologue achingly relatable.
A standout element is the way the book handles emotional growth. We watch Cassie move from quietly internalizing criticism to learning how to listen to her own feelings—learning that being sensitive isn’t something to fix, but something to understand. Her strained friendship with Vali, her discomfort with Stesha’s manipulation, and her bond with her eccentric teacher Mrs. Farmer all offer rich opportunities for reflection—both for Cassie and for the reader.
Dream On truly shines in how it wraps the messy, magical chaos of growing up in warmth, wonder, and honesty. Cassie’s story is full of humor and heartache, small victories and real hurt—and it’s told in a way that feels both comforting and electric. Shannon Hale reminds us that being sensitive isn’t a flaw—it’s a superpower. That wanting to be seen, to matter, to hold onto joy isn’t childish—it’s human. This book doesn’t just understand its readers, it makes them feel understood. And that, to me, is its quiet, beautiful brilliance.
March 5, 2025
Cassie (4th grade) is one of six kids in a family where money is tight, bedrooms (and beds!) are in short supply, and her mom’s longed-for attention is almost always elsewhere. Cassie is often called “sensitive,” usually in a “don’t be so sensitive” or “you’re so sensitive!” type of way–often by her older sister–which makes her think it’s a personal flaw. She has a best friend named Vali and adores her teacher, Mrs. Farmer, an older woman who is eccentric, loving, and encourages her students to see the “wonder” in things.
The idea of “wonder” is really striking to Cassie, who spends a lot of time daydreaming and feeling things strongly. Opening the mail one day, Cassie finds a magazine sweepstakes with a gold “Winner” sticker on it and believes that, once she returns the enclosed letter, she will get her pick of three of the prizes shown in the brochure: furniture sets, vacations, a car, a water bed (it’s the ’80s). Life will be so much easier for her family!
She shows the brochure to Vali, who likes imagining the possibilities with her. But things are becoming strained between Cassie and Vali. Their rather manipulative classmate, Stesha, has been doing her darndest to drive a wedge between Cassie and Vali–to the point that Vali feels she can’t hang out with Cassie anymore, because Stesha will stop talking to her. (Stesha is their age but seems older to Cassie; she’s not into games of make believe like Cassie is.) Stesha also thinks Mrs. Farmer is weird and a liar, and she sometimes laughs meanly at Mrs. Farmer in class; this confuses Cassie and poisons her opinion of her beloved teacher.
But it’s Mrs. Farmer who really helps Cassie to accept her own sensitivity and to see the good in it. At home, Cassie also gets unexpected support from her older sister re: her friendship struggles, and she also has a rare afternoon of having her mom entirely to herself, which helps. In the end, she and Vali make up, and they agree that Vali will take turns spending recess and lunch with both Cassie and Stesha; on the days when Vali is with Stesha, Cassie hangs with her new friend Thomasi.
Shannon Hale is, as always, so good at writing really relatable friendship struggles, and I think kids who are sensitive like Cassie will find her extra relatable. I also love the way the characters are drawn by this illustrator. The colors are vibrant, and the characters are cute, but not cutesy.
The idea of “wonder” is really striking to Cassie, who spends a lot of time daydreaming and feeling things strongly. Opening the mail one day, Cassie finds a magazine sweepstakes with a gold “Winner” sticker on it and believes that, once she returns the enclosed letter, she will get her pick of three of the prizes shown in the brochure: furniture sets, vacations, a car, a water bed (it’s the ’80s). Life will be so much easier for her family!
She shows the brochure to Vali, who likes imagining the possibilities with her. But things are becoming strained between Cassie and Vali. Their rather manipulative classmate, Stesha, has been doing her darndest to drive a wedge between Cassie and Vali–to the point that Vali feels she can’t hang out with Cassie anymore, because Stesha will stop talking to her. (Stesha is their age but seems older to Cassie; she’s not into games of make believe like Cassie is.) Stesha also thinks Mrs. Farmer is weird and a liar, and she sometimes laughs meanly at Mrs. Farmer in class; this confuses Cassie and poisons her opinion of her beloved teacher.
But it’s Mrs. Farmer who really helps Cassie to accept her own sensitivity and to see the good in it. At home, Cassie also gets unexpected support from her older sister re: her friendship struggles, and she also has a rare afternoon of having her mom entirely to herself, which helps. In the end, she and Vali make up, and they agree that Vali will take turns spending recess and lunch with both Cassie and Stesha; on the days when Vali is with Stesha, Cassie hangs with her new friend Thomasi.
Shannon Hale is, as always, so good at writing really relatable friendship struggles, and I think kids who are sensitive like Cassie will find her extra relatable. I also love the way the characters are drawn by this illustrator. The colors are vibrant, and the characters are cute, but not cutesy.
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