by Ron Howard
First published 2009
Dreamer is ten years old and trapped in an institution for troubled children. The days blur together in cycles of abuse and neglect, far from any adult who might care about his wellbeing. The staff treats the children as problems to contain rather than young people who need help. Dreamer watches the other kids around him give up hope one by one. But when Barack Obama wins the presidency, something shifts inside Dreamer. He begins writing letters to the new president, pouring out his experiences and dreams onto paper. Through these letters, Dreamer holds onto the belief that someone in power might finally listen to children like him. His correspondence becomes both a lifeline and an act of faith. The letters reveal a boy who refuses to let the system break his spirit, even as he navigates the daily reality of institutional life that seems designed to crush rather than heal.
Genres: fiction, american-fiction, african-american, contemporary, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, underdog
Period: 21st Century
274 pages · Perfect Paperback · Jackson Street Dreamer Publications
Content warnings: abuse, child-abuse