What is Dream on about?
A ten year old girl named Cassie is navigating changing friendship dynamics, a very busy home with five siblings, and feelings of being different from her peers.
Plot summary of Dream On (no spoilers)
Cassie’s home is a very busy one, so when her mum asks her to empty the mailbox she resists at first. After all, she’s done her chores and the mailbox is her sibling’s job.
Amongst the mail she finds a sweepstake offering grand prizes of holidays, jetskis, furniture and cars. She can’t believe her luck! Especially after receiving a gold prize sticker.
Sharing this good fortune with her best friend Vali, Cassie is feeling wonderful. Maybe she can choose prizes for her mum? Surely that will make mum notice her a bit more at home?
When her favourite teacher Mrs Farmer changes the seating plan in their class, Cassie isn’t sitting next to Vali anymore. She struggles with this change, and sees Vali making a new friend named Stesha. The more time Vali spends with Stesha – at school then even after school, the more it hurts Cassie’s feelings.
But she’s always been told she is over sensitive. Is she the problem?
My thoughts
Friendship dynamics are often hard, and I remember my own struggles in primary school. I wish I had books like Dream On to help me understand what was happening, and what to do about it.
Cassie has a very busy home where she wants to be noticed, but is given responsibility for her younger siblings instead. She yearns for simpler times when she was younger, and had a little more attention. This on top of fraying and changing friendships is a tough time for her, and a very real and authentic story for girls aged 9 and up – who may find themselves in the same situations.
It’s by no means an easy journey, and Shannon Hale tells it like it really is in school, with Marcela Cespedes capturing Cassie’s conflicting emotions on the page brilliantly.
A must read for Primary & Intermediate school girls.
Main Characters
Cassie – Aged 10 and one of six siblings in a very busy home on a tight budget, but full of love. A sensitive girl, she can still see the wonder in things around her, even as she is teased by her classmates and older sister. She also feels the hurt when her best friend changes and another student excludes her from things.
Vali – Also aged 10, Vali is Cassie’s best friend and they have always understood each other and enjoyed each other’s company. When getting to know another girl named Stesha after a seating change in class, she is led away from her friendship with Cassie, and also struggles with what is okay, what is deemed babyish, and how to keep from becoming the excluded one.
Steshi – Although the same age, Steshi acts much older, deeming many games babyish, and is not scared of telling anyone what she thinks. But maybe she has a reason for her hurtful behaviour?
Writing Style
Full colour graphic novel, with point of view character Cassie’s thoughts in orange speech bubbles, and normal speech with other characters in white bubbles. Flashbacks in Cassie’s life are shown in pastel toned sections.
FAQs
What age is it for?
For readers 9+
Where & When is it set?
USA 1980’s
What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?
1st person / Present tense
Is there Violence?
No
What genre is Dream on?
Middle-grade Graphic Novel
Themes
Family / Historical / Growing Up / Friendship Dynamics
Is it part of a series?
No
If you liked this, you might like…
Cross my Heart and Never Lie here
The Emmie & Friends series here
Author
Shannon Hale
Illustrator
Marcela Cespedes
Publisher
Roaring Book Press
(2026, Roaring Brook Press, Graphic Novel, School, Bully, Growing Up, Family, Friendship Dynamics, Historical, 1980’s, Feelings)