The Dreamer

This biography by Pam Munoz Ryan poetically tells the story of Pablo Neruda's life from childhood until he leaves home to attend the university. The language eloquently describes the inner thoughts of Neruda - who was called Neftali at the time. It captures Neruda's feelings and ideas as he struggles to cope with an authoritarian father who refuses to allow him to be a writer. Although his father crushes his creativity at every turn, Neruda is able to develop his curiosity of the world and eventually is able to find the courage to become his voice and become the cherished poet of Chile. It is a beautiful book- and I love Peter Sis's illustrations. This book is definitely a book to be used in a gifted classroom. Students will appreciate show more Neruda's love for nature and his ability to transcend his surroundings by using his imagination. show less

Neftalí Reyes is a young Chilean boy who has a creative wandering mind. Always pausing to daydream and collect mementos on his walks, his stern father declares him to be worthless, and eventually goes so far as to burn his journals and condemn his writing talent. Finally he choses a penname Pablo Neruda and we learn that this has been the story of the famous poet.

This story really got my emotions running. I could not help but feel intense anger toward Neftalí's father. But the author did include one view of him that I really loved, that he is so controlled by his own past that he feels the need to control his children's. I loved this biographical account of Pablo Neruda which was a joy to read.

Though written for children, it is a story readers of all ages will find much value in: a tale of perseverance and poetry, family and power, art and identity, written in Ryan's sure and slightly unconventional hand. She asks her audience to ponder with Neftalí questions such as, "Where is the heaven of lost stories? Who spins the elaborate web that entraps the timid spirit? What wisdom does the eagle whisper to those who are learning to fly?" Peter Sis's drawings that accompany the tale are airy and fantastical a perfect illustration of Neftalí's thoughts and experiences.

Maybe my craziness shows when I say this book seemed like it would be nearly impossible to do well, but I am going to be completely honest. The idea of a fictionalized biography sounds like just about the worst type of book in history. It is hard to make an interesting story that can basically be described like this: "He wanted to be a writer, so after long years of torment and disapproval, he did." (I know that book after book after book follows that same pattern, but work with me here.) And to reduce the great Pablo Neruda to formula like that? Sacrilege, some would say. Fear not, those with a similar mindset: "The Dreamer" is an amazing book.

How amazing, you ask? Well, in my review of "Mockingbird" I said I would most likely not be show more able to find a book that would affect me more strongly and touch me right down to the very core of my emotional being. If "The Dreamer" doesn't top it, it at least matches "Mockingbird" for me. This is, and will remain, without a doubt one of the best books of 2010.

This is a book lover's book, through and through. Though I am one of those unfortunate souls who never encountered a book by Pam Munoz Ryan before this one came along, I have no reason to doubt the many, many laudatory things said about it. When I read this book, I was THERE, in that world. Everything was brighter and more acutely observed that I may have noticed in the real world, in real nature. That, my friend, is the sign of a good writer.

Also a sign of a good writer: characters that, for better or worse, are distinctive and memorable. What young, book-loving, daydreaming, sensitive child (or teen, or adult) wouldn't be able to relate to young Neftali, even on a basic level? This is a kid who the reader will undoubtedly be rooting for from the very beginning, and not just because his home life is just shy of torture more often than not. The character of the father, a horribly strict and insensitive man, is ferocious and terrifyingly real, if portrayed as one-dimensionally evil at first. I am forever grateful that my parents, whatever their faults, were never any less than totally supporting of my goals in life, and this book cements that idea in my mind. As for the other characters, they're definitely likable and real and all, but the only memorable presence aside from Neftali and the Father, is Uncle Orlando. It is unsurprising that he fueled the young future poet's goal to use words in a way that would make people listen.

It is hard to think of an immediate flaw in this book, which I suppose is a good thing but does not suit me for this review. Frankly, the only problem that I can think of is that it may be TOO much of a book lover's book for everyone. If your love of the written word does not rival that of Neftali, you may not be as enamored of it as I was. Still, a book like this one should probably have that as its flaw; Pam Munoz is clearly in love with the written word and it shows on every page. This is, quite simply, an outstanding work of literary art, and it deserves to be read and reread by young and old for many years to come.

(Note: I didn't mention the illustrations, by Peter Sis, and I am aware of that. I didn't think I could write a whole big chunk about them, and I think that the words here are more important than the drawings. Regardless, they are lovely, as expected from the master illustrator, and they definitely add something to the book.) show less

When you see The Dreamer sitting on a shelf, you will want to pick it up and hold it in your hands. From the shimmering cover that invites you into the universe of Neftalí’s head, to the thick paper that feels perfect under your fingers, to the calm green color of the ink, to the tiny illustration of an acorn that greets you on the title page, this is a book full of small treasures. In a story that is about taking delight in the smallest details, kudos to the designers who made the physical object of this book reflect the subject matter so beautifully.

Neftalí’s family lives under the shadow of his domineering father, a railroad man. Happy family moments are stopped cold by the sound of the train whistle that announces Father’s show more impending return. Rodolfo, Neftalí’s older brother, has already abandoned his dreams of studying music and becoming a singer, and Father is doing his best to railroad Neftalí onto the same path of leaving dreams behind and pursuing the future of Father’s choosing. But while Neftalí appears to be a weak, vulnerable child, he has hidden reserves of strength and stubbornness.

Munoz-Ryan does a wonderful job of capturing the nuances of Neftalí’s character. His compassion and curiosity are almost overwhelming, and they often get the better of Neftalí’s desire to please his authoritarian father. His fascination with words is woven into the text as he plays with their sound and meaning. The story is episodic, and the scenes are well chosen to crystallize the moments that made Neftalí into Neruda, but they also hang together well to tell a story of a shy young man with a highly developed sense of wonder. One of this book’s greatest strengths, in terms of getting it into the hands of children, is that it easily stands on its own as a novel. There is no need to know anything about Pablo Neruda to appreciate this book – in fact, there is no need for a reader to even know that it is based on a true story. While being aware of Neruda’s life certainly adds layers of resonance to this book, the story will be enjoyed by anyone who can appreciate Neftalí’s struggles and his unique outlook. The selection of poetry in the back of the book, which includes several of Neruda’s poems that directly address some of the pivotal moments in the book, is expertly chosen to appeal to young readers and may convince some young readers to seek out more.

While Munoz-Ryan’s telling of Neftalí’s childhood is wonderful, the collaboration with Peter Sis makes the story sing. Each chapter begins with three small pictures on a single page, each picture showing some scene, feeling, or object that will be important to the text. These tiny drawings echo the small treasures that Neftalí collects, and they evoke the fascination with the world around him and the attention to detail that define Neftalí. Larger drawings, all in Sís’ characteristic stippled style, illustrate the fantastical ways in which Neftalí sees his world while also working in relevant lines from Neruda’s poetry (edited to add – please see Pam Munoz-Ryan’s correction in the comments – these lines of poetry were written by her, not Pablo Neruda.). These drawings are full of wonder, but also very evocative of Neftalí’s feelings in that moment – whether that is fear of his father looming up above the sea, sadness and protectiveness of a hurt swan, or the excitement of traveling and making new friends. Sís’ drawings do with ink lines what Neruda’s poetry does with words – they crystallize feelings and experiences down to their essence, conveying them in briefly but completely. They complement the story, and the poetry, beautifully. Asking Peter Sís to turn Pablo Neruda’s imagination into visual form was a stroke of genius, and one that will give young readers an additional window into the world of his words. show less

The moment I finished reading The Dreamer, written by Pam Muñoz Ryan and illustrated by Peter Sís (2010), I wanted to throw open my window and announce to the world to stop what they are doing and read this book right away! Granted the Pura Belpré Award in 2010, The Dreamer tells the tale of young Neftalí Reyes who perseveres through a difficult childhood and finds his love for words, eventually transforming into Pablo Neruda. Magic realism infused throughout the story allows us glimpses into the brilliance of this famous poet, and Peter Sis's fantastical drawings take us even deeper into his thoughts and experiences.

In the classroom, I would use this book to teach magic realism, biography, and poetry. Grades 4 and up.

I loved this book. The combination of author Pam Munoz Ryan and illustrator Peter Sis is near perfection for me. The lyric quality of the text and mystical composition of the illustrations lend themselves to this story of the power of words and following one's dreams. I suppose I should have realized it going in, but the fact that this childhood story of Neftali Reyes is the story of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda came as a surprise toward the end of the novel. All the more magical for me!

In terms of curricular connections, this text could serve as a quality mentor text for writing narratives. I would encourage students to critique the author's use of significant moments in Neftali's childhood that foreshadowed what he was to become. In show more this way, students could begin to build suspense, irony, or mere depth in their own personal narratives. Also, the examples of Pablo Neruda's poetry at the back of the book could be used as mentor texts for writing poems. The ode in particular is one that could (and has been) easily be replicated in the classroom. show less