Gossamer
Book
Summary:
Littlest One is a young, eager, and
passionate Dream Giver who is learning how to bestow dreams on humans. While some find her excitement and curiosity
annoying, such as her first trainer, Fastidious, Thin Elderly (her second
trainer) finds her charming and talented.
During her training, Littlest One grows very close to the older woman
that she has been assigned to as well as her dog, Toby. One day, a young and angry foster boy by the
name of John comes to stay with the older woman. When the boy arrives, Littlest One
experiences her first encounter with the Sinisteeds, the creatures who bestow
nightmares. Through John’s nightmares, his
past life and abusive father is revealed.
It is then that Littlest One becomes protective of John and is willing
to do anything to keep him from the terrifying Sinisteeds. After a heroic display of affection and
passion for the young child, Littlest One is promoted and renamed Gossamer
because of her delicate touch that she uses to bestow dreams.
APA
Reference of Book:
Lowry, L. (2006).
Gossamer. Boston, MA: Houghton
Mifflin Harcourt.
Impressions:
I was a little skeptical of reading Lois Lowry’s
Gossamer as I typically do not enjoy books
of fantasy with fairies and creatures such as “dream givers.” However, I found myself being drawn in to this
sweet tale as well as the characters presented within the book. As a teacher, I could easily relate to the
older woman and her caring heart to love and watch over the young, foster
boy. I also believe that is why I was
drawn to Littlest One’s character. She
wanted to protect John from having nightmares and reliving his past. This story reminded me that I may not always
know what is going on in my students’ lives.
Therefore, it is imperative for me to be patient and understanding and
create a safe learning environment so that my students know that someone cares
for them.
Professional
Review:
School
Library Journal
Gr 4-7-Readers first meet the dream-givers as they creep around
a dark house in the middle of the night where an old woman and a dog named Toby
are; sleeping Littlest Was very small, new to the work, energetic and curious.
Fastidious was tired, impatient, and had a headache. "Littlest is Soon
paired with a new partner, Thin Elderly, who is a much better guide and teacher
than Fastidious was They are benevolent beings who visit humans (and pets, too
) at night. They handle objects, gather memories, and give them back in the
form of happy dreams that comfort and help those they're assigned to. The
dream-givers' counterparts are the strong and wicked; Sinisteeds, who inflict
nightmares and some-times travel in; frightening Hordes. And the humans that
Littlest and Thin Elderly care for do need help and protection from bad dreams
The old woman is lonely and has taken; in a foster child named John, who's
living apart from an abusive father and the fragile mother who desperately
wants him back, Lowry's prose is simple and clear. This carefully plotted
fantasy has inner logic and: conviction Readers will identify with Littlest who
is discovering her own special talents (her touch is: so; sensitive and delicate
that she; is renamed; Gossamer). John, who starts his stay in the how with
anger and violence, will draw a special kind of sympathy, too, Lowry
acknowledges evil in the world, yet still conveys hope and large measures of
tenderness, While not quite as compelling as The Giver (Houghton1993), this is
a beautiful novel with an intriguing premise.
Source: Persson, L. (2006). [Gossamer] [Review of the book Gossamer, by L. Lowry]. School
Library Journal, 52(5), 132. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com
Found through UNT’s Library Database- Book Review Digest Plus
(H.W. Wilson)
Library
Uses:
The following activity came from an Enrichment Guide provided by First
Stage. In this guide, it discusses how
the Dream Givers collect fragments from objects that remind the humans of happy
memories. After reading this chapter
from the book, the librarian could have the students present an object that is
special to him/her and share the memory that is related to this object. The students could then write a short
paragraph or essay about their object and why it is special to them. The librarian could also encourage the
students to bring the object in the next time that they meet if this becomes
too timely for a single session.
Reference:
First Stage. (2008). Enrichment guide. Retrieved from
http://www.firststage.org/media/pdf/GOSS_EG.pdf
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