Book: Gossamer by Lois Lowry
Genre: YA (or MG) Fantasy
Rating: B+
This book was quite different from the other Lowry books I've read. It's a simple sweet story about little fairy type people whose job it is to pass out dreams for humans. They accomplish this by touching their belongings and gathering their memories, then bestow them on people as they sleep. Very nice.
Except when the creatures go bad, then of course they are the nightmare givers. And they are not very nice at all.
This story focuses on one little dream giver as she is learning the ropes and how she comes to love a grandma and the foster boy she takes in.
This book really makes you think about all your stuff and the memories everything contains.
It's story geared toward younger audiences, except the boy, who has been abused, has some pretty difficult memories, so that may be a little too much for the younger readers.
And now that I now how to find Dewey's reviews, here's a couple of thoughts she has on this book:
Reading about the memories associated with these objects often brought a smile to my face, and I’d pause in my reading to gaze around at my own belongings and imagine what memories Littlest and her mentor might pull from them
This book was so full of empathy for people and their troubles; I know that I could never be as patient with John as the unnamed woman was. He was downright rude to her at times, even insulting. But she always kept in mind that John was just working through what had happened to him and remained in a listening, supportive role at times I think most people would have set boundaries or become defensive.
Powell’s lists the target age group as 9 to 12. It would probably appeal to some younger children, but the violence John suffers might frighten them. I also think that many teens who like to read would enjoy this book, especially those who love children and whimsical ideas such as dream-giving fairy-like creatures. And I also recommend it to adults, especially those who have enjoyed Lowry’s other books, although this one is quite different.
Other Reviews:
This was a very cute book, but you're right, very different from other Lowry. I got it and read it around Christmas last year.
ReplyDeleteWhy, oh why, have I not read this book yet?!!
ReplyDeleteI agree, very different from the other Lowrys I've read. But it does have one thing in common with The Giver: if packs a lot despite being so short. I don't know how she does it!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a very creative book.
ReplyDeleteThis was a Lowry I hadn't heard of! I'll have to add it to my list!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed The Giver, and I think I read another in The Giver "series." I'll have to give this one a try.
ReplyDeleteNymeth always says the perfect thing, so "What Nymeth said." I loved Gossamer.
ReplyDeleteit does sound different from the other Lowry books I've read. Sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteAnd how do you get to Dewey's reviews? Her site hasn't worked for me for months.
Rebecca: Dewey's site is down now, but if you were subscribed to her blog on Reader, you can access the posts still. Search for Hidden Side of a Leaf, and they come up.
ReplyDelete