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DREAMer
Kate and Lawrence drive through the desert on their way home from vacation and find a young girl sitting by the side of the road. Who is she? Where is she from and where is she going? Why is she there? When and how did she get there? What can they do to help? The girl won't speak, but that doesn't deter them from embarking on a journey through central and southern California to find the answers.
351 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2021
4 people want to read
About the author
Emily Gallo
9 books14 followersI View My Life In 3 Acts
Emily Kaufman was the girl growing up in Manhattan in the fifties and sixties. In the sixties and seventies, I attended Clark University and lived in San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Seattle doing the hippie/peace/love/protest thing.
In the eighties and nineties, Emily Saur lived in Northampton, MA and Davis, CA and was the more conventional wife, mother of two, and elementary school teacher.
In 2006, I retired from teaching and became Emily Gallo when I married David, a professor of economics, and moved to Chico, CA to continue our journey. I started writing screenplays and television and moved into novels. David, Gracie (our Schillerhound), Savali (our cat) and I now divide our time between two and a half acres of gardens, orchards in Chico and a 750 square foot condo on the beach in Carpinteria, CA.
Emily Kaufman was the girl growing up in Manhattan in the fifties and sixties. In the sixties and seventies, I attended Clark University and lived in San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Seattle doing the hippie/peace/love/protest thing.
In the eighties and nineties, Emily Saur lived in Northampton, MA and Davis, CA and was the more conventional wife, mother of two, and elementary school teacher.
In 2006, I retired from teaching and became Emily Gallo when I married David, a professor of economics, and moved to Chico, CA to continue our journey. I started writing screenplays and television and moved into novels. David, Gracie (our Schillerhound), Savali (our cat) and I now divide our time between two and a half acres of gardens, orchards in Chico and a 750 square foot condo on the beach in Carpinteria, CA.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 16, 2021
A heartfelt mystery drama with a distinctly cinematic feel to it...
DREAMer by Emily Gallo is a touching mystery drama that is richly descriptive with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The author weaves a well-crafted and poignant adventure tale with an underlying social narrative that looks at the changing socio-political landscape, immigration and family dynamics. It’s an excellent novel that had me captivated from the opening chapter. Skillfully constructed, this masterclass in storytelling had me turning the pages from beginning to end. There’s plenty of imagery in the writing style that made me feel like I was right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.
The book description gives only a sneak preview: ‘Kate and Lawrence drive through the desert on their way home from vacation and find a young girl [12-year-old Marisol] sitting by the side of the road. Who is she? Where is she from and where is she going? Why is she there? When and how did she get there? What can they do to help? The girl won't speak, but that doesn't deter them from embarking on a journey through central and southern California to find the answers.’
The contrast between tone and content is a characteristic talent of only a few authors. Gallo pays as much attention to her sentences as she does her plots, shifting or consolidating meaning with the use of a single word. Her writing is impeccably honed, full of juxtapositions and qualifications that help to create an authentic and emotional atmosphere throughout.
What I took away from this wonderfully written story is that life is a wonderful combination of difficult experiences that are paradoxically intertwined with experiences of happiness in our lives. The difficult experiences are usually surprising, and we will never be ready for them. However, they make us resilient and make us appreciate what is there. Therefore, even with difficulty, one must not forget to be grateful. Because showing gratitude is a source of power that connects great faith and hope.
I was impressed with the insight and empathy of the writer into the spirits of her characters. Any aspiring writer will learn a lot about character development by reading DREAMer by Emily Gallo. Highly recommended and a well deserved five stars from me.
DREAMer by Emily Gallo is a touching mystery drama that is richly descriptive with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The author weaves a well-crafted and poignant adventure tale with an underlying social narrative that looks at the changing socio-political landscape, immigration and family dynamics. It’s an excellent novel that had me captivated from the opening chapter. Skillfully constructed, this masterclass in storytelling had me turning the pages from beginning to end. There’s plenty of imagery in the writing style that made me feel like I was right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.
The book description gives only a sneak preview: ‘Kate and Lawrence drive through the desert on their way home from vacation and find a young girl [12-year-old Marisol] sitting by the side of the road. Who is she? Where is she from and where is she going? Why is she there? When and how did she get there? What can they do to help? The girl won't speak, but that doesn't deter them from embarking on a journey through central and southern California to find the answers.’
The contrast between tone and content is a characteristic talent of only a few authors. Gallo pays as much attention to her sentences as she does her plots, shifting or consolidating meaning with the use of a single word. Her writing is impeccably honed, full of juxtapositions and qualifications that help to create an authentic and emotional atmosphere throughout.
What I took away from this wonderfully written story is that life is a wonderful combination of difficult experiences that are paradoxically intertwined with experiences of happiness in our lives. The difficult experiences are usually surprising, and we will never be ready for them. However, they make us resilient and make us appreciate what is there. Therefore, even with difficulty, one must not forget to be grateful. Because showing gratitude is a source of power that connects great faith and hope.
I was impressed with the insight and empathy of the writer into the spirits of her characters. Any aspiring writer will learn a lot about character development by reading DREAMer by Emily Gallo. Highly recommended and a well deserved five stars from me.
July 20, 2021
Kate and Lawrence, recently retired, are on vacation in California when they come across a young girl on the side of the road. She’s visibly distressed and can’t (or won’t) speak to them. Unsure of what to do, they take the girl with them as they travel throughout California in order to find out who the girl is, where she came from and how to reunite her with her family.
“DREAMers” is a novel thick with modern-day controversy (racism and illegal immigration to name a few) that follows two kind-hearted individuals as they try to care for a young immigrant child who has been displaced from her family while trying to immigrate to America.
As a Canadian, I know what “DACA” is and I have seen varying coverage on the “kids in cages” scandals, so I wasn’t completely ignorant when it came to the struggles of young Hispanic immigrants who want to come to America. I must say though, I had no idea that being a “DREAMer” had another meaning, and I always appreciate a novel that will teach me something. Also, as a Canadian, Spanish is not a language we learn in school, so the untranslated Spanish in this novel left me confused. It may not be the kind of novel that works for readers outside of the United States.
I enjoyed Kate and Lawrence, as an aging, mixed race couple who, out of their kindness of their hearts, pick up a displaced child and try to find her family. From a more rational side of things, it seemed a bit far-fetched that Kate and Lawrence wouldn’t try more legal matters of reuniting the child (although Gallo did answer all these questions in the book for me, I kept wanting them to try and do things through legal means) and was rather surprised when they were not caught out as “kidnappers”, regardless of their intentions.
As a mixed race couple, Kate and Lawrence are no stranger to racism, which is why I was surprised at the very racist ways they spoke about the child (Marisol). For example, they choose Mexican restaurants along their journey to help Marisol “feel more comfortable” and assume that she is an illegal immigrant because she “had to be undocumented or she’d speak English”. I was pretty sure Gallo was trying to highlight the terribly prejudicial ways society views illegal immigrants, and in fact, immigrants of any kind, but I was hoping that Lawrence and Kate would be more open-minded.
I had previously read Gallo’s other novel, “The Last Resort”, which centred on a marijuana grow farm in California, and a few of those characters were hinted at in this novel as well (which is something I always appreciate) . Pot farms and grow operations come up often in this novel, too, as well as very specific and detailed directions about Southern California as Lawrence and Kate travel through the state (various highways are mentioned more than once, the roads and directions are described verbatim, and the infamous California road traffic is complained about more than once). Anyone driving through the towns mentioned by Gallo could very easily follow her novel, instead of relying on Google maps!
I loved the ending of this novel, and it brought all the feels. “DREAMer” ended exactly the way it should, and I wish there were mere people like Lawrence and Kate in the world, who want to make a difference, instead of turning a blind eye to the injustices around them.
“DREAMers” is a novel thick with modern-day controversy (racism and illegal immigration to name a few) that follows two kind-hearted individuals as they try to care for a young immigrant child who has been displaced from her family while trying to immigrate to America.
As a Canadian, I know what “DACA” is and I have seen varying coverage on the “kids in cages” scandals, so I wasn’t completely ignorant when it came to the struggles of young Hispanic immigrants who want to come to America. I must say though, I had no idea that being a “DREAMer” had another meaning, and I always appreciate a novel that will teach me something. Also, as a Canadian, Spanish is not a language we learn in school, so the untranslated Spanish in this novel left me confused. It may not be the kind of novel that works for readers outside of the United States.
I enjoyed Kate and Lawrence, as an aging, mixed race couple who, out of their kindness of their hearts, pick up a displaced child and try to find her family. From a more rational side of things, it seemed a bit far-fetched that Kate and Lawrence wouldn’t try more legal matters of reuniting the child (although Gallo did answer all these questions in the book for me, I kept wanting them to try and do things through legal means) and was rather surprised when they were not caught out as “kidnappers”, regardless of their intentions.
As a mixed race couple, Kate and Lawrence are no stranger to racism, which is why I was surprised at the very racist ways they spoke about the child (Marisol). For example, they choose Mexican restaurants along their journey to help Marisol “feel more comfortable” and assume that she is an illegal immigrant because she “had to be undocumented or she’d speak English”. I was pretty sure Gallo was trying to highlight the terribly prejudicial ways society views illegal immigrants, and in fact, immigrants of any kind, but I was hoping that Lawrence and Kate would be more open-minded.
I had previously read Gallo’s other novel, “The Last Resort”, which centred on a marijuana grow farm in California, and a few of those characters were hinted at in this novel as well (which is something I always appreciate) . Pot farms and grow operations come up often in this novel, too, as well as very specific and detailed directions about Southern California as Lawrence and Kate travel through the state (various highways are mentioned more than once, the roads and directions are described verbatim, and the infamous California road traffic is complained about more than once). Anyone driving through the towns mentioned by Gallo could very easily follow her novel, instead of relying on Google maps!
I loved the ending of this novel, and it brought all the feels. “DREAMer” ended exactly the way it should, and I wish there were mere people like Lawrence and Kate in the world, who want to make a difference, instead of turning a blind eye to the injustices around them.
September 22, 2021
DREAMer by Emily Gallo
A couple in their sixties from Los Angeles, on their way home from a vacation in one of California's National Park areas close to the border with Mexico, discover a young girl alone by the roadside. There is no evidence of a vehicle having left the road so why is she there? Where are her parents or other significant adults?
Kate and Laurence set out to find the answers to these questions, thereby providing the reader with an unfolding mystery that has moments of joy and sadness as the traumatised child gradually responds to the love and compassion of the couple. There are encounters with the kind of racism, born of ignorance and fear that, if the media are to be believed, is quite common in the USA. But the majority of the people that Kate approaches are sympathetic and helpful within the constraints of their own limited knowledge. Many are operating close to, or beyond, the boundaries of the law, a fact that adds an atmosphere of danger to the search.
It is Kate who is most committed to the search, a fact which, from time to time, places a strain on the relationship, not least because Laurence is an African American all too used to the atmosphere of distrust between the forces of law and order of the United States and the non-white citizens of that country. If, as they quickly suspect, the girl is an undocumented immigrant, they and she could be in trouble if agents of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Authority (ICE) become involved.
Their attempts to evade the authorities add to the tension, as does the fact of Kate becoming trapped by a minor earthquake during one of several journeys following leads, some of which prove false.
The word DREAMer of the title is used in the USA to define "an undocumented immigrant who is protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. The name comes from the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) act that was introduced in 2001 but failed to pass in Congress." (quoted from slangit.com)
I enjoyed this book, both for the entertainment provided by the unravelling of the mystery and for the insights I, an elderly English man, gained into the lives of Californian farmers and the migrants they employ - or exploit, depending upon your point of view. I must add that the issues are handled in a way that does not come across as being politically partisan, merely as compassionate towards people doing their best to make their way in the world. I congratulate Emily Gallo for having achieved that balance in this, her most recent novel.
I'm very happy to award this book 4 stars.
Reviewed for Rosie Amber's review team.
A couple in their sixties from Los Angeles, on their way home from a vacation in one of California's National Park areas close to the border with Mexico, discover a young girl alone by the roadside. There is no evidence of a vehicle having left the road so why is she there? Where are her parents or other significant adults?
Kate and Laurence set out to find the answers to these questions, thereby providing the reader with an unfolding mystery that has moments of joy and sadness as the traumatised child gradually responds to the love and compassion of the couple. There are encounters with the kind of racism, born of ignorance and fear that, if the media are to be believed, is quite common in the USA. But the majority of the people that Kate approaches are sympathetic and helpful within the constraints of their own limited knowledge. Many are operating close to, or beyond, the boundaries of the law, a fact that adds an atmosphere of danger to the search.
It is Kate who is most committed to the search, a fact which, from time to time, places a strain on the relationship, not least because Laurence is an African American all too used to the atmosphere of distrust between the forces of law and order of the United States and the non-white citizens of that country. If, as they quickly suspect, the girl is an undocumented immigrant, they and she could be in trouble if agents of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Authority (ICE) become involved.
Their attempts to evade the authorities add to the tension, as does the fact of Kate becoming trapped by a minor earthquake during one of several journeys following leads, some of which prove false.
The word DREAMer of the title is used in the USA to define "an undocumented immigrant who is protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. The name comes from the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) act that was introduced in 2001 but failed to pass in Congress." (quoted from slangit.com)
I enjoyed this book, both for the entertainment provided by the unravelling of the mystery and for the insights I, an elderly English man, gained into the lives of Californian farmers and the migrants they employ - or exploit, depending upon your point of view. I must add that the issues are handled in a way that does not come across as being politically partisan, merely as compassionate towards people doing their best to make their way in the world. I congratulate Emily Gallo for having achieved that balance in this, her most recent novel.
I'm very happy to award this book 4 stars.
Reviewed for Rosie Amber's review team.
October 8, 2021
Readers will not only be brought to tears, but a little more aware of what is happening in the world around them and sharing this heartwarming tale with others.
Read full review in the 2021 October issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2021 October issue of InD'tale Magazine.
August 2, 2022
“DREAMer,” by Emily Gallo, is a relevant discerning tale of the plight surrounding undocumented immigrants. Kate and Lawrence are enjoying their autumn romance. As retired educators, they are having fun exploring California together. On one of their jaunts through a more isolated area, they are surprised to discover a girl sitting on the side of the road. She refuses to answer any questions, or even use her voice. They pick her up with the intent of taking her to authorities until they discover how fearful she gets when she is around law enforcement. They suspect that she was probably crossed over the border by a coyote. Using clues from her few meager possessions, they begin a search for answers which appear to involve finding her sister. As they are looking for answers, the girl becomes more and more special to them.
DREAMer is an eye-opening novel for people who are not dealing with border issues. Through a fictional account, readers gain an understanding of the hardships that people encounter when they cross without going through official channels. In this case, a young girl was crossed by a coyote who was only interested in how he could profit, which put her in danger. Other characters in the novel share similar stories about things that happened to them when they came over. These stories also included the kinds of jobs that they had to take. Many of them involved working in the marijuana trade and were dangerous. As the couple look for answers, they gain so much more insight into the plight of these people.
The author created a very interesting, insightful mystery. The characters are very realistic and their issues are currently relevant. I like the married couple and I would love to see them in future mysteries. I was also impressed with how well the author described the small towns that were involved in this story. Most of these towns are unfamiliar to people, unless they’ve lived in the Central Valley or the southern California desert. Her attention to detail was spot on. I was even impressed that she provided accurate information for an Applebees where I live! Having lived in these areas, I enjoyed following along and seeing the details through the fictional eyes of the characters.
Readers who enjoy a good mystery with heartfelt characters will enjoy reading DREAMer. Those of us who have personally dealt with DREAMers will really relate to this story. I look forward to more writing by this author.
DREAMer is an eye-opening novel for people who are not dealing with border issues. Through a fictional account, readers gain an understanding of the hardships that people encounter when they cross without going through official channels. In this case, a young girl was crossed by a coyote who was only interested in how he could profit, which put her in danger. Other characters in the novel share similar stories about things that happened to them when they came over. These stories also included the kinds of jobs that they had to take. Many of them involved working in the marijuana trade and were dangerous. As the couple look for answers, they gain so much more insight into the plight of these people.
The author created a very interesting, insightful mystery. The characters are very realistic and their issues are currently relevant. I like the married couple and I would love to see them in future mysteries. I was also impressed with how well the author described the small towns that were involved in this story. Most of these towns are unfamiliar to people, unless they’ve lived in the Central Valley or the southern California desert. Her attention to detail was spot on. I was even impressed that she provided accurate information for an Applebees where I live! Having lived in these areas, I enjoyed following along and seeing the details through the fictional eyes of the characters.
Readers who enjoy a good mystery with heartfelt characters will enjoy reading DREAMer. Those of us who have personally dealt with DREAMers will really relate to this story. I look forward to more writing by this author.
February 1, 2022
Kate and Lawrence are driving back from their couples’ vacation when they spot a young girl sitting on a rock all by herself on a deserted highway. Fearing that something is amiss, they stop to investigate and end up picking up the mysterious girl. Armed with nothing more than a few postcards with postmarks from obscure U.S towns and some photographs found on the child, Kate and Lawrence embark on a mission to solve the mystery behind the girl’s identity and reunite her with a family they aren’t even sure she has.
DREAMer delivers a touching snapshot of the reality of undocumented immigrants through the story of a fictional main character. Author Emily Gallo cleverly plays with the acronym DREAM. This U.S. act offers undocumented immigrants who entered the United States as minors temporary residency and permission to attend school and work. This act is used as the basis to depict her main character’s fate under the law and her quest as a dreamer. The book is a wholesome tale of sacrifice and compassion and a needed reminder of the good humans are capable of.
Gallo gives her characters very well-defined personalities allowing readers to get to know them quickly as the story opens. She also executes the story well by centering on just three characters, allowing her to wrap up the storyline quickly, making this an easy read. There’s no doubt that Gallo did her research as she effectively highlights seemingly obscure locations in the United States that host minority communities and are quick stops for immigrants. As a result, readers will enjoy learning about the dynamics of immigration. In addition, the book reads like an adventure story because the characters are on the road for most of the story, so their road trips give readers something to look forward to aside from the unraveling plot.
DREAMer is a through-provoking book that readers of historical fiction will find captivating. In this well-crafted novel, you have a story that’s educating, deeply thoughtful, and entertaining.
DREAMer delivers a touching snapshot of the reality of undocumented immigrants through the story of a fictional main character. Author Emily Gallo cleverly plays with the acronym DREAM. This U.S. act offers undocumented immigrants who entered the United States as minors temporary residency and permission to attend school and work. This act is used as the basis to depict her main character’s fate under the law and her quest as a dreamer. The book is a wholesome tale of sacrifice and compassion and a needed reminder of the good humans are capable of.
Gallo gives her characters very well-defined personalities allowing readers to get to know them quickly as the story opens. She also executes the story well by centering on just three characters, allowing her to wrap up the storyline quickly, making this an easy read. There’s no doubt that Gallo did her research as she effectively highlights seemingly obscure locations in the United States that host minority communities and are quick stops for immigrants. As a result, readers will enjoy learning about the dynamics of immigration. In addition, the book reads like an adventure story because the characters are on the road for most of the story, so their road trips give readers something to look forward to aside from the unraveling plot.
DREAMer is a through-provoking book that readers of historical fiction will find captivating. In this well-crafted novel, you have a story that’s educating, deeply thoughtful, and entertaining.
December 19, 2021
"DREAMer" by Emily Gallo is a multifaceted read that highlights relevant social issues while celebrating benevolence. From page one, Emily reals you with the beautiful landscapes of Southern and Central California. Lawrence Ellison and Kate McCoy are a biracial couple who are adventurous and full of empathy, purpose, and determination. Emily realistically presents multiple perspectives of pertinent incidents in today's society. Lawrence and Kate's relationship is so realistic, and it is refreshing to see how they navigate their fears, frustrations and handle conflict. As I turned the pages, I found myself becoming more educated on the plight of undocumented immigrants in the United States. There were certain areas in the book where the tears flowed because of the insurmountable challenges for Marisol's quest to find her family. In addition to this, the waterfall continues upon reading Emily's kind words, the sheer beauty when human beings listen to their heart and intuition and are empathetic when trying to listen and understand another person's story. The ending was satisfactory, and I know this book has left a deep indent in my heart. A 5 star read! I cannot wait to read more of Emily's work.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout, and this honest review is left voluntarily.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout, and this honest review is left voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews