Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
100th out of 239 books
—
1,803 voters
Dreamsleeves
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 mi...more
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 mi...more
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published
April 1st 2012
by Scholastic Press
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
914)
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 re...more
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 re...more
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 watc...more
A heartbreaking story about a preteen girl who struggles to watc...more
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...more
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
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
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 f...more
You want to know if this book is good?
Well obviously, you're reading the reviews.
It is an amazing book that is totally, worth your time so stop reading the reviews and read this instead.
Well obviously, you're reading the reviews.
It is an amazing book that is totally, worth your time so stop reading the reviews and read this instead.
The story of a young girl dealing with an alcoholic parent, taking care of siblings, and trying to figure out middle grade friendships and romance. All worthy topics and the character was likeable. Read a little young to me and the dreamsleeves concept was a bit silly to me. I like the relationships with her siblings and mother and the hardships of living with an alcoholic parent are well done. I thought placing the story in the late 1960-early 1970s was a bit off...too many references to things...more
Coleen Murtagh Paratore is right up there with Joan Bauer in her ability to write great books about strong young girls dealing with difficult situations. Aislinn is the oldest of 5 kids. Instead of being able to enjoy her summer vacation, she has to take care of her younger siblings, do much of the housework, and whatever else her sometimes-abusive, alcoholic father decides. I love the idea she comes up with - wearing your dreams on your sleeve so that others can know what they are and help if p...more
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...more
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...more
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...more
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 t...more
Aislinn (A) takes cares of her siblings, never is allowed to be out of the house much. And dreams to be normal, to get t...more
I really enjoyed this book - and wish that it was set in contemporary times. It doesn't really feel like historical fiction, but definitely is. Aislinn is in charge of her 4 younger brothers and sisters, must come to grips with the fact that her father is an alcoholic, experiences her first crush, all while figuring out how who she is. I love the message of this book - that we should wear our dreams on our sleeves. What a lovely idea. I can see something like this really taking off in a middle s...more
Dreamsleeves is an emotional book that makes me feel exhilarated yet very depressed. It is a book about a girl named A. her siblings are B, C, D, and E. She lives in the upstairs of her grandmother's small house. Her dad is a drunk and is spending all of the money they need to buy the house they want in the country. She is forced to watch her siblings while her mother and father work. A's best friend ditches her for the awful, rich girl they hated at school. A had no one to play with during the...more
The sun shines with light, warmth, hope and love through the voice of A. O'Neil, an adolescent who is faced with many challenges, including a parent's deepening alcoholism.
Well done my old mate from CCHS and St. Rose. I enjoyed every moment! Bravo!
This is a wonderful book for a young reader, and anyone from Troy,New York who wants to take a trip down memory lane. You will go to Woolworth's and Coopers of course! I won't name all of the spots A visits....but it was a delight for me.
I am happy f...more
Well done my old mate from CCHS and St. Rose. I enjoyed every moment! Bravo!
This is a wonderful book for a young reader, and anyone from Troy,New York who wants to take a trip down memory lane. You will go to Woolworth's and Coopers of course! I won't name all of the spots A visits....but it was a delight for me.
I am happy f...more
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...more
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...more
2 likes
·
like
· see review
Aislinn has a lot of responsibility having to take care of her younger siblings instead of enjoying the summer before 8th grade spending time with friends. She also has a Dad whose drinking problem is getting worse. The best thing about Aislinn though is that she knows how to dream; she knows what she wants. She decides to put her dreams on her sleeve for all to see and for all to help her to achieve. A touching story full of inspiration and hope.
Very sweet story about a 13 year old girl trying to cope with some tough stuff-- an alcoholic father, losing her best friend, another impending sibling, and a first real crush. I felt the historical setting (Vietnam War era) was kind of slippery..not enough details to feel like the book was really anchored in that time period. Maybe that's good though, so contemporary readers can feel a good connection. Clean, tween.
I thought that this book was excellent! I like it because it is super funny, but also sad. I really like the plot of the story how it is about a girl, 12 years old, who encounters problems within her family. She makes a goal to solve theese problems by the end of the summer. Will she be able to? You'll have to read it. Trust me, once you start you won't be able to stop!
I related to the main character and her situation in life quite easily, as parts of her childhood were very much like mine. This story is quite inspiring and each chapter starts with a quote, which I enjoyed. My only difficulty was that it took awhile for me to realize it was set in the 1960s, and then once I realized it, there were some phrases that were too modern. But I think most people would never notice that!
really good book. I really liked how it made the dad not a complete monster and sympathetic at times. Don't get me wrong I hated the dad for most of the book but near the end your really begin to feel bad for him. I also like how everything did not turn completely happy at the end but you could see that there was hope.
Coleen Murtagh Paratore's best to date. Living and growing up in Troy made this an even more poignant experience. Aislinn's experience growing up in a household dominated by her father's alcoholism is sensitively and realistically depicted from a 12 or 13 year old girl's viewpoint. Well done!
This book is definitely more mature than Paratore's Wedding Planner's Daughter series, so be advised. It is AMAZING! You will fall in love with the main dreamer Aislinn (A) and her great idea about wearing our dreams on our sleeves for all to see. I think I'm going to try it.
Dreamsleeves is an amazing book which i can completely relate to. It is heartfelt and shows an extroadinary story for which you can decieve for reality. I am in eighth grade, and love it. Amazing for teens, and any age, boy or girl. AMAZING.
A wonderfully empowering book for middle grade readers. I feel as though I know the author better having read this touching story. I finished reading the book on the International Day of the Girl, which is apropos!
Didn't like it as much as her other books, but it was still good. It was historical, but didn't have enough history to really get a feel for the time period. She could have just set it in the present.
May 06, 2012
Azorianfireflyz
added it
Dreamsleeves is a great idea. I wonder how many more dreams would be realized if we would only have the courage to share them with others, and have the determination to help others succeed as well.
I loved the book.It can help a person to follow they're dreams and give them the courage to do want your heart wants.It also helps a person to get through troubled times at home and know that help will always be around.This book really touched me.
It was a pretty good book. The story had very shallow climatic moments, so you finish the book with little suspense overall, but a good story about realistic life situations.
I just wanted to beat the dada he was so mean but a good message I couldnt put it down kinda like the hunger games I liv it when u get a good book and can't put it down
The story is about a seventh grader who feels a prisoner due to her father's drinking and severity. She feels like a prisoner but finds dreaming makes her free.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book release party - Troy, NY | 1 | 3 | Apr 12, 2012 07:32pm |
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...more
More about Coleen Murtagh Paratore...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
Apr 20, 2012 08:49am