About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is feeling the weight of adult responsibilities or struggling with a difficult home life that they feel they must keep secret. It is an essential choice for children who are 'parentified' or who feel like they are the only ones facing family hardship. The story follows twelve-year-old Aislinn, who manages her younger siblings and household chores while navigating her father's alcoholism. By literally writing her dreams on her sleeve, she finds a way to share her burdens and her hopes with her community. It is a deeply moving, realistic portrayal of resilience and the power of creative expression. While it touches on heavy themes, it remains age-appropriate for middle-grade readers by focusing on Aislinn's agency and the optimistic spark of her 'dreamsleeves' movement. It is a beautiful tool for validating a child's complex emotions and teaching them that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
