Gossamer

Title: Gossamer

Rating: 4/5

Author: LoisLowry

Pages: 140

Genre: Children’s Fiction

Synopsis:

Have you ever wondered where your dreams come from? Or what dark creatures are lurking out there, waiting for the perfect opportunity to turn your dream into a nightmare?

Littlest One is working hard at her training. Everyone knows that bestowing dreams is not something to be taken lightly. It’s a delicate process, and there are risks involved. If that weren’t enough, her job gets a whole lot harder when a troubled young boy comes to stay at the home where’s she’s been training, a boy who’s nights are often filled with nightmares.

My Reaction:

This was a quick read, but a good one. Once I'd finished, I almost felt like there should be more, but at the same time I thought, "That was just enough." The story explores the answer to the question, "Where do dreams come from?" It illustrates how dreams can give us much needed comfort and strength in the face of harsh realities. Beyond that, it also shows how even though parts of life are bad, that doesn't mean it's ALL bad. We can overcome our negative circumstances and become more than the bad things that have happened to us. It's a sweet, sometimes heart wrenching, story with just a touch of fantasy.

Reader’s Guidance:

This book deals with domestic violence and child abuse. Most of the time there are just hints at it based on the things the young boy says. There is one experience where the boy goes into more detail, which involves him being forced to eat dog food as a punishment.

Similar Books:

The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson was the first book to come to mind. I believe I’ve mentioned it on the blog before. The main character is a girl who has been passed around to various foster homes. Her attitude and life experiences reminded me of the boy in Gossamer.

Next Book:

I got my hands on a copy of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society! How can I not read a book with a title like that?