Dream On
by Sarah Mlynowski · Whatever After #4
A clever fairy-tale remix that teaches kids to love the life they have
The story
When ten-year-old Abby and her brother Jonah accidentally pull their friend Robin into a Sleeping Beauty fairy tale through a magic mirror, Robin gets hit by the sleeping curse instead of the princess. Now Abby must find a way to wake her friend while dealing with a princess who actually wanted to be cursed and a gathering of fairies with their own magical rules.
Age verdict
Best for ages 7-10. Younger confident readers can handle it independently; older elementary students will enjoy the humor and fairy-tale twists but may find it a quick, light read.
Our take
An entertaining fairy-tale adventure that kids will enjoy significantly more than adults will admire. Strong on momentum, surprise, and fun; lighter on literary depth and real-world substance.
What stands out
Each audience's top 3 dimensions. Out of 30 scored per book.
Kids love
- Middle momentum Strong
Comparable to The Princess in Black and Perfect Princess Party (4) — Each chapter ends on cliffhanger or revelation; ticking-clock deadline (Robin morning pickup) creates constant background urgency. Sits above anchor due to sustained momentum escalation.
- Ending satisfaction Strong
central problem solved via wordplay twist (Prince the puppy), emotional arc completes believably, unexpected magical pet. Sits at anchor.
Parents love
- Reading gateway Strong
Comparable to Clementine, Friend of the Week (7) — Short chapters, accessible vocabulary, immediate magical hook, warm first-person voice make this natural bridge from early readers to sustained chapter books. Sits at anchor.
- Stereotype-breaker Solid
Comparable to Blended (6) — Sleeping Beauty princess actively rejects scripted destiny; chooses commoner she loves over prophecy. Villain's daughter breaks from mother's cruelty; male interest emotionally available rather than rescuing. Sits at anchor.
Teachers love
- Reluctant reader rescue Strong
Hard Luck (9) — Short chapters, accessible voice, immediate magical hook, familiar fairy-tale framework, steady humor create multiple entry points for reluctant readers. Light, fun tone without demanding prose. Sits at anchor.
- Read-aloud power Solid
Abby's self-aware narration, Felix's bratty exclamations, Jonah's enthusiastic outbursts. Reads aloud smoothly with natural chapter pauses. Sits above anchor.
✓ Perfect for
- • Kids who love fairy-tale retellings with modern twists
- • Readers transitioning from early readers to chapter books
- • Children who enjoy magical adventures with humor and heart
- • Fans of sibling stories with a mix of bickering and loyalty
Not ideal for
Readers looking for literary depth, complex world-building, or heavy emotional themes will find this lighter than expected. Not suited for advanced readers seeking challenge.
At a glance
- Pages
- 157
- Chapters
- 19
- Words
- 25k
- Lexile
- 440L
- Difficulty
- Easy
- POV
- First Person
- Illustration
- Sparse
- Published
- 2014
- Publisher
- Pegasus Yayinlari
- ISBN
- 9786053436676
Mood & style
You'll know it worked when…
A kid who finishes will likely want the next book in the series and may start reimagining other fairy tales on their own.
More like this
Same genre, similar age range. Ranked by kid score.
Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin
by Liesl Shurtliff
Fairest of All (Whatever After #1)
by Sarah Mlynowski
Just So Stories
by Rudyard Kipling
Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China
by Ed Young
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