Dream, the standalone companion to Wish, coming to bookstores on 8/26/25!

The #1 New York Times–bestselling middle-grade novel about a girl who, with the help of a true-blue friend, a big-hearted aunt and uncle, and the dog of her dreams, unexpectedly learns the true meaning of family in the least likely of places. Perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate and Kate DiCamillo.


Eleven-year-old Charlie Reese has been making the same secret wish every day since fourth grade. She even has a list of all the ways there are to make the wish, such as cutting off the pointed end of a slice of pie and wishing on it as she takes the last bite. But when she is sent to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina to live with family she barely knows, it seems unlikely that her wish will ever come true. That is until she meets Wishbone, a skinny stray dog who captures her heart, and Howard, a neighbor boy who proves surprising in lots of ways. Suddenly Charlie is in serious danger of discovering that what she thought she wanted may not be what she needs at all.


Don't miss Barbara O'Connor's other heartwarming middle-grade titles:
Wonderland
How to Steal a Dog
Greetings from Nowhere

Beethoven in Paradise
Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia

The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis
On the Road to Mr. Mineo's
The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester
Halfway to Harmony

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Published Aug 29, 2017

256 pages

Average rating: 8.48

25 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Amanda Bryan
Mar 07, 2025
10/10 stars
Lighthearted book I enjoyed listening to with my kids (14, 8 & 8) as we drove back/forth to school every day! Loved the message of how you don't always get what you wish for, but if you take a look around, you get something even better!
Shahna
Jul 18, 2024
6/10 stars
Full of sad.
archer
Apr 16, 2024
9/10 stars
charlie is a good person with a great life in North Carolina but she can't always see it.
E Clou
May 10, 2023
8/10 stars
My third grader was assigned this in school and I think it's a great pick. The main character is a girl that comes from a disadvantaged background with a troubled family but mostly the family is treated with kindness by the author despite their flaws. The little girl struggles with her feelings and behavior but is able to improve with the support of her aunt and uncle and a new friend at school.

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