Books: Fiction

The Dreamer

Book — Fiction. By Pam Muñoz Ryan. 2010. 384 pages.
An introduction to the life of Pablo Neruda as a child in historical fiction for young adults.

Time Periods: 20th Century, 1910
Themes: Art & Music, Language Arts, World History/Global Studies

Through poetic prose and beautiful illustrations by Peter Sis, this award-winning middle school novel offers a wonderful introduction to the life of Pablo Neruda as a child. Ryan shows how the power of Neruda’s imagination and his burning desire to write put him in direct conflict with his dictatorial and abusive father.

Ryan also introduces the land struggles of the indigenous people and their allies, including Neruda’s journalist uncle.

Neruda’s commitment to following his dream to write, as told in The Dreamer, will provide inspiration to many readers not only to read Neruda’s poems, but also to write their own.

ISBN: 9780439269988 | Scholastic Press