The Dream Weaver

(Hardback)

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Description

Twelve-year-old Zoey navigates the tricky waters of friendship while looking for a way to save her grandfathers struggling business in this heartwarming, coming-of-age debut novel perfect for fans of Kristi Wientge, Donna Gephart, and Meg Medina.

Zoey comes from a family of dreamers. From start-up companies to selling motorcycles, her dad is constantly chasing jobs that never seem to work out. As for Zoey, shes willing to go along with whatever grand plans her dad dreams upeven if it means never staying in one place long enough to make real friends. Her family being together is all that matters to her.

So Zoeys world is turned upside down when Dad announces that hes heading to a new job in New York City without her. Instead, Zoey and her older brother, Jos, will stay with their Poppy at the Jersey Shore. At first, Zoey feels as lost and alone as she did after her mami died. But soon shes distracted by an even bigger problem: the bowling alley that Poppy has owned for decades is in danger of closing!

After befriending a group of kids practicing for a summer bowling tournament, Zoey hatches a grand plan of her own to save the bowling alley. It seems like shes found the perfect way to weave everyones dreams together...until unexpected events turn Zoeys plan into one giant nightmare. Now, with her new friends counting on her and her familys happiness hanging in the balance, Zoey will have to decide what her dream isand how hard shes willing to fight for it.

Reviews

Dreams need time and freedom to grow and change. This is what stuck with me the most as I watched Zoey struggle to find her voice. Zoey is processing her own losses while trying to navigate her fathers dreams, her brothers plans, and her grandfathers grief. My twelve-year- old self would have loved a friend like her. When one girls voice gets louder, we all get stronger. Go Zoey! -- Doreen Cronin, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of CYCLONE
"Charming, vivid, and emotionally real, Zoeys story will capture your heart! Deploying her can-do attitude and resourcefulness, Zoey discovers that her own dreams are worth striving for and that reconnecting with her past might be the best way to brighten her future. On the Jersey Shore, Zoey reawakens to her heritage and the memory of her mother, while also trying to make new friends. Past and future collide as her brother packs for college, her father takes a new job, and her grandfathers bowling alley drifts into decay. As Zoey tries to find her footing, she takes a risk on a project that could affect Poppys bowling alley forever. Flavorful details, a quick-moving plot, and psychological depth bring this Cuban-American family to life. A treasure for any library." -- Rebecca Balcarcel, author of Belpre Honor Book THE OTHER HALF OF HAPPY
Brimming with heart and humor, Reina Luz Alegres THE DREAM WEAVER is a tender story about belonging, friendship, and finding the courage to fight for your dreams. Lovely and empowering. -- Ashley Herring Blake, author of the Stonewall Honor book, IVY ABERDEENS LETTER TO THE WORLD
A wonderful debut by Reina Luz Alegre! Told in clean and engaging prose, this story will thread readers through one girls coming of age as she struggles to keep together her fragmented family, each holding their dreams close, while contending with a longing to connect to lost traditions without her mother, and finding what will make her feel truly at home. A heartwarming book about growing up, growing friendships, growing the bonds of family and culture, and growing dreams of your own. -- Aida Salazar, International Latino Book Award-Winning Author of THE MOON WITHIN
"A debut full of complicated families, complicated friendships, and the complicated and awkward experiences of growing up (including an embarrassing yet relatable first period experience that would have brought comfort to me during my own embarrassing early period days). THE DREAM WEAVER is a story I would happily hand to all the middle grade readers I know. From one Jersey boardwalk kid to another, Zoey is the type of character I could have spent hours with at the shore." -- Nicole Melleby, author of HURRICANE SEASON
Zoey is a root-worthy character! She is the only girl in her family, the peacemaker between Poppy, Jos and dad. I loved reading along as she navigated weird new friend moments and embarrassing period happenings all in stride. This book has an endearing cast of characters from Zoeys older brother, Jos, who is not only full of perpetual optimism, but handles Zoeys first period with a chillness that is so refreshing and AWESOME! This story really encapsulates family and friendshipsthe good, the bad and the messy. It also reminds us that there are always good people willing to help us when we need it. -- Kristi Wientge, author of HONEYBEES AND FRENEMIES
"It made me laugh. It made me cheer. It made me want to bowl. A fun, uplifting tale of a girl coming into her own and standing up for what matters. Friends don't let friends bowl alone." -- James Breakwell, Parenting Author named "Twitter's Funniest Dad" by Fatherly.com in 2020
"A charming debut about grief, the bonds of family and friendship, and bowling." -- BOOKLIST
"Alegre has written a warm, funny, empowering book thats sure to appeal to fans of Meg Medinas Merci Suarez Changes Gears or Pablo Cartayas The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora. Recommended for all collections." -- School Library Journal
"A heartfelt debut novel rooted in the importance of family ties, the bonds of friendship, and bowling." -- Kirkus Reviews

Author Bio

Reina Luz Alegre lives in the Miami area with her family. Shes dreamed of becoming an author since the second grade, and grew up to work on various other professional dreamsincluding as a freelance journalist and lawyerbefore debuting her first novel,The Dream Weaver. When shes not writing, Reina loves to read, sing, and salivate over baking shows. Follow her on Twitter at @ReinaLuzAlegre.