Dreamsleeves, Coleen Murtagh Paratore. Eighth grader, Aislinn, or "A" as she is called, has dreams. It is summer time and she takes care of her younger siblings: Beck, Callie, Dooley and Eddie while her mom works. Her mom is pregnant, so soon an "F" will be added to the family alphabet. Her loving Nana is away and not their to buffer the amount of drinking her father does. Maizey, her best friend is being pulled away from her by Sue-Ellen, the rich girl that can offer more than A can. The dream of living in a big house in the country seems to be less and less of a reality due to her dad spending so much of their money on booze. As his drinking increases, his voice gets more venomous. He does not allow her to spend time with friends, and especially not boys; yet, she is hoping to go to Sue-Ellen's pool party to see Mike and get her first kiss, but that dream is constantly being threatened by her dad's moods.

She decides to put a dream on her sleeve when they go to church, hoping her priest will see it and get her dad to stop drinking, He does notice, comes to the house for a visit, but things only get worse. She thinks that by wearing her dreams on her sleeves, she puts it out to the world for help in having her dreams met.

This is a lovely story for older readers, especially girls. The author even provides a page at the back for readers to to reflect on their own dreams, and perhaps put them on their own sleeves.