The Legend of the Dream Giants | The Story of a Girl and a Big Friendly Giant | Kirkus Best Middle-Grade Fantasy of 2022

"The Legend of the Dream Giants is a touching, memorable tale about trust, betrayal, and love." ―Foreword Reviews, Starred Review
"Lilting writing has the feel of an epic poem, a tale of growing wise and of learning how to both hold on and let go. A moving and evocative must-read." ―Kirkus, Starred Review
An orphaned giant named Berg is hoping to find just one person he can call friend.
For many years, 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.
Sometimes, when Berg 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 and companionship; but with every attempt he makes, people chase him away, thinking he is Ünhold―a giant and a monster.
In his travels, Berg comes upon a city made of iron, where he meets a little girl, Anya. To his amazement and delight, Anya knows about the magical dream-sand, too, and says she wants to be his friend.
The mayor also befriends Berg and enlists him to guard the city from the dangerous Ünhold. But Anya suspects the mayor has other plans for the young giant. Fearing the city isn't safe, she warns Berg to flee. Confused and torn between his two friends, the young giant has to figure out where he can place his trust.
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.
From School Library Journal
Gr 4-7-Berg is a young giant living in a world where giants and trolls are feared and hunted by humans. He spends his days wandering the woods and into farmsteads, and trading forest-jewels and sometimes unsolicited favors in exchange for vegetables scavenged from gardens. One day, Berg is attacked by a group of humans and suffers a gunshot wound; he is saved from drowning by a mysterious older giant. Thinking that his rescuer is the infamous Ünhold, who is greatly feared by the humans, Berg flees to a new, walled town. There he meets a young girl named Anya who teaches him about the star-blue-sand he discovered in his rescuer's cave. Thinking that her welcome extends to all people in the town, Berg returns in the daylight only to be bound and chained, then pressed into service for Eisenstadt. This unique novel centers a young boy trying to navigate the world all on his own, not knowing the shifting rules of society or who can be trusted. The story takes the classic coming-of-age trope and transforms it into an untold fairytale. The secret of the star-blue-sand is slowly revealed alongside Berg's mysterious origins. Interspersed throughout the book are wordless comic panels depicting Berg's dreams of wolves/humans and their hunt and mistreatment of bears/giants. VERDICT A beautiful and minimalist depiction of growing up and overcoming naivety. Put this into the hands of readers who enjoyed Ryan Andrews's This Was Our Pact or Sarah Pennypacker's Pax.-Sara Brunkhorstα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.