Colorado Children's Book Award
2009 · Junior Novel · Nominee
About This Book
A novel "as haunting as a dream" from the New York Times-bestselling, Newbery Medal-winning author of The Giver (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).
Where do dreams come from? What stealthy nighttime messengers are the guardians of our most deeply hidden hopes and our half-forgotten fears? This imaginative novel 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 fantasy, 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.
"Lyrical, richly descriptive prose ushers readers into a fascinating parallel world inhabited by appealingly quirky characters."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A beautiful novel with an intriguing premise."—School Library Journal (starred review)
Where do dreams come from? What stealthy nighttime messengers are the guardians of our most deeply hidden hopes and our half-forgotten fears? This imaginative novel 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 fantasy, 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.
"Lyrical, richly descriptive prose ushers readers into a fascinating parallel world inhabited by appealingly quirky characters."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A beautiful novel with an intriguing premise."—School Library Journal (starred review)
Awards
Golden Sower Award
2009 · Intermediate · Nominee
Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award
2009 · Grades 3-5 · Nominee
Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award
2009 · Grades 6-8 · Nominee
Nutmeg Book Award
2009 · Intermediate · Nominee
Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award
2009 · Grades 4-8 · Nominee
William Allen White Childens Book Award
2009 · Grades 6-8 · Nominee
Young Reader's Choice Award
2009 · Junior/Grades 4-6 · Nominee
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award
2008 · Children's · Nominee
Georgia Children's Book Award
2008 · Children's Book (Grades 4 - 8) · Nominee
Grand Canyon Reader Award
2008 · Intermediate · Nominee
Massachusetts Children's Book Award
2008 · Children's Book · Nominee
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award
2008 · Grades 6-8 · Nominee
South Carolina Childrens, Junior and Young Adult Book Award
2008 · Children's · Nominee
Sunshine State Young Reader's Award
2008 · Grades 6-8 · Nominee
West Virginia Children's Book Award
2008 · Children's · Nominee
Black-Eyed Susan Award
2007 · Grades 6-9 · Nominee
Great Stone Face Book Award
2007 · Grades 4-6 · Nominee
Parents Choice Award (Spring) (1998-2007)
2006 · Silver · Winner
Genres & Themes
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