DreamWalk
by Giselle Ho
A Flawless Life. A Fatal Price.
Crushed by the pressure of impossible expectations, thirteen-year-old Mia Smith escapes from real world into the Dreamscape, a magical realm where she can flawlessly rewrite her mistakes. However, she soon discovers this fantasy comes at a steep price: she is trading her memories and essence to the devil Dream-Masters. To save herself, Mia unites with her parents and friends to raid the Dream-Masters' archives, ultimately choosing to abandon perfection and resolve everyday problems by herself. It is a book for children about grit and resilience, and a book for parents about different ways of coaching.
What readers are saying
“A masterclass in empathy. DreamWalk perfectly articulates the silent anxiety our children carry when they feel they must be flawless to be loved. The relationship between Mia and her parents is beautifully authentic, and the lesson that life's 'brown spots' are what make us real is a message I will carry with me forever. A must-read for families to experience together.”
— Parents with a 9 year-old boy
“The temptation to just 'edit' away a bad grade or an embarrassing moment is so real, especially with all the pressure to look perfect online and at school. DreamWalk is an incredible reminder that it is our mistakes and our struggles that actually make us who we are. This book felt like a massive weight being lifted off my shoulders.”
— Amy Turner, Child Social Worker
“An essential addition to any middle or high school library. The authors have cleverly disguised vital lessons about emotional resilience, 'tuning out,' and overcoming Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs) within a gripping fantasy narrative. It challenges the toxic pursuit of '100% scores' and champions the courage to embrace the learning process. DreamWalk will spark incredibly important conversations in classrooms everywhere.”
— John Gardner, Child psychologist