Gossamer

Reader reviewed by MssJos

I didn't read Gossamer sooner because it was in the children's section, but I am glad I finally got to it. In only 140 pages (with large font), Lowry paints a complicated portrait involving child abuse, foster care, lost love, and healing. Woven together with a thread of colorful imagination, the characters in this novel reach out and touch you softly (like gossamer).

Reader reviewed by cctay13


Gossamer by Lois Lowry is an outstanding book. The characters in it are little one, most ancient, thin Elderly, Fastidious, the old woman and john.
Littlest one, Fastidios, Thin Elderly and Most ancient are creatures and they are also dream givers. The old woman and john live in the house that littlest one and Thin Elderly are assigned to. So. They go there every night and get these things called pigments.
Then are they get the pigments, they make a dream out of the pigments. Littlest one is new at this so its hard for her at first. But after a while she gets the hang of it.
I really like this book, its very interesting. I would tell anyone to read this book. It was such I good book I couldnt out it down. I would read it again and again.

Reader reviewed by Jo

This was a great little book. What an interesting story about how we receive dreams and nightmares. It was quick and enjoyable read. It had some violence in it that I would be uncomfortable with my kids reading, but as an adult I can see why it was necessary for the story

Reader reviewed by Amanda

I love connecting with books and having their stories stay with me for days at a time. That's what happened with this latest Lois Lowry book, one that is new to my shelves, but has instantly become a favorite. I finished it two days ago, but needed to process before I wrote my review. Lowry does this to me every time, I'm not too sure why I was surprised, but now, Gossamer, is in my head and my heart. Where she comes up with these stories I'll never know, but I certainly hopes she keeps them coming!


Littlest One is in training as a Dream-Giver. She, working with an elder partner, flutter around their assigned home, touching objects which help them gather memories of the homeowner or children living in the house (even pets on occasion). The Dream-Givers then bestow the gathered memories as happy dreams to the person who owned the original memories. It is very hard work, but incredibly rewarding for the Dream-Givers, especially when their assigned person is asleep with a smile on their face from the wonderful dream bestowed upon them.


Unfortunately, the Dream-Givers have evil counterparts, the Sinisteeds. The Sinisteeds bestow nightmares, rather than dreams and often do so in packs, know as a Horde. When the vulnerable foster child living in Littlest One's assigned house becomes the repeated target of the Sinisteeds, Littlest One must devise a plan to help the boy, without harming or giving away, herself.


This was such a touching story. Lowry always creates stories that intrigue the reader to a point where the pages are turning incredibly quickly, though in this story, the kindness definitely stood out against the evil, more so than in her other books. I loved the character of Littlest One, her amazing curiosity that often got her into trouble, her courage, and her strong mind. This was a very unique concept and was very successful in effecting my emotions! I just felt good after reading this small novel and of course, that is the reaction we all are looking for! Gossamer was fantastic and I would recommend it for all. :-)

Reader reviewed by mimagirl

I loved Gossamer. It was short and sweet, but at the same time deep and lovely. It left you feeling good without being sentimental.

Two stories are told in the book - a story about the humans: the woman, the boy and the mother; and the story of Littlest who is being taught to create and bestow dreams. I really loved Littlest. She seemed simple yet complex, much like the book itself. Gail Gauthier in her review of Gossamer summed up the character exactly:

"That child dream giver, Littlest One, is just a marvelous character. She is chatty and giggly and caring and not at all human. She is childlike while at the same time not like any child you know. She is a marvelous creation."


Here are a couple of my favorite quotes from the book:

"What fills me?" she asked.

"Everything that you're a part of. Your own story fills you."

Also:

"And you know what, Thin Elderly? Sad parts are important. If I ever get to train a new young dreamgiver, that's one of the things I'll teach: that you must include the sad parts, because they are part of the story, and they have to be part of the dreams."