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The Legend of the Dream Giants | The Story of a Girl and a Big Friendly Giant | Kirkus Best Middle-Grade Fantasy of 2022
An orphaned giant named Berg is in search of just one person he can call friend.
When he was very young, Berg's mother hid him in a cave and led an angry mob of villagers away, sacrificing her own life to protect her son. In all the years since, Berg has lived alone, the only reminders of his family are his mother's satchel and his recurring dreams of a white bear who shares a magical sand from a fallen star. When the white bear touches Berg with the star-blue sand, he feels safe and happy in his dreams. Sometimes, when he feels lonely, he will risk entering a village to trade a smooth river rock or a feather for food. He's really searching for kindness, companionship, and, maybe one day, someone who will want to get to know him and be his friend. But with every attempt he makes, people only see his massive size and cruelly chase him away, thinking he is �nhold--a giant and a monster. Whoever this �nhold is, Berg also fears him and hopes they never meet.
In his travels, Berg comes upon a new town, a city made of iron where blacksmiths construct all kinds of ironworks from gates to sculptures to chains and weapons. Berg meets a little girl, Anya, who doesn't run and scream in fear like everyone else does. To his amazement and delight, Anya knows about the dream-sand and says she wants to be his friend.
The mayor convinces the villagers of the benefit of having a giant around who can protect their city from the dangers he says �nhold has in store for them. Anya has learned about the dream-sand from secretly watching �nhold use it to trade for food and trinkets, and she suspects the mayor is planning something different than what he says. Fearing the city isn't safe for Berg, she warns her giant friend to flee. When a secret plot is revealed to capture Berg, the young giant has to figure out where he can place his trust.
When he was very young, Berg's mother hid him in a cave and led an angry mob of villagers away, sacrificing her own life to protect her son. In all the years since, Berg has lived alone, the only reminders of his family are his mother's satchel and his recurring dreams of a white bear who shares a magical sand from a fallen star. When the white bear touches Berg with the star-blue sand, he feels safe and happy in his dreams. Sometimes, when he feels lonely, he will risk entering a village to trade a smooth river rock or a feather for food. He's really searching for kindness, companionship, and, maybe one day, someone who will want to get to know him and be his friend. But with every attempt he makes, people only see his massive size and cruelly chase him away, thinking he is �nhold--a giant and a monster. Whoever this �nhold is, Berg also fears him and hopes they never meet.
In his travels, Berg comes upon a new town, a city made of iron where blacksmiths construct all kinds of ironworks from gates to sculptures to chains and weapons. Berg meets a little girl, Anya, who doesn't run and scream in fear like everyone else does. To his amazement and delight, Anya knows about the dream-sand and says she wants to be his friend.
The mayor convinces the villagers of the benefit of having a giant around who can protect their city from the dangers he says �nhold has in store for them. Anya has learned about the dream-sand from secretly watching �nhold use it to trade for food and trinkets, and she suspects the mayor is planning something different than what he says. Fearing the city isn't safe for Berg, she warns her giant friend to flee. When a secret plot is revealed to capture Berg, the young giant has to figure out where he can place his trust.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published March 8, 2022
10 people are currently reading
1884 people want to read
About the author
Dustin Hansen
35 books82 followersDustin was raised in rural Utah, where his imagination was his most constant companion. A reader, artist, and gamer from an early age, Dustin was encouraged to mine his talents, follow his passions, and find the fun in everyday life.
Dustin studied art in college, and entered the exciting world of video game development in 1994. His career has taken him and his family from coast to coast, but he always considered the small town he grew up in, Ephraim, Utah, his true home.
After spending a year as a director at Habro, Dustin, his wife, and four kids moved back to Ephraim, where he lives today in the shadows of a fine mountain, writes books about video games and dinosaurs, and takes long walks with his dog, Rusty.
Oh, and he loves the Utah Jazz, but that's another story all together.
Dustin studied art in college, and entered the exciting world of video game development in 1994. His career has taken him and his family from coast to coast, but he always considered the small town he grew up in, Ephraim, Utah, his true home.
After spending a year as a director at Habro, Dustin, his wife, and four kids moved back to Ephraim, where he lives today in the shadows of a fine mountain, writes books about video games and dinosaurs, and takes long walks with his dog, Rusty.
Oh, and he loves the Utah Jazz, but that's another story all together.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
January 1, 2022
"A leather satchel hung from his shoulder, a bag with crude stitches of once-red thread." The satchel was filled with treasures he had brought along for trade. The residents of the city, asleep in their beds, were afraid of him. Berg, a boy-giant, under the cover of darkness, entered the sleeping city leaving forest jewels at a cottage door, an exchange for potatoes from the garden. A perfect trade. "A giant's hunger commands." The townfolk were raised on legends, stories of Unhold, a giant who roamed the earth frightening both young and old.
Berg, a young, motherless giant, loved his deep-wild-woods but would gladly have exchanged life among the sturdy, ancient pines for life among the people of the sleeping city. He wanted to make a friend. Noticing a small boy gardening, Berg made eye contact with the child. The child screamed... paralyzing fear of Unhold!
A watchful moon, tiny footprints, a small pile of dream-sand blown through a window, a fair exchange for freshly baked bread, apples and potatoes. Berg was hopeful. Might he make a friend?
But, if he was mocked or chased in this town, perhaps the next town would be more hospitable.
During the day, Berg slept. Dreams...visions of a small bear waking next to his mother...a pack of wolves...a moon...blue stardust. The next stop, the city of Eisenstadt. Befriended by a young, red-haired girl, he was offered lemon drops. The town mayor appeared to welcome him, offering him a job as a night guard for their iron city, payable with heaps of food. The mayor, however, seemed to talk in half truths.
"The Legend of the Dream Gods" written and illustrated by Dustin Hansen, is a fantasy novel being marketed to the nine to twelve year old crowd. The hybrid tome is the tale of a misunderstood boy-giant. Judged by legends of Unhold, Berg is thought to be ferocious and is therefore treated as an outcast. Would two unlikely "friends" emerge?
Despite the beautiful verbiage and splendid artwork contained within, the content of this read seemed more appropriate for an older reader. The written text, alternating with graphics drawn in black and white, depicts Berg's dreams of a white bear offering him hope and trying to guide him.
Thank you Callie Hansen and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the print ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Berg, a young, motherless giant, loved his deep-wild-woods but would gladly have exchanged life among the sturdy, ancient pines for life among the people of the sleeping city. He wanted to make a friend. Noticing a small boy gardening, Berg made eye contact with the child. The child screamed... paralyzing fear of Unhold!
A watchful moon, tiny footprints, a small pile of dream-sand blown through a window, a fair exchange for freshly baked bread, apples and potatoes. Berg was hopeful. Might he make a friend?
But, if he was mocked or chased in this town, perhaps the next town would be more hospitable.
During the day, Berg slept. Dreams...visions of a small bear waking next to his mother...a pack of wolves...a moon...blue stardust. The next stop, the city of Eisenstadt. Befriended by a young, red-haired girl, he was offered lemon drops. The town mayor appeared to welcome him, offering him a job as a night guard for their iron city, payable with heaps of food. The mayor, however, seemed to talk in half truths.
"The Legend of the Dream Gods" written and illustrated by Dustin Hansen, is a fantasy novel being marketed to the nine to twelve year old crowd. The hybrid tome is the tale of a misunderstood boy-giant. Judged by legends of Unhold, Berg is thought to be ferocious and is therefore treated as an outcast. Would two unlikely "friends" emerge?
Despite the beautiful verbiage and splendid artwork contained within, the content of this read seemed more appropriate for an older reader. The written text, alternating with graphics drawn in black and white, depicts Berg's dreams of a white bear offering him hope and trying to guide him.
Thank you Callie Hansen and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the print ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 27, 2022
Early criticism of this book has been that it is too sad, too depressing for children. While the story does follow the misfortunes of the giant Berg as he navigates a world who doesn't understand him and appreciate him for who he is—the story is so much more than sadness. It's a coming of age story, one of identity and acceptance. And amongst the sadness there is so, so much strength.
I will have you consider many sad stories that we recite and read to children: Where the Red Fern Grows, Old Yeller, Bridge to Terabithia, any Brothers Grimm story and so on and so forth. These stories are all a reflection on the world children are growing into, and The Legend of the Dream Giants is no different.
This is one of the most beautifully written books I've read in a very, very long time. This is an important book for kids AND adults alike to learn to accept those who are different from them, to learn to love them for who they are and where they are. Treat people with kindness, and you can expect the same kindness back.
I highly recommend this book.
I will have you consider many sad stories that we recite and read to children: Where the Red Fern Grows, Old Yeller, Bridge to Terabithia, any Brothers Grimm story and so on and so forth. These stories are all a reflection on the world children are growing into, and The Legend of the Dream Giants is no different.
This is one of the most beautifully written books I've read in a very, very long time. This is an important book for kids AND adults alike to learn to accept those who are different from them, to learn to love them for who they are and where they are. Treat people with kindness, and you can expect the same kindness back.
I highly recommend this book.
January 24, 2022
This is a beautifully written fairytale from the perspective of a lonely boy-giant who very desperately wants to be accepted by people and not seen as a monster. In some ways it reminds me of J.K. Rowling’s The Ickabog. Mostly because it deals with similar themes and has a very fairytale quality to it. I love a good theme, especially if it’s offered in a thought-provoking context with ample discussion-ability. That is the mark of a good book to me. And while this is a sad, dark tale, it has that in spades.
It didn’t take me long to read this book. I wanted so much to find out what would happen to young Berg, the lonely giant. Would he be able to find the truth, despite the misinformation flying about everywhere? Would he be able to understand who his true friends were and that kindness sometime means manipulation? These are things most humans grapple with at some point in life, particularly when young and trying to find a place in the world. Ultimately, that is the value in this story. It speaks so well of the human condition.
It didn’t take me long to read this book. I wanted so much to find out what would happen to young Berg, the lonely giant. Would he be able to find the truth, despite the misinformation flying about everywhere? Would he be able to understand who his true friends were and that kindness sometime means manipulation? These are things most humans grapple with at some point in life, particularly when young and trying to find a place in the world. Ultimately, that is the value in this story. It speaks so well of the human condition.
March 8, 2022
The writing was beautiful and I have never read a book by this author. The illustrations were wounderful, I enjoyed the story and characters. I would recommend this book the children 10 and up because it deals with some heavy topics for example grief, loss and death. Some of the illustrations also have some violence.
Thank you to Shadowmountian for sending me an ARC in exchange of an honest review and thoughts. This book will be available in March 2022.
Book Synopsis:
An orphaned giant named Berg is in search of just one person he can call friend . When he was very young, Berg's mother hid him in a cave and led an angry mob of villagers away, sacrificing her own life to protect her son. In all the years since, Berg has lived alone, the only reminders of his family are his mother's satchel and his recurring dreams of a white bear who shares a magical sand from a fallen star. When the white bear touches Berg with the star-blue sand, he feels safe and happy in his dreams. Sometimes, when he feels lonely, he will risk entering a village to trade a smooth river rock or a feather for food. He's really searching for kindness, companionship, and, maybe one day, someone who will want to get to know him and be his friend. But with every attempt he makes, people only see his massive size and cruelly chase him away, thinking he is Ünhold--a giant and a monster. Whoever this Ünhold is, Berg also fears him and hopes they never meet. In his travels, Berg comes upon a new town, a city made of iron where blacksmiths construct all kinds of ironworks from gates to sculptures to chains and weapons. Berg meets a little girl, Anya, who doesn't run and scream in fear like everyone else does. To his amazement and delight, Anya knows about the dream-sand and says she wants to be his friend. The mayor convinces the villagers of the benefit of having a giant around who can protect their city from the dangers he says Ünhold has in store for them. Anya has learned about the dream-sand from secretly watching Ünhold use it to trade for food and trinkets, and she suspects the mayor is planning something different than what he says. Fearing the city isn't safe for Berg, she warns her giant friend to flee. When a secret plot is revealed to capture Berg, the young giant has to figure out where he can place his trust. The story follows Berg on his journey and is told through text and graphic novel-style illustrations of beautiful dream sequences that reveal Berg's hopes and memories. Berg's mother appears to him in his dreams as a white bear, patient, nurturing and protective, and he sees himself as a little bear cub. Berg is often unsure what exactly the dreams mean, but sometimes they describe things which are about to happen or give him answers to problems he is facing. This tender and unique story-within-a-story is a riveting tale of loss, longing, adventure, being yourself, and finding the true meaning of friendship.
Thank you to Shadowmountian for sending me an ARC in exchange of an honest review and thoughts. This book will be available in March 2022.
Book Synopsis:
An orphaned giant named Berg is in search of just one person he can call friend . When he was very young, Berg's mother hid him in a cave and led an angry mob of villagers away, sacrificing her own life to protect her son. In all the years since, Berg has lived alone, the only reminders of his family are his mother's satchel and his recurring dreams of a white bear who shares a magical sand from a fallen star. When the white bear touches Berg with the star-blue sand, he feels safe and happy in his dreams. Sometimes, when he feels lonely, he will risk entering a village to trade a smooth river rock or a feather for food. He's really searching for kindness, companionship, and, maybe one day, someone who will want to get to know him and be his friend. But with every attempt he makes, people only see his massive size and cruelly chase him away, thinking he is Ünhold--a giant and a monster. Whoever this Ünhold is, Berg also fears him and hopes they never meet. In his travels, Berg comes upon a new town, a city made of iron where blacksmiths construct all kinds of ironworks from gates to sculptures to chains and weapons. Berg meets a little girl, Anya, who doesn't run and scream in fear like everyone else does. To his amazement and delight, Anya knows about the dream-sand and says she wants to be his friend. The mayor convinces the villagers of the benefit of having a giant around who can protect their city from the dangers he says Ünhold has in store for them. Anya has learned about the dream-sand from secretly watching Ünhold use it to trade for food and trinkets, and she suspects the mayor is planning something different than what he says. Fearing the city isn't safe for Berg, she warns her giant friend to flee. When a secret plot is revealed to capture Berg, the young giant has to figure out where he can place his trust. The story follows Berg on his journey and is told through text and graphic novel-style illustrations of beautiful dream sequences that reveal Berg's hopes and memories. Berg's mother appears to him in his dreams as a white bear, patient, nurturing and protective, and he sees himself as a little bear cub. Berg is often unsure what exactly the dreams mean, but sometimes they describe things which are about to happen or give him answers to problems he is facing. This tender and unique story-within-a-story is a riveting tale of loss, longing, adventure, being yourself, and finding the true meaning of friendship.
January 18, 2022
This book is SO beautiful: the writing is breathtaking and the art will move you. The story is easy to follow as the lonely giant, Berg, sets out on new journeys to find someone to accept him for all that he is. This book would be great to read together as a family. There are so many lessons that could be taught throughout. I plan on rereading it with my own kids again and again. This book reminds us that there is always someone out there that believes in us more than we do, it teaches us to love and trust even when it is hard, and to forgive and accept others.
January 1, 2022
I thought this was a beautiful story. It teaches about friendship, sincerity, hope, courage, grief, kindness, trust, love, not judging others, not believing everything you hear, and sacrifice.
It was heartbreaking at times, as Berg has such a good heart and is wrongly judged by others based on his appearance and false legends. It is also beautiful- as kindness is shown to him from unlikely sources.
The stunning illustrations give it a graphic novel feel, and it seemed to be 2 stories in one. The way they are intertwined keep you engaged and enamored with the tale. It would be a fantastic read aloud and lead to great discussions on how we treat others.
I’m a big fan.
It was heartbreaking at times, as Berg has such a good heart and is wrongly judged by others based on his appearance and false legends. It is also beautiful- as kindness is shown to him from unlikely sources.
The stunning illustrations give it a graphic novel feel, and it seemed to be 2 stories in one. The way they are intertwined keep you engaged and enamored with the tale. It would be a fantastic read aloud and lead to great discussions on how we treat others.
I’m a big fan.
Read
October 17, 2022My twins and I recently finished reading this book together. The first thing that struck me about the book was the beautiful writing. The language is so evocative, making this one a pleasure to read out loud and giving the book a fair-tale type feel. (I imagine the audiobook will be stellar, but I had print arc, so I can’t really say anything about the audio version.)
The pace is gentle, telling the story of Berg, a young giant who simply wants to have a friend or two, or maybe a whole city full of people he can interact with. Instead, he is feared and hated by everyone he comes into contact with—or almost everyone. Berg is so desperate for human connection that he’s willing to risk everything in order to get it. As the story progresses, he is able to form relationships with others—but not everyone he meets is as good or as bad as they first appear.
Thank you to Shadow Mountain and the author for a gifted copy. This one comes out in March.
The pace is gentle, telling the story of Berg, a young giant who simply wants to have a friend or two, or maybe a whole city full of people he can interact with. Instead, he is feared and hated by everyone he comes into contact with—or almost everyone. Berg is so desperate for human connection that he’s willing to risk everything in order to get it. As the story progresses, he is able to form relationships with others—but not everyone he meets is as good or as bad as they first appear.
Thank you to Shadow Mountain and the author for a gifted copy. This one comes out in March.
October 11, 2021
Nope - don't bother. It was depressing as all get out! I don't know about you, but I don't want to read about bad things even if they do happen to a fictional giant. We don't live in that kind of world right now. I was thinking about this for the kids. I decided if I didn't want to keep reading chapter after chapter of bad that happens to our main character, the kids certainly wouldn't finish. I can't say how disappointed I was.
I received an ARC from Netgalley to prepare my honest review.
I received an ARC from Netgalley to prepare my honest review.
February 19, 2022
2.5 stars
This book was super underwhelming for me. The story felt kind of cobbled together in different pieces. And the ending was super fast and the attitude change in the background characters was a bit unrealistic.
The artwork was a fun break in between every few chapters and paralleled the story well.
Overall I just wanted more. More depth, more interaction with Anya, more interaction with the other townsfolk so maybe the ending could have been a tad more believable.
Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing for the review copy of this book!
This book was super underwhelming for me. The story felt kind of cobbled together in different pieces. And the ending was super fast and the attitude change in the background characters was a bit unrealistic.
The artwork was a fun break in between every few chapters and paralleled the story well.
Overall I just wanted more. More depth, more interaction with Anya, more interaction with the other townsfolk so maybe the ending could have been a tad more believable.
Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing for the review copy of this book!
January 28, 2022
Disclaimer: I received this arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Legend of the Dream Giants
Author: Dustin Hansen
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: middle grade, children, fantasy
Publication Date: March 8, 2022
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Recommended Age: 11+ (scary moments, grief, death, violence)
Explanation of CWs: There are some scary moments that might not be appropriate for some young readers. Themes of grief and death are explored. There is also some slight violence.
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Pages: 240
Synopsis: When he was very young, Berg’s mother hid him in a cave and led an angry mob of villagers away, sacrificing her own life to protect her son. In all the years since, Berg has lived alone, the only reminders of his family are his mother’s satchel and his recurring dreams of a white bear who shares a magical sand from a fallen star. When the white bear touches Berg with the star-blue sand, he feels safe and happy in his dreams. Sometimes, when he feels lonely, he will risk entering a village to trade a smooth river rock or a feather for food. He’s really searching for kindness, companionship, and, maybe one day, someone who will want to get to know him and be his friend. But with every attempt he makes, people only see his massive size and cruelly chase him away, thinking he is Ünhold—a giant and a monster. Whoever this Ünhold is, Berg also fears him and hopes they never meet.
In his travels, Berg comes upon a new town, a city made of iron where blacksmiths construct all kinds of ironworks from gates to sculptures to chains and weapons. Berg meets a little girl, Anya, who doesn’t run and scream in fear like everyone else does. To his amazement and delight, Anya knows about the dream-sand and says she wants to be his friend.
The mayor convinces the villagers of the benefit of having a giant around who can protect their city from the dangers he says Ünhold has in store for them. Anya has learned about the dream-sand from secretly watching Ünhold use it to trade for food and trinkets, and she suspects the mayor is planning something different than what he says. Fearing the city isn’t safe for Berg, she warns her giant friend to flee. When a secret plot is revealed to capture Berg, the young giant has to figure out where he can place his trust.
The story follows Berg on his journey and is told through text and graphic novel-style illustrations of beautiful dream sequences that reveal Berg’s hopes and memories. Berg’s mother appears to him in his dreams as a white bear, patient, nurturing and protective, and he sees himself as a little bear cub. Berg is often unsure what exactly the dreams mean, but sometimes they describe things which are about to happen or give him answers to problems he is facing.
This tender and unique story-within-a-story is a riveting tale of loss, longing, adventure, being yourself, and finding the true meaning of friendship.
Review: For the most part this book was ok. It did good to set up some themes of grief and death, but also kindness and courage. The book is gorgeous with beautiful illustrations and great character development. The book also has a fairytale feel to it.
However, the book is very sad. It’s a really upsetting story and I don’t think it would be appropriate for some children like how I don’t think that The Giving Tree is appropriate for some children as well. Some of the themes are great, and maybe if you are trying to prepare the child for grief and death it would be good, but this probably wouldn’t be a book you should pick out for a bedtime story. However, you know your children better than I do so please read the book and decide how it would be best for your children.
Verdict: It was ok.
Book: The Legend of the Dream Giants
Author: Dustin Hansen
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: middle grade, children, fantasy
Publication Date: March 8, 2022
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Recommended Age: 11+ (scary moments, grief, death, violence)
Explanation of CWs: There are some scary moments that might not be appropriate for some young readers. Themes of grief and death are explored. There is also some slight violence.
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Pages: 240
Synopsis: When he was very young, Berg’s mother hid him in a cave and led an angry mob of villagers away, sacrificing her own life to protect her son. In all the years since, Berg has lived alone, the only reminders of his family are his mother’s satchel and his recurring dreams of a white bear who shares a magical sand from a fallen star. When the white bear touches Berg with the star-blue sand, he feels safe and happy in his dreams. Sometimes, when he feels lonely, he will risk entering a village to trade a smooth river rock or a feather for food. He’s really searching for kindness, companionship, and, maybe one day, someone who will want to get to know him and be his friend. But with every attempt he makes, people only see his massive size and cruelly chase him away, thinking he is Ünhold—a giant and a monster. Whoever this Ünhold is, Berg also fears him and hopes they never meet.
In his travels, Berg comes upon a new town, a city made of iron where blacksmiths construct all kinds of ironworks from gates to sculptures to chains and weapons. Berg meets a little girl, Anya, who doesn’t run and scream in fear like everyone else does. To his amazement and delight, Anya knows about the dream-sand and says she wants to be his friend.
The mayor convinces the villagers of the benefit of having a giant around who can protect their city from the dangers he says Ünhold has in store for them. Anya has learned about the dream-sand from secretly watching Ünhold use it to trade for food and trinkets, and she suspects the mayor is planning something different than what he says. Fearing the city isn’t safe for Berg, she warns her giant friend to flee. When a secret plot is revealed to capture Berg, the young giant has to figure out where he can place his trust.
The story follows Berg on his journey and is told through text and graphic novel-style illustrations of beautiful dream sequences that reveal Berg’s hopes and memories. Berg’s mother appears to him in his dreams as a white bear, patient, nurturing and protective, and he sees himself as a little bear cub. Berg is often unsure what exactly the dreams mean, but sometimes they describe things which are about to happen or give him answers to problems he is facing.
This tender and unique story-within-a-story is a riveting tale of loss, longing, adventure, being yourself, and finding the true meaning of friendship.
Review: For the most part this book was ok. It did good to set up some themes of grief and death, but also kindness and courage. The book is gorgeous with beautiful illustrations and great character development. The book also has a fairytale feel to it.
However, the book is very sad. It’s a really upsetting story and I don’t think it would be appropriate for some children like how I don’t think that The Giving Tree is appropriate for some children as well. Some of the themes are great, and maybe if you are trying to prepare the child for grief and death it would be good, but this probably wouldn’t be a book you should pick out for a bedtime story. However, you know your children better than I do so please read the book and decide how it would be best for your children.
Verdict: It was ok.
May 15, 2022
The Legend of the Dream Giants has a main character that I wanted to reach out to and hug and keep him safe. Berg is a young, orphaned giant who is looking for a friend and wants to be loved and accepted. Sadly, he is shunned and is run off wherever he goes, even though he always leaves shiny colored rocks in exchange for food. This beautifully written story also has wonderful graphic-novel style illustrations that show Berg's nightly dreams and thoughts and feelings. The illustrations in this novel were one of my favorite things as they told Berg's life story using the forms of bears and wolves.
This novel explores many things such as grief, friendship, acceptance, trust, bullying, hate, and love. It shows Berg's quest to find at least one friend. In his innocence, he doesn't recognize real kindness versus someone taking advantage of him. This all broke my heart to see Berg so sad and suffering. The shining moments in the book came from the human girl, Anya, who truly was his friend. Also, the old giant named Unhold, proved to be something other than what the stories told about him. There were many surprises with this side character that unfolded throughout the book.
This book is touted to be a Middle-Grade novel but I suggest this book would be better for kids older than twelve because of the subject matters of death, grief, and violence against Berg. The Legend of The Dream Giants will make great conversation between parents and children as the book is read together as a family.
***3.5-4 ****
This novel explores many things such as grief, friendship, acceptance, trust, bullying, hate, and love. It shows Berg's quest to find at least one friend. In his innocence, he doesn't recognize real kindness versus someone taking advantage of him. This all broke my heart to see Berg so sad and suffering. The shining moments in the book came from the human girl, Anya, who truly was his friend. Also, the old giant named Unhold, proved to be something other than what the stories told about him. There were many surprises with this side character that unfolded throughout the book.
This book is touted to be a Middle-Grade novel but I suggest this book would be better for kids older than twelve because of the subject matters of death, grief, and violence against Berg. The Legend of The Dream Giants will make great conversation between parents and children as the book is read together as a family.
***3.5-4 ****
March 11, 2022
The Legend of Dream Giants offers a lot to readers...a couple of takeaway morals and lessons, a good message overall, likeable characters, easy to read storyline, a few surprises and twists. The story seems like an instant classic to me. It's a twist on giants that I found to be very imaginative and creative. This book is something that you will want to keep and have in your home. It reads really well. I could easily read it out loud to my children (3, 6, and 8). I would classify it as a fantasy/fairytale. It reads like a fairytale to me, in that, it has a fantasy theme and a moral. There wasn't anything too scary or confusing for kids. This book could also be used in the classroom to discuss lies and half-truths, how the imagery and the story connect, preconceived perceptions and more. The story was clean. Overall, I felt like this was a really good book and I would recommend parents to check it out for their middle grader readers. I would like to see the author to expand this into a series and covering different fantasy creatures with this type of storytelling and imagination...mermaids, dragons, unicorns, trolls, goblins, etc. It's just such a good book and it's hard to find books that are age appropriate, clean, not to scary and that grabs your attention quickly.
Please note that I received a free copy of this book to review, however, this is my honest opinion.
Please note that I received a free copy of this book to review, however, this is my honest opinion.
April 7, 2022
I have not read a book quite like this one ever before. This one has a story about a giant named Berg. I really felt for this giant. He’s all alone in the world. And people are not kind to him. He’s different than they are after all.
One thing I really loved about Berg was the way he always tried to leave a gift. He needed to eat, so he’d take food from people, but he’d leave something beautiful in it’s place. I think sometimes we don’t see the gifts that others have, that they maybe leave for us. Or give us just by being them. And that’s so sad.
I love the way the author interspersed a comic book with the story. It was a fun break, and I looked forward to looking at the picture each time.
This is a great book! It will be beloved by middle grade readers and adults alike.
I was sent a copy of The Legend of the Dream Giants as a gift from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
One thing I really loved about Berg was the way he always tried to leave a gift. He needed to eat, so he’d take food from people, but he’d leave something beautiful in it’s place. I think sometimes we don’t see the gifts that others have, that they maybe leave for us. Or give us just by being them. And that’s so sad.
I love the way the author interspersed a comic book with the story. It was a fun break, and I looked forward to looking at the picture each time.
This is a great book! It will be beloved by middle grade readers and adults alike.
I was sent a copy of The Legend of the Dream Giants as a gift from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
December 26, 2022
when i got this book i thought, "oh! this is a pretty cover! and a kid's book!" i thought that this would be a fun and fantastical read similar to wolfstongue. as i was wrong with wolfstongue, i was wrong with this one. this book is staggering in its presentation of morality and justice through the eyes of a naive and somewhat unreliable protagonist. the description of the world around berg and his inner thoughts is distinct and transportive. although the ending was a little squished for my liking, the emotional bulldozer that this book gave me made up plenty for it. i can't recommend it more!
August 31, 2022
A sweet and tender tale of a giant who craves acceptance and a home. I loved Berg in all his kind innocence. I loved Anya and Ünhold. The lyrical style of the narrative was perfect with the story.
February 6, 2022
I don’t review many middle grade reads, but was intrigued by this one and grabbed it when I had the chance. I loved the short stories that make up this complete book, I liked the themes of friendship and trust. The pictures make this book really fun for all ages. There are some heartbreaking topics in here for the more tender hearted kids, so if that’s the kind of kid you have—I would recommend this as a read together kind of book with lots of open discussion.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
June 17, 2022
Berg's story is a weird and unsettling one. The text of Berg's search for a home and a friend while lyrical in places is almost entirely contained in Berg's head. Mostly the text is divided between long descriptive passages of Berg's surroundings or blocks of internal monolog where the young giant mulls over things.
There's not much in the way of action save for a few interactions late in the book with humans. The antagonist is only revealed in the third act. His power over Berg is of a similar cruelty to that of Madame Medusa to Penny in The Rescuers (1977) except that Berg has agency by his sheer size. He's also more aware of his options and choses a cage and an abuser over looking for another more welcoming town.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2022/comm...
There's not much in the way of action save for a few interactions late in the book with humans. The antagonist is only revealed in the third act. His power over Berg is of a similar cruelty to that of Madame Medusa to Penny in The Rescuers (1977) except that Berg has agency by his sheer size. He's also more aware of his options and choses a cage and an abuser over looking for another more welcoming town.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2022/comm...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2021
The description of this book states that it's "a tender story," which couldn't be more wrong. The book starts with a hungry orphaned boy-giant who steals food before getting run off. Then, he's imprisoned in heavy chains. Bad things kept happening to Berg, the boy-giant. I had thought this might be a bedtime story, but I would not read it to a child at bedtime. It's not appropriate for that. I was disappointed in this book. From the title alone, I was hoping for much more. I would recommend this book to authors to analyze it for what works and what doesn't, for word use, and for age appropriateness.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2022
#TheLegendOfTheDreamGiants #NetGalley
This fantasy book, is categorized as a book for middle readers. I would change that to teen.
Berg is an orphaned giant who is lonely and wants a friend. Berg travels from town to town, hunting for food. When Berg, arrives in a town where he seems to be accepted, and he has a new friend Anya, he soon realizes that all is not as it appears Did he put his trust in the wrong person?. This book is very dark and has some older themes running through it.
This fantasy book, is categorized as a book for middle readers. I would change that to teen.
Berg is an orphaned giant who is lonely and wants a friend. Berg travels from town to town, hunting for food. When Berg, arrives in a town where he seems to be accepted, and he has a new friend Anya, he soon realizes that all is not as it appears Did he put his trust in the wrong person?. This book is very dark and has some older themes running through it.
February 9, 2022
Synopsis
Since losing his mother, Berg is a lone giant who survives by secretly trading forest jewels for whatever food he can scrounge.
With the human population terrified of Ünhold the Giant, Berg is chased and hunted, consigned to a life of isolation.
When he finds an opportunity to stay with a town of ironmongers, Berg finally feels accepted. He befriends the young Anya, who sees him for who he is, and becomes the night watchman. Yet something seems amiss when Berg is continuously placed in chains by the town mayor and Ünhold has been frequently sighted …
Review
The Legend of the Dream Giants is a tale of isolation, loss, and finding one’s place in the world. It’s moving and poignant. It’s cruel. It’s beautiful. It has also received some incredibly unfair reviews.
You see, there’s not really a happily-ever-after here, not so much as Berg hopes for at the start of the story. Desperate to make any form of connection, he is soon exploited by the overfriendly mayor despite warnings from newfound friends. Berg, so desperate from loneliness, refuses to see he is being manipulated and it’s heartbreaking to see unfold.
And yet this is what makes the book such an engaging read. It doesn’t sugarcoat its themes of loss. Berg mourns deeply for his mother through the prose and a series of dream illustrations Hansen has created. The sacrifices characters make in the book carries weight and there will be many readers who identify with Berg’s grief and his longing to fit in.
The book has received criticism for being too sad for its intended readership but I strongly disagree with this. The Legend of the Dream Giants is pure and wonderful. When Berg feels joy, we too are right there with him. When the inevitable happens, we cry with him too.
Berg’s journey throughout the book into acceptance of who and what he is makes the conclusion all the more satisfying. He has grown (physically I think he also grows about 6 feet or so over the course of the story) and I think we’ve grown along with him.
Conclusion
If you want to give yourself a real good smack in the feels, you’re not going to go wrong with this one. Don’t listen to the “it’s too sad” criticism. It’s supposed to be sad. Nobody in Berg’s situation is going to be skipping through the woods and singing like a Disney princess but this is a heartfelt fable with a pure message and has been a really enjoyable surprise for 2022.
Since losing his mother, Berg is a lone giant who survives by secretly trading forest jewels for whatever food he can scrounge.
With the human population terrified of Ünhold the Giant, Berg is chased and hunted, consigned to a life of isolation.
When he finds an opportunity to stay with a town of ironmongers, Berg finally feels accepted. He befriends the young Anya, who sees him for who he is, and becomes the night watchman. Yet something seems amiss when Berg is continuously placed in chains by the town mayor and Ünhold has been frequently sighted …
Review
The Legend of the Dream Giants is a tale of isolation, loss, and finding one’s place in the world. It’s moving and poignant. It’s cruel. It’s beautiful. It has also received some incredibly unfair reviews.
You see, there’s not really a happily-ever-after here, not so much as Berg hopes for at the start of the story. Desperate to make any form of connection, he is soon exploited by the overfriendly mayor despite warnings from newfound friends. Berg, so desperate from loneliness, refuses to see he is being manipulated and it’s heartbreaking to see unfold.
And yet this is what makes the book such an engaging read. It doesn’t sugarcoat its themes of loss. Berg mourns deeply for his mother through the prose and a series of dream illustrations Hansen has created. The sacrifices characters make in the book carries weight and there will be many readers who identify with Berg’s grief and his longing to fit in.
The book has received criticism for being too sad for its intended readership but I strongly disagree with this. The Legend of the Dream Giants is pure and wonderful. When Berg feels joy, we too are right there with him. When the inevitable happens, we cry with him too.
Berg’s journey throughout the book into acceptance of who and what he is makes the conclusion all the more satisfying. He has grown (physically I think he also grows about 6 feet or so over the course of the story) and I think we’ve grown along with him.
Conclusion
If you want to give yourself a real good smack in the feels, you’re not going to go wrong with this one. Don’t listen to the “it’s too sad” criticism. It’s supposed to be sad. Nobody in Berg’s situation is going to be skipping through the woods and singing like a Disney princess but this is a heartfelt fable with a pure message and has been a really enjoyable surprise for 2022.
February 25, 2022
Plot:
Berg wanted friends. After his mother abandons him to keep him safe, Berg wanders the woods alone, searching for a place to call home. The humans feared him, calling him the Unhold, an evil older giant, one even Berg was afraid of. When he stumped across a village and met his first friend, a little girl named Anya, who shared the magic of the dream sand with her. When the town found Berg and Anya, the mayor told Berg that he could stay and protect the village if he followed the rules. The rules had him locked in the barn and wearing chains on his hands, but at least he finally found a place to call home. When some of the townspeople were not nice to Berg, Anya was, and the mayor promised that the others would love Berg as well. Following the mayor’s request, Berg learns what it is like to be a giant in the human world and finds out where he truly belongs.
Thoughts:
This is quite a sad story that Dustin Hansen wrote. From the third-person point of view, following around the young giant Berg, you get to read about his loneliness and wanting to belong. From being mistaken for Unhold to meeting Unhold and Anya, Berg is just a little kid wanting a family after his mother left him. With a clear plot and fast-moving chapters, Hansen added beautiful graphic illustrations to show Berg’s story as a bear and the villages as wolves. The plot itself does not work for this story, as it has an unknown age for the readers. As it tells the fairytale-like story of a giant, you assume this story is meant for children, but then Berg experiences traumatic events like bullying and abandonment; as an adult, I shed a little tear for Berg. This is definitely not a children’s story, as Hansen advertises it, unless you are ready for a long conversation full of tears to learn why the villagers are so mean to Berg and how even the ending was not a happy one. Still, Hansen did a fantastic job sticking to that element for a story about Giants, and the graphic illustrations were phenomenal. Still, the plot itself is kind of a flop.
Berg wanted friends. After his mother abandons him to keep him safe, Berg wanders the woods alone, searching for a place to call home. The humans feared him, calling him the Unhold, an evil older giant, one even Berg was afraid of. When he stumped across a village and met his first friend, a little girl named Anya, who shared the magic of the dream sand with her. When the town found Berg and Anya, the mayor told Berg that he could stay and protect the village if he followed the rules. The rules had him locked in the barn and wearing chains on his hands, but at least he finally found a place to call home. When some of the townspeople were not nice to Berg, Anya was, and the mayor promised that the others would love Berg as well. Following the mayor’s request, Berg learns what it is like to be a giant in the human world and finds out where he truly belongs.
Thoughts:
This is quite a sad story that Dustin Hansen wrote. From the third-person point of view, following around the young giant Berg, you get to read about his loneliness and wanting to belong. From being mistaken for Unhold to meeting Unhold and Anya, Berg is just a little kid wanting a family after his mother left him. With a clear plot and fast-moving chapters, Hansen added beautiful graphic illustrations to show Berg’s story as a bear and the villages as wolves. The plot itself does not work for this story, as it has an unknown age for the readers. As it tells the fairytale-like story of a giant, you assume this story is meant for children, but then Berg experiences traumatic events like bullying and abandonment; as an adult, I shed a little tear for Berg. This is definitely not a children’s story, as Hansen advertises it, unless you are ready for a long conversation full of tears to learn why the villagers are so mean to Berg and how even the ending was not a happy one. Still, Hansen did a fantastic job sticking to that element for a story about Giants, and the graphic illustrations were phenomenal. Still, the plot itself is kind of a flop.
April 26, 2022
What it's about: Berg is a child. He's also a giant in a world filled with people who fear and hunt giants. All Berg wants is to get along with humans - particularly the little ones. Unlike the legendary Unhold, Berg does not steal food from humans, he trades his most treasured possessions for food. These trades can only happen during the night, while humans can't see him; and Berg's treasures are often beautiful rocks and bright feathers he finds in his forest wanderings. Berg thinks his trades are often too kind to the humans, since his treasures are so special; but Berg is happy to give them some of his happiness.
But one day, Berg finds himself unexpectedly befriended by a young girl in a strange city. Berg has been alone since his mother went away to protect him, leaving him only a satchel for his treasures, so he is very excited to find he and the girl have some things in common.
And when the city's mayor also befriends Berg, despite the fears of the citizens, Berg is thrilled. He is happy to help the mayor, trading labors for food and safety.
But when Berg's friend tries to warn him away from the city, Berg finds himself confused. And soon, he finds himself wrapped up, literally and metaphorically, in the mayor's plans for the city.
What I thought: I asked for and received an e-ARC of this book after hearing it discussed at a booth during a virtual conference. I thought it was a graphic novel, and the first few pages are drawn. But the illustrations ended up being few and far between; this is primarily a prose text.
Berg is a very sweet and naive character. Hansen does a nice job of capturing a childlike sense of logic and understanding of the world. It is difficult to see how he gets manipulated, and how he misses signs and signals that could help him navigate his conflicts more easily.
Overall, this is an effective fantasy story. I had a bit of trouble placing the story chronologically; it starts with Berg walking through forests and farms, and mentions a blacksmith, so I first thought it was a medieval setting. But when Berg reaches the city, and they are working iron on a nearly industrial scale, it felt a bit more like an 1800s setting, though it didn't display any of the mechanization or weaponry of that time period.
I also found myself getting repeatedly knocked out of my suspension of disbelief by the use of dashes. Hansen likes a hyphenated phrase, but there are places where it doesn't grammatically make sense, or at least to my mind, it doesn't do what he seems to be trying to accomplish. The English teacher in me kept getting derailed trying to make meaning from brutalized hyphenation.
Why my chosen shelves: Trigger warning: Berg gets bullied, has violence perpetrated on him, and is abused in a few ways - and he is technically a child; trigger warning for losing a parent; Berg is repeatedly tricked into doing things; not only is Berg a giant, but there is definite magic several times throughout the story; Berg is marginalized and humans are racist against him - they treat him terribly because he is a giant, even despite Berg's ongoing kindness and gentleness; Berg has no family of his own, but forms something of one with his human friend Anya;
Why I rated it like I did: This story was just fine, but it wasn't for me. It is very "once upon a time" fantasy that seems squarely aimed at lower middle grades or as a read-aloud for younger kids. There are good lessons to learn, and despite some dark moments and a slightly bittersweet ending, the story is ultimately about successfully growing up.
But one day, Berg finds himself unexpectedly befriended by a young girl in a strange city. Berg has been alone since his mother went away to protect him, leaving him only a satchel for his treasures, so he is very excited to find he and the girl have some things in common.
And when the city's mayor also befriends Berg, despite the fears of the citizens, Berg is thrilled. He is happy to help the mayor, trading labors for food and safety.
But when Berg's friend tries to warn him away from the city, Berg finds himself confused. And soon, he finds himself wrapped up, literally and metaphorically, in the mayor's plans for the city.
What I thought: I asked for and received an e-ARC of this book after hearing it discussed at a booth during a virtual conference. I thought it was a graphic novel, and the first few pages are drawn. But the illustrations ended up being few and far between; this is primarily a prose text.
Berg is a very sweet and naive character. Hansen does a nice job of capturing a childlike sense of logic and understanding of the world. It is difficult to see how he gets manipulated, and how he misses signs and signals that could help him navigate his conflicts more easily.
Overall, this is an effective fantasy story. I had a bit of trouble placing the story chronologically; it starts with Berg walking through forests and farms, and mentions a blacksmith, so I first thought it was a medieval setting. But when Berg reaches the city, and they are working iron on a nearly industrial scale, it felt a bit more like an 1800s setting, though it didn't display any of the mechanization or weaponry of that time period.
I also found myself getting repeatedly knocked out of my suspension of disbelief by the use of dashes. Hansen likes a hyphenated phrase, but there are places where it doesn't grammatically make sense, or at least to my mind, it doesn't do what he seems to be trying to accomplish. The English teacher in me kept getting derailed trying to make meaning from brutalized hyphenation.
Why my chosen shelves: Trigger warning: Berg gets bullied, has violence perpetrated on him, and is abused in a few ways - and he is technically a child; trigger warning for losing a parent; Berg is repeatedly tricked into doing things; not only is Berg a giant, but there is definite magic several times throughout the story; Berg is marginalized and humans are racist against him - they treat him terribly because he is a giant, even despite Berg's ongoing kindness and gentleness; Berg has no family of his own, but forms something of one with his human friend Anya;
Why I rated it like I did: This story was just fine, but it wasn't for me. It is very "once upon a time" fantasy that seems squarely aimed at lower middle grades or as a read-aloud for younger kids. There are good lessons to learn, and despite some dark moments and a slightly bittersweet ending, the story is ultimately about successfully growing up.
March 9, 2022
This book is a tender story about a young giant trying to find his way in a world that doesn’t appreciate—or even like—him. But all he wants is a friend. The writing is very lyrical, almost poetic, and it’s a very experiential storytelling style.
I liked the journey Berg undertook and all the things he learned about himself and others, and the caution one should have about the stories people tell.
I did wish it had ended a little differently. This book really does tug at your heart strings. There are plenty of sad things that happen. It doesn’t end badly but I was still wishing for something different. There are some important lessons found in this book, like the meaning of true friendship, doing what’s right even—or especially—when it’s hard, and watching out for others. And I think some good discussion could be had about bullying, culture and fear, and grief.
I think older middle grade readers could appreciate this story on their own, but younger readers, particularly those of a more sensitive nature, may need to read this with an adult to help them make sense of everything that happens to Berg.
*Note/CW/TW: death of parent; talk/songs about giant slaying, bullying, mob chasing and violence; hunger; thievery and deceit; enslavement, being chained up and threatened; death by fire
**Many thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy of the book. I voluntarily wrote this honest review, which opinion belongs only to myself.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
I liked the journey Berg undertook and all the things he learned about himself and others, and the caution one should have about the stories people tell.
I did wish it had ended a little differently. This book really does tug at your heart strings. There are plenty of sad things that happen. It doesn’t end badly but I was still wishing for something different. There are some important lessons found in this book, like the meaning of true friendship, doing what’s right even—or especially—when it’s hard, and watching out for others. And I think some good discussion could be had about bullying, culture and fear, and grief.
I think older middle grade readers could appreciate this story on their own, but younger readers, particularly those of a more sensitive nature, may need to read this with an adult to help them make sense of everything that happens to Berg.
*Note/CW/TW: death of parent; talk/songs about giant slaying, bullying, mob chasing and violence; hunger; thievery and deceit; enslavement, being chained up and threatened; death by fire
**Many thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy of the book. I voluntarily wrote this honest review, which opinion belongs only to myself.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
March 13, 2022
This was a cute little story about a giant. And I feel like it had so much potential. But I can't put my finger on why it didn't thrill me.
I mean, giants! What a novel idea. I actually found Berg's worldview kind of interesting, especially in the beginning. He learns and he keeps learning throughout the whole story, which is always a good thing.
But even though I was reading scenes that should have been exciting, they just weren't. And I don't know why.
I put the book down a couple times, just because I thought coming back to it would help. But I kept finding myself counting pages to the end. Which is never a good thing.
I do think this might find an audience as a read-aloud book, although there is an awful lot of mystery that is never explained, and that might be a problem. But I could see some places where reading aloud would be fun.
Berg was a good character, as was Anya. I feel like we could have gotten to know them both better. Maybe it needed a dual POV? I am stumped why he didn't have Unhold speak, or why we never learn who he is (Berg's father?).
I found myself comparing this to children's books I love that do twice the work in half the space. And I know that's not fair, but I still don't know why this book fell flat for me. Maybe some day I will figure it out.
I mean, giants! What a novel idea. I actually found Berg's worldview kind of interesting, especially in the beginning. He learns and he keeps learning throughout the whole story, which is always a good thing.
But even though I was reading scenes that should have been exciting, they just weren't. And I don't know why.
I put the book down a couple times, just because I thought coming back to it would help. But I kept finding myself counting pages to the end. Which is never a good thing.
I do think this might find an audience as a read-aloud book, although there is an awful lot of mystery that is never explained, and that might be a problem. But I could see some places where reading aloud would be fun.
Berg was a good character, as was Anya. I feel like we could have gotten to know them both better. Maybe it needed a dual POV? I am stumped why he didn't have Unhold speak, or why we never learn who he is (Berg's father?).
I found myself comparing this to children's books I love that do twice the work in half the space. And I know that's not fair, but I still don't know why this book fell flat for me. Maybe some day I will figure it out.
March 1, 2022
If you enjoy classic fairy tales this is a story for you to share with your children. It is both lyric and beautiful. It is also sad and delves into some darker themes. Children can read sad things and meet hard topics. They are full of emotions and will absolutely be able to relate to Berg's loneliness, his willingness to let himself be manipulated to try to find a place where he fits, and also friendship. I highly recommend this book be read as a family.
On a side note about the structure of the book I also love how it was put together. The chapters are short and manageable. Interspersed is a comic book style layout of Berg's experience in a dream sequence where he is represented by a bear. The alternating text and picture format will be very engaging for readers. And, if a child is reading it on their own, the shorter chapters will be very manageable - even for slower readers.
The Legend of the Dream Giants gets a strong recommendation from me!
Themes present to note for young readers: loneliness, loss, grief
Thank you @Netgalley and @shadowmountainpub for early access to this ARC in return for an unbiased and voluntary review
On a side note about the structure of the book I also love how it was put together. The chapters are short and manageable. Interspersed is a comic book style layout of Berg's experience in a dream sequence where he is represented by a bear. The alternating text and picture format will be very engaging for readers. And, if a child is reading it on their own, the shorter chapters will be very manageable - even for slower readers.
The Legend of the Dream Giants gets a strong recommendation from me!
Themes present to note for young readers: loneliness, loss, grief
Thank you @Netgalley and @shadowmountainpub for early access to this ARC in return for an unbiased and voluntary review
February 18, 2022
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG
Berg the giant wanders alone, trading for the food he needs, but Berg really wants to be friends with the people who chase him away. They hurt Berg when they call him “Ünhold,” the name of a terrible giant. If only Berg could show them that he isn’t like Ünhold, then maybe they would be kind to Berg and let him stay.
The young giant, Berg, is simple in language and desire, and the simplicity is what makes his story relatable. His is a tale of belonging, of struggling to understand why what he thinks of as kindness is rejected by people, of wondering if he can be true to himself as well as the demands of those that are willing to call themselves his friend. Hansen writes beautifully in the descriptive way of Berg’s simpler language to illustrate this fantasy world from Berg’s point of view, but there are pieces of the story that don't make sense to me. The violence rating is for repeated attacks and death.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
Berg the giant wanders alone, trading for the food he needs, but Berg really wants to be friends with the people who chase him away. They hurt Berg when they call him “Ünhold,” the name of a terrible giant. If only Berg could show them that he isn’t like Ünhold, then maybe they would be kind to Berg and let him stay.
The young giant, Berg, is simple in language and desire, and the simplicity is what makes his story relatable. His is a tale of belonging, of struggling to understand why what he thinks of as kindness is rejected by people, of wondering if he can be true to himself as well as the demands of those that are willing to call themselves his friend. Hansen writes beautifully in the descriptive way of Berg’s simpler language to illustrate this fantasy world from Berg’s point of view, but there are pieces of the story that don't make sense to me. The violence rating is for repeated attacks and death.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
March 1, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
What a delightful book! It is poignant and thougt-provoking. And I LOVE the illustrations.
Berg wants a friend—so much so that he'd give up food to have one. But nobody likes giants. He has such good manners with trading for food too. He doesn't want people to be scared of him, but longs for acceptance. And then he meets a girl, Anya, who isn't afraid of him, but that doesn't mean things are going to work out.
I loved Berg because of his innocence. Anya is spunky and so much fun to read. I kept reading, watching everything unravel, and my heart ached for Berg. His struggles are so touching, and I can see my childhood and. my children's childhood in him.
I feel like The Legend of the Dream Giants is a book I can read again and again. If you have ever felt misunderstood, this is the perfect book for you!
Please get this book for the children in your life! I promise, every kid feels alone and misunderstood at times and need the hope found here.
What a delightful book! It is poignant and thougt-provoking. And I LOVE the illustrations.
Berg wants a friend—so much so that he'd give up food to have one. But nobody likes giants. He has such good manners with trading for food too. He doesn't want people to be scared of him, but longs for acceptance. And then he meets a girl, Anya, who isn't afraid of him, but that doesn't mean things are going to work out.
I loved Berg because of his innocence. Anya is spunky and so much fun to read. I kept reading, watching everything unravel, and my heart ached for Berg. His struggles are so touching, and I can see my childhood and. my children's childhood in him.
I feel like The Legend of the Dream Giants is a book I can read again and again. If you have ever felt misunderstood, this is the perfect book for you!
Please get this book for the children in your life! I promise, every kid feels alone and misunderstood at times and need the hope found here.
June 23, 2022
The Legend of the Dream Giants by Dustin Hansen tells the story of a giant named Berg. Berg is a nice giant who does take food from the villagers, but he always leaves a treasure behind to say thank you. He's alone and sad. He just wants to be loved and have friends so he goes on a journey. After a long journey he finds a village and a friend named Anya. The mayor of the village "befriends" Berg and asks him to defend the village. This may or may not end up well for Berg. I liked the craft of the writing in this book. I also liked Berg and Anya. This was not my favorite book. It was ok and had some good lessons of trust and friendship, but I found it to be depressing and some parts were VERY similar to The BFG by Roald Dahl. It's rated PG, recommended for middle-graders and up, and I gave it 3/5 ⭐. You may read my full review on my book blog: thereadathon.com.
December 3, 2022
There was so much potential here that wasn’t quite reached for me. The setting and characterization was lost on me. I felt like I was in a strange reading limbo while reading this book due to a lack of clear plot direction and surface level and simplistic character descriptions.
The age group this book would be good for was also hard to place for me. It felt like a very simple story for readers just moving out of picture books, and yet the language and the descriptions of the magic were a bit more mature, which added to the strange experience of reading this book. Additionally, the plot ended up being very repetitious, and could have gone in more interesting directions than it did.
Overall there were good bones but it was lacking in substance for me as a reader. That being said, the writing was beautiful and I could tell the author knew and cared for these characters, I just don’t think he conveyed that knowledge to the reader effectively.
The age group this book would be good for was also hard to place for me. It felt like a very simple story for readers just moving out of picture books, and yet the language and the descriptions of the magic were a bit more mature, which added to the strange experience of reading this book. Additionally, the plot ended up being very repetitious, and could have gone in more interesting directions than it did.
Overall there were good bones but it was lacking in substance for me as a reader. That being said, the writing was beautiful and I could tell the author knew and cared for these characters, I just don’t think he conveyed that knowledge to the reader effectively.
July 22, 2022
This was an amazing book and despite it being regarded as a childen's book, it holds many treasures that can be enjoyed by all. Diving in to deeper topics such as greef, sacrifice and betrail we follow the life of Berg, a Giant with a kind heart in a cruel world.
The pace of the story is gentle, giving way to the feeling of a fairy-tale world. The story is told though the thoughts and observations of the boy-giant Berg, which suits the story perfectly.
I want to write more about what I like about this book so anyone who reads this can understand why I really recommend others to read it. However, it becomes too much of a spoiler if I continue to write since I have to go into the specific details that made me like this book. So I'll have to leave it up to you to choose. All I can say is that you'll never know until you try.
:)
/Eo
The pace of the story is gentle, giving way to the feeling of a fairy-tale world. The story is told though the thoughts and observations of the boy-giant Berg, which suits the story perfectly.
I want to write more about what I like about this book so anyone who reads this can understand why I really recommend others to read it. However, it becomes too much of a spoiler if I continue to write since I have to go into the specific details that made me like this book. So I'll have to leave it up to you to choose. All I can say is that you'll never know until you try.
:)
/Eo
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