Gossamer [NOOK Book]

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Overview

Where do dreams come from? What stealthy nighttime messengers are the guardians of our most deeply hidden hopes and our half-forgotten fears? Drawing on her rich imagination, two-time Newbery winner Lois Lowry confronts these questions and explores the conflicts between the gentle bits and pieces of the past that come to life in dream, and the darker horrors that find their form in nightmare. In a haunting story that tiptoes between reality and imagination, two people—a lonely, sensitive woman and a damaged, angry boy—face their own histories and discover what they can be to one another, renewed by the strength that comes from a tiny, caring creature ...
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Overview

Where do dreams come from? What stealthy nighttime messengers are the guardians of our most deeply hidden hopes and our half-forgotten fears? Drawing on her rich imagination, two-time Newbery winner Lois Lowry confronts these questions and explores the conflicts between the gentle bits and pieces of the past that come to life in dream, and the darker horrors that find their form in nightmare. In a haunting story that tiptoes between reality and imagination, two people—a lonely, sensitive woman and a damaged, angry boy—face their own histories and discover what they can be to one another, renewed by the strength that comes from a tiny, caring creature they will never see.

Gossamer is perfect for readers not quite ready for Lois Lowry's Newbery-Award winner The Giver and also for readers interested in dreams, nightmares, spirits and the dream world.

Editorial Reviews

There is method to the madness of dreams -- or so kids will believe after falling under the spell of this superbly imaginative story. A dream-giver whose "touch was like gossamer," Littlest One hails from a race of beings who bestow healing dreams patched together from memory fragments found in sleepers' belongings. Assigned to help a troubled foster child and his elderly guardian, this novice dream-giver must do battle with "sinisteeds" who create nightmares from "hidden things, old guilts, and failings." With one foot in the real world and the other in fantasy, beloved author Lowry reaches a broad spectrum of readers with this deftly spun reverie on courage and the power of love. (Ages 8 to 12)
Child magazine's Best Children's Book Awards 2006
From The Critics
Lowry's poetic, fanciful story of tiny, elfish "dream-givers" who put nighttime imaginings into the heads of human sleepers is not an ideal choice for audio. The many lyrical, detailed descriptions of the dream-givers gathering "fragments" of memory by touching objects and then weaving them into dreams become overlong and slow-moving when read aloud. Likewise, Twomey's soft, soothing voice fits the subject matter, but may well lull young listeners off to dreamland. Twomey does an excellent job of distinguishing her voice for the different characters, particularly an angry, abused boy and the kind elderly woman who fosters him temporarily, both of whom are strengthened by the healing dreams they are sent. Overall, however, this is a less-than-satisfying listen. Ages 10-up. (June) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780547345000
  • Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
  • Publication date: 4/24/2006
  • Sold by: Barnes & Noble
  • Format: eBook
  • Pages: 144
  • Sales rank: 50,003
  • Age range: 10 years
  • File size: 80 KB
  • Items ship to U.S, APO/FPO and U.S. Protectorate addresses.

Meet the Author

Lois Lowry
Lois Lowry

Ron Rifkin has appeared in the films Wolf and JFK, starred on Broadway in Arthur Miller's Broken Glass and has played recurring roles on television in the series The Trials of Rosie O'Neill and the award-winning drama series ER.

Read an Excerpt

An owl called, its shuddering hoots repeating mournfully in the distance. Somewhere nearby, heavy wings swooped and a young rabbit, captured by sharp talons, shrieked as he was lifted to his doom. Startled, a raccoon looked up with bright eyes from the place where he was foraging. Two deer moved in tandem through a meadow. A thin cloud slid across the moon.



The pair crept stealthily through the small house. Night was their time of work, the time when human conversation had ceased, when thoughts had drifted away and even breathing and heartbeats had slowed. The outdoors was awake and stirring but the little house was dark and silent.
They tiptoed, and whispered. Unaware, the woman and her dog slept soundly, though the dog, on his pillow bed of cedar shavings at the foot of the woman’s four-poster, moved his legs now and then as if chasing a dream rabbit.
“Are we a kind of dog?” Littlest One asked suddenly.
“Shhh.” They crept through the bedroom, out into the dark hall.
“May I talk now?” “Oh, all right. Very quietly, though.” “I asked if we are a kind of dog.” Littlest One, whose name was sometimes shortened affectionately to simply Littlest, was working on this night with Fastidious, the one who had been designated her teacher. Littlest was very small, new to the work, energetic and curious. Fastidious was tired, impatient, and had a headache. She sniffed in exasperation.
“Whatever makes you ask such a thing? The other learners never ask questions like that.” “That’s because they don’t take time to think about things. I’m a thinker. Right now I’m thinking about whether I am a kind of dog.” “You just tiptoed past one. What did you notice about him?” Littlest One thought. “A slight snore, a whiff of doggy breath, and his upper lip was folded under by mistake, just above a big tooth. It gave him an odd expression.” “Does he resemble us in the least?” Littlest pondered. “No. But I believe there are many kinds of dogs. We saw that book, remember.” “Hurry along,” Fastidious said. “There’s much to do, and we have to go down the stairs yet.” Littlest One hurried along. The stairs were difficult, and she had to concentrate.
“You do remember the book, don’t you? Ouch!” She had stumbled a bit.
“Grasp the carpet fibers. Look how I’m doing it.” “Couldn’t we flutter down?” “We can’t waste our flutters. They use up energy.” They both made their way carefully down. “I hear there are houses that have no stairs,” Fastidious murmured in an irritated tone. “None at all. I sometimes wish that I had not been assigned this particular house.” Littlest looked around when they reached the bottom of the stairs. She could see now into the large room with the very colorful rug. The small-paned windows were outlined in moonlight on the floor by the rug’s edge. “I think this house is lovely,” she said. “I wouldn’t want any other house.” They tiptoed across. Littlest noticed her own shadow in the moonlight. “My goodness!” she exclaimed. “I didn’t know we had shadows!” “Of course we do. All creatures have shadows. They are a phenomenon created by light.” A phenomenon created by light. What a fine phrase, Littlest thought. She twirled suddenly on the rug and watched her shadow dance.
“Why is your shadow darker than mine?” she asked Fastidious, noticing the difference just then.
“I’m—well, I’m thicker than you. You’re barely formed yet. You’re practically transparent.” “Oh.” Littlest examined her own self and saw that it was true. She had not paid much attention before to her own parts. Now she touched her ears, watching the shadow’s arms move, too; then she swiveled her neck to peer down at her own tiny behind.
“I do not have a tail,” she announced. “I think I am not a dog. We, I mean. We are not a kind of dog.” “There. You have answered your own question. Come more quickly, please. You are dawdling.” Reluctantly, Littlest scurried across the design of the carpet, beyond the moonlit rectangles, and onto the pine-boarded floor, which was always a little dangerous because of splinters.
“What if the dog woke? Would he see us? Or smell us, perhaps? I know he has a very significant nose. And if he did see us, or smell us, would that be dangerous for us?
“Or the woman? She woke the other night, remember? Because there was a bat in the house? It swooped and woke her somehow. She didn’t like the bat. She was quite brave, I remember, and opened a window so the bat flew out into the night, which was where he had wanted to be all along, doing his night food-finding.
“But what if our little footsteps and flutterings had woken her? Would she have seen us?
“Are we visible to her?
“I know we don’t fly the way bats do, but we operate at night. Mightt we be a type of bat?” Fastidious turned suddenly with a very annoyed gesture. “Enough! Hush! Stop that questioning! We have our work to do. You insisted on coming. You said you’d be quiet. My nerves are becoming frayed. I want no more questions now. None whatsoever.” “All right. I promise,” Littlest One said obedi- ently. They continued on, one following the other.
“Are you doing your assigned tasks?” “Yes. I touched the rug. And I’m touching this sweater now, the one she left on the chair.” “Gently. Do not under any circumstances press. But linger and get the feel of it into yourself.” “Yes, I am. You showed me how.” Littlest was running her tiny fingers carefully over the sweater’s soft sleeve. Then she touched a button and let her hand linger on it. It was startling, what she felt during the lingering. The entire history of the button came to her, and all it had been part of: a breezy picnic on a hillside in summer long ago; a January night, more recently, by the fire; and even, once, the time that a cup of tea had been spilled on the sweater. It was all there, still.
They moved quietly around the room, touching things. Fastidious half fluttered, half climbed to a tabletop and methodically touched framed photographs. Littlest watched in the moonlight and saw how the fingers chose and touched and felt the faces gazing out from the photographs: a man in uniform; a baby, grinning; an elderly woman with a stern look. Forgetting her promise of no questions, Littlest suddenly asked, “Might we be human?” But Fastidious did not reply.

Gossamer by Lois Lowry. Copyright (c) 2006 by Lois Lowry. Reprinted with permission of Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating 4.5
( 71 )

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  • Posted September 3, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    Magnificent Book!

    Have you ever wondered about how your dreams appear into your thoughts at night? Well if you read Lois Lowry's GOSSAMER then your wonders will be no more. Lois Lowry is a magnificent writer! She takes the time to actually explain the plot and setting in the story.

    GOSSAMER is about how your dreams come to you at night. There are a set of different characters, Littlest one is the main one. She is in training of becoming an Elder, which is the oldest gossamer. Littlest one is being trained by a man who is uncomfortable with teaching her.

    The story takes place in different places and houses. The gossamers have to go house to house while they give and take dreams to and from people. Littlest one tries to give one dream and succeeds. And she asks to many questions, so that is why her trainer is so uncomfortable with her.

    Since Littlest one will not stop asking questions, then her trainer finally talks to the oldest Elder, and he is reassigned to an older child. So then Littlest one gets a new trainer and he is more wise and older that her previous trainer. What happens now? Well red Lois Lowry's GOSSAMER and you will find out. And I would rate this book five stars!

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted January 13, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    okay???

    I guess this book is okay. I mean if you like fairies, and big time fiction books, you will fall in love with this one. I don't really like fairies, and books trying to get you to belive in something that is not real. So I didn't really like this book. SA.

    2 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 18, 2012

    This is in reply to a comment

    That dissed gathering blue. Gathering blue is one of the best books ive ever read (and ive read a lot) and if you dont see the heartfelt message in that book, reread it till u get it! Its a great book!

    P.S. Number the stars is also amazing!!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted March 4, 2010

    Graphic Depiction of Abuse Against Children and Women Is Inappropriate for Young Readers

    The library reviews and marketing of this book suggest that it is appropriate for children ages 9-12. They might be right about the reading level of this book but definitely not the subject matter! While there are many comforting images in the book that depict gentle dream fairies and the loving surrogate grandmother, there are also other extremely disturbing images of violence against children and women that make this book very inappropriate for children in elementary school. In the story, the boy tells his surrogate grandmother about his dreams of when a 3 year old boy (him) was forced to eat dog food for a day. The boy said the reason for the punishment had been because he had accidentally urinated on the floor. His father (father figure) told the boy that if he acted like a dog that he would have to eat like a dog. The mother, abused by the man herself, stood by in fear and allowed this cruel punishment. This passage is very raw and brutal.

    There are other passages that make very real the violence that the mother and child experience at the hand of an alcoholic abusive man. It was so heartbreaking when the mother tells her new co-workers that she had been abused by her spouse, unable to care for her son and had to give him up. It was comforting that they supported her. But at the same time, this passage shows very vividly the impact of abuse against women and children. While this book shows that love and patience can help overcome adversity and hardship, it is better to a more mature reader.

    1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 16, 2009

    Dissapointment

    Gossamer is about the battle between fairies (dream-givers) and sinisteeds (nightmare givers) and how bravery, courage, and optimistic thinking can affect our lives. This book is about two fairy dream-givers: Littlest One (later Gossamer) and Thin Elderly. They meet a little trouble foster boy with an old lady, and they try to defend the little boy, who is the target for the sinisteed, who give nightmares and disturb peoples sleep. One night a whole pack of sinisteeds come for the boy and as Thin Elderly go to help the woman he leaves Littlest One with the boy. As the sinisteeds come, Littlest One summons all her energy to help the boy, and with a smile on the face of the boy, she realizes she has succeeded.I think this was a dramatic book and it was too imaginative and unrealistic. I was confused and kind of bored at the end. Over all, this was an ok book, I didn't really like it and it was too unrealistic for me. Lois Lorwy's books are very unrealistic and too dramatic for me to believe in.

    1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 6, 2008

    Dreamers

    Gossamer, by Lois Lowry is a very thought provoking book. It is about creatures called dream givers. They only work at night, gathering bits of memories from people¿s belongings, putting them together into dreams, and giving the dreams to the sleeping people. The main characters are a young, curious dream giver called Littlest, a lonely old woman, and a boy named John with a troubled past. John comes to stay with the woman until his mother can clean up her act. They live in the house where Littlest and her teacher, Thin Elderly, do their nightly work. The dream givers use good dreams to strengthen the woman and her charge, and help them overcome their problems. Littlest tries her hardest to act mature,and learn all Thin Elderly has to teach her. Meanwhile, the Sinisteeds are gathering. They are monsters, the givers of nightmares. They sense John¿s weakness. They are preparing a group attack. Can Littlest and Thin Elderly do anything to stop them?

    1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 15, 2008

    I ABSOLUTLY love this book!!!!!!

    This book is soooo great. This author writes the best books ever exept there was one that wasnt the best, Gathering Blue. i got bored with it. But this book is sooo great. i READ IT IN ONLY TWO DAYS. i am really really picky about books but i love this one it is one of my favorite books i have ever read!!!!!!!

    1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 21, 2012

    Ash

    I loved this story. The first time I read it, it wasn't ready for me. The second time I did, it suddenly opened a whole new world for me to explore. It is beautiful and has a delicate touch.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 25, 2011

    Bbe (best book ever) Friggin fantastic

    This book was great def five plus stars

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 23, 2011

    Have you ever............ Have you ever............I found out

    Lois Lowry what an amazing author.Gossamer was one of the best books I have ever read.Littlest one is my favorite character so curious and asks a lot of questions. In some parts I feel bad for John what hes been through.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 19, 2011

    Amazing

    This book has a very unique subject that has been written in a clever fashion. The author, Lois Lowry, is superb!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 9, 2011

    Astounding

    Gossamer is a book you would want to read. It is a great book for young adults. I really enjoyed reading this novel. Another wonderful book by Louis Lowry

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  • Posted August 31, 2011

    Magnifeciet

    Simply astounding! Lois Lowry outdid herself! Gossamer is really goif.

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  • Posted September 13, 2010

    Another successful book

    Gossamer is a book that tells the story of "people" called dream givers that take fragments from things they touch and combine them to give people dreams. The main characters include the dream givers Littlest One, Fastidious, Most Ancient, and John, a normal boy. Gossamer is a book that explains something that you don't know, and because it is told from the dream givers and normal people, it gives you both sides of the story of how dreams are given and received.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted July 19, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    A Special Book

    "Gossamer" was an amazing and enchanting book! It was very unique and interesting, and it just pulled me in. "Gossamer" is undoubtedly an extremely special book that you should definitely read!

    0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted June 21, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    Breath-Taking and Unique!

    "Gossamer" by Lois Lowry, author of the bestseller "The Giver", is a breath-taking read. Completely unique and enjoyable, this book is in a league of it's own, with an enthralling storyline, one-of-a-kind characters, and many touching moments sure to draw tears from the reader. With a happy ending, "Gossamer" leaves the reader feeling great inside and wanting to read the book again and again simply because of it's wonderful uniqueness that never wears out!

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 28, 2010

    Bedtime Book

    In her simplistic style of writing, Lois Lowry creates such a lovely tale about where dreams come from you'll start believing it. I definetly recomend it for anyone who's in the mood for a nice bedtime read.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 23, 2010

    The Gossamer by Lois Lowery 140 pages 28 chapters rated ***** stars (5)

    This book was mainly about these little kids that was dream givers. They make people have good dreams.Where do dreams come? What stealthy nighttime messengers are guardians of our most deeply hidden hopes and our half-forgotten fears? Drawing on her rich imagination, two-time Newbery Medal winner Lois Lowery confronts these questions and explores the conflicts between the gentle bits and pieces of the past that come to life in dreams and the darker horrors that find their nightmare. In a haunting story that tiptoes between reality and imagination, two people- a lonely, sensitive woman and a damage, angry boy- face their own histories and discover what they can be to each other, renewed by the strength that comes from a tiny, caring creature they will never see. I think that this was a great thing to write about and share with people.
    This book is inspiring because it makes you really wonder about where our dreams come from. All we do is go to sleep and dream, well sometimes. Some people don't even have dreams. There are all kinds of dreams. Like they can be scary, romantic, funny, and even weird at times.The one character in the story is the smallest in the group her name is Littlest. Everybody in the group older than her have to teach her the right thing to do while giving people dreams and how to do it. It's very hard for them to teach her because she is always asking questions about every little thing. Well in chapter 1 it might not be really eye catching but once you're past that chapter it gets really good.I really like this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes mysteries, adventure, and answering a lot of questions.

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  • Posted November 25, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    Awesome Book

    This book is amazing. When i first started it, it was kind of boring. After I got through a little more chapters I couldn't put it down. I felt like I was in the book,I I was right there when everything happened. If you like surprises than you willlike this book.

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  • Posted August 4, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    good book!

    if u like faries, this book is a good one. it has faries that come in when u sleep and use their powers to give u good dreams. there are villand though that try and give you nightmares. i recomend this book for a quick read, or if u want something that you might read over again. i loved it!!!!!

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