The Dream Bearer [Library Binding]

Walter Dean Myers (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

I wonder what kind of dreams Reuben has. When I thought about him dreaming, I thought of him having a storm in his head, with lightning and far-off thunder and the wind blowing big raindrops and a bigger storm coming just down the street, just around the corner, like a monster waiting for you. I thought Reuben dreamed of monsters that scared him.

They scared me to.

David doesn't know What to make of his father, Reuben. His older brother, Tyrone, says Reuben is crazy. But Tyrone is acting like someone David doesn't know anymore.

Then David meets Mr. Moses, a mysterious man who tells him that dreams might be the only things we have that are real. And it is Mr. Moses' gift of dreams that gives David a new way to see inside his father's heart.

Printz Award winner Walter Dean Myers deftly draws a compassionate portrait of a boy's odyssey of self-discovery and the acceptance and empathy for others he learns along the way.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-While shooting hoops in his Harlem neighborhood with his friend Loren, 12-year-old David Curry befriends an ancient, shamanlike gentleman named Moses Littlejohn. Claiming to be a 300-year-old dream bearer-one who harnesses and preserves human dreams-Mr. Moses slowly imparts his dreams with exciting storytelling finesse to the boys, eventually helping David cope with his abusive father and older brother's descent into gangs and drug dealing. The story admirably addresses the many facets of anger and forgiveness within the African-American community, making it potentially compelling as a politically driven children's novel. However, unlike Myers's Monster (HarperCollins, 1999) and other previous works, the seams between political agenda and storytelling become more visible, and the author's ability to intertwine plot and message loses its subtlety as lengthy emotional outbursts break the otherwise intriguing action into bits and pieces. As a result, this stop/start style will most likely distract and frustrate younger readers from grasping Myers's overall picture. Still, the book says much about the importance of forgiveness and understanding in the world today, and for that reason, librarians will want to have a copy on their shelves even though its demand won't reach the heights of Myers's classics.
Hillias J. Martin, New York Public Library
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. Growing up in Harlem, 12-year-old David manages to keep his wits about him and his heart in the right place as he copes with his father, who is depressed and sometimes violent, and his older brother, who is hanging out with a dangerous crowd. After befriending Mr. Moses, an old man who speaks of himself as a dream bearer, David begins to hear stories that reflect the African American experience over the centuries. In the end, he finds that he not only has made Mr. Moses' dreams part of himself but also has his own dreams to help him understand those around him. The portrayal of David's family, particularly his relationship with his troubled father, is sharply realized and sometimes moving, and the Kenyan immigrant family of David's friend, Sessi, introduces a fresh point of view. Narrated by David, this well-crafted novel has some original characters and insights. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Library Binding: 192 pages
• Publisher: Amistad; 1 edition (May 27, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060295228
• ISBN-13: 978-0060295226
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 7.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,055,233 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Walter Dean Myers is a New York Times bestselling and critically acclaimed author who has garnered much respect and admiration for his fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for young people. Winner of the first Michael L. Printz Award, he is considered one of the preeminent writers for children. He lives in Jersey City, New Jersey, with his family.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Reviewing The Dream Bearer, February 1, 2006

By 

Therese (Idaho) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dream Bearer (Hardcover)

The Dream Bearer was my first exposure to Walter Dean Meyers, and I will continue to read his work. In this novel, the main character, David, is the heart of his family. His older brother becomes involved with drugs, his father battles a mental illness, and his mother is scared for everyone. David meets an old, intriguing man and through their short conversations, David attempts to understand the actions of the people in his life. He realizes if he could imagine what people dream about, he could better attempt to understand their life. It is with this knowledge that he discovers how to relate to his father in a way no one in the world seems to understand.

This book is great for young readers and adults alike. The story grabs the your attention from the beginning and keeps you turning pages. Walter Dean Myers weaves his characters intricately together and portrays the message that what we dream may be just as real as the hours we are awake.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dream Keeper, March 1, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Dream Bearer (Hardcover)

There are some problems for a kid growing up in New York, especially for David! The Dream Bearer has received many reviews including ALA booklist and School Library Journal. The author, Walter Dean Myers has written many other books such as, Bad Boy: a Memoir, Handbook for Boys, and Patrol. He also won the 1994 ALA Margaret A. Edwards award and the 1994 ALAN award. The Dream Bearer is a book about a kid growing up in New York. The Dream Bearer is a meaningful book by an award winning author.
David lives with his mom, dad, and brother in an apartment in New York. His brother, Ty is leaving and coming home late. When the police come, David suspects he's doing drugs. When David and his best friend Loren go to the park, they meet an old man named Mr. Moses who claims he's a dream bearer. David's father, Reuben, who most people think is crazy, is angry when he hears about Mr. Moses. Then, Mr. Moses gets sick so David and Loren save him, but soon after, someone else needs saving.
The Dream Bearer has characters that are so believable. I liked that David was accepted to a private school because he's smart and he beat two other people with Loren in 2 on 2 because he's good at sports. It proves that you can be good at more than one thing. I also liked that David didn't think his dad was crazy when others do, it proves he's believing. David's mom is also very caring and nice. The characters in this book are terrific.
I also liked the setting of this book because it was so real and imaginable. The author describes how the Hudson River was dirty and gross. He also described that the city had old, run down buildings. I could really picture that! I could also tell it was real because he uses street names to describe where they are. I also liked how he described the park. I could really picture the setting.
I think The Dream Bearer is a good book because of the characters and setting. The author uses detail on the characters and setting so I can picture it. I would recommend this book to someone who wants a book that's not that funny or suspenseful, but still keeps your attention. This book has a very interesting cover and description that just screams "READ ME!" It is a little slow in the beginning, but gets better. This realistic fiction book's message is that you shouldn't judge people because they can be someone you'd never expect if you look hard enough, even in their dreams!

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book, You should read it!, May 4, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Dream Bearer (Hardcover)

This book was really good. The details were good. I liked how the story took place. It's cool about the problems that were in this book, it made it exciting. I love Walter Dean Myers books!