Gossamer by Lois Lowry
MG Light Fantasy. 176 Pages. 5 Stars
Synopsis:
Littlest One is a tiny creature slowly learning her job of giving dreams to humans. Each night she and her teacher, Thin Elderly, visit an old woman’s home where she softly touches beloved objects, gathering happy memories, and drops of old scents and sounds. Littlest One pieces these bits together and presents them to her sleeping human in the form of pleasant dreams. But the dreaded Sinisteeds, dark fearsome creatures that plague their victims with nightmares, are always at work against the dreamgivers. When the old woman takes in John, an angry foster child with a troubled past, the Sinisteeds go after him with their horrifying nightmares. Can Littlest One, and her touch light as gossamer, protect John’s heart and soul from the nightmare of his dark past?
My Review:
I first read this little book many years ago. I’d enjoyed a few other books by the author and picked this one up. For some reason, it’s always stuck with me. The delicacy, the beauty. The thin wisp of a character. And the dreams. I think it’s because of this book I’ve always been fascinated by dreams and nightmares and by tiny little fantasy creatures.
What I hadn’t remembered was how astoundingly heartfelt and powerful the story was. This little book packs a punch! I’d forgotten the story of the dreamers and wow. It just got to me this time around. I listened to the audio book as I was driving on a road trip (and the narrator did a wonderful job).
Stylistically, the book is simply charming. Lowry switches back and forth between the dream-givers and the dreamers to slowly unveil a potent little story. It gives us the effect of a mystery. I love how we learn as Littlest learns and grow with her throughout the tale. And I’ve always just been fascinated by the creatures that Lowry created. The book holds some nostalgia for me, but honestly, I don’t think I truly appreciated the craft of it the first time around.
And, yeah, it’s a children’s book, but wow, Lowry just delicately touches some deep themes that really resonated with me. There was a lot of emotion for such a little package. I do wonder if it had been a bit of an older story if the climax would have gone a little differently. Part of me wanted it to be a little grander, a little deeper, a little twistier. But the other part of me just finds comfort in the simplicity. And I recognize that it is meant for a younger audience, so it makes sense.
Anyway, the book has stuck with me for over a decade, and now I realize why. I’m glad to have reread it. A sweet, beautiful story of brokenness and healing. A fantastical, illusive world full of possibilities. Quaint narrative that shines hope in a dark world. I think this book has influenced me as a person, as a reader, and as a writer in more ways than I’d realized. A hidden gem if you ask me.
I do recommend it! But it is worth noting that the characters in the book deal with an abusive home situation that, though tactfully portrayed, is still…well, it’s rough if you realize the depth of what’s going on. It could warrant some discussion with your kids, but there’s nothing graphic in the book.