The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Ryan, Pam Muñoz, and Peter Sís. The Dreamer (Ala Notable Children’s Books. Older Readers). Scholastic Press, 2013.

“The Dreamer” began with the world outside Neftalí’s window distracting him from his less interesting studies. Father’s loud whistle and harsh words disrupted his reverie. Early one morning, Father chastised Rodolfo for singing his scales. Although Mamadre and Rodolfo insisted upon his talent and the support of his teachers, Father forbade Rodolfo from singing at school. Father insisted that he must “study business or medicine” to be respected and financially stable within the community (30). Furthermore, Father ordered that Rodolfo deliver Neftalí to school on time. The latter enjoyed lingering on the way to school to observe his surroundings despite Rodolfo’s annoyance. The wind was so strong that it took father’s hat off Neftalí’s head, and Rodolfo and the other boys made fun of him as he tried to retrieve it.

One night, while Father was away, Mamadre allowed the children to drink hot chocolate as they listened to her read a story in the salon. Soon, Uncle Orlando strummed a guitar, Rodolfo sang, and Neftalí, Laurita, and Mamadre danced happily. Then, Mamadre heard the whistle of Father’s train. The family hurriedly prepared the house for dinner guests, who arrived promptly after Father. The company fought with Uncle Orlando about the rights of the local Mapuche tribe. The conversation became more uncomfortable for Neftalí when his stutter impeded his ability to answer questions, fueling Father’s embarrassment and harsh words.

On the morning of Neftalí’s trip to the forest with Father, Rodolfo warned him to follow Father’s orders and behave or face physical punishment. Neftalí was amazed upon reaching their destination. At Father’s whistle, Neftalí returned to the train only to find that Father was ashamed by Neftalí’s collections and dirty appearance. When Father refused to sit or speak with Neftalí on the train ride home, Neftalí felt betrayed. He avoided Father for a month after their visit, burying himself in books. When Father demanded that he spend more time outside, Neftalí spent it alone and returned to the backyard. He investigated the hole in the fence, and soon a child’s hand appeared, offering him a toy sheep. The stranger accepted Neftalí’s gift, his pinecone, and disappeared.

Once summer arrived, the family sans Rodolfo traveled to Puerto Saavedra to stay in a friend’s summer home. Once they reached the Imperial River by train, the family boarded a boat, where Neftalí befriended a Mapuche boy. Once they docked, the boy disappeared until he turned and waved in the distance. After they set up the house, Father allowed them to walk to the seashore. Neftalí and Laurita joyfully explored until Father summoned them to explain that he would force them into the ocean every day to focus their minds and strengthen their bodies. Neftalí looked to Mamadre for help in vain. When he and Laurita waded out, the strength of the waves pulled them each under. Recognizing his parents’ lack of intervention, Neftalí brought a sobbing Laurita back to shore. Mamadre took her into her arms, but Neftalí marched back to the summerhouse alone, angry and confused about why Father and Mamadre would insist on traumatizing them.

In response, Neftalí read and daydreamed after swimming in the ocean every day. Eventually, he found a local librarian who offered his abandoned cottage for Neftalí’s use and enjoyment. There, Neftalí felt safe and made friends with the swans in the lagoon. One day, after weeks of caring for them, Neftalí found the male swan wounded and alone. He told Laurita about his secret place, and for two weeks, the siblings looked after the swan. Although the physical wound was healing, the swan continued to deteriorate. One day, when Neftalí visited him alone, the swan died in his arms. Mamadre and Laurita found him there, where Mamadre comforted him. At the end of the summer, Neftalí decided to let go of Father’s negativity. He wrote Father’s negative words in the sand and allowed the ocean to wash them away.

At 11 years old, Neftalí was known for his eloquent writing at school. Guillermo asked him to write love letters to Blanca, and out of fear of Guillermo, Neftalí complied. Blanca, though, recognized Neftalí’s writing. She allowed Guillermo to give her Neftalí’s letters every week, offering a quince to Neftalí for his words. One day, Neftalí learned that Blanca’s family was moving away. Although he wished to say goodbye to her, he simply watched as the town said goodbye and Blanca’s train pulled away.

At 13 years old, Neftalí asked Uncle Orlando for a job at his newspaper office. Uncle Orlando required Father’s permission first, which he planned to get that night at dinner. There, Uncle Orlando read Neftalí’s essay, which would be published in the next day’s paper. Although the dinner guests enjoyed his writing, Father became angry. Only at Rodolfo’s and Uncle Orlando’s insistence did Father agree to Neftalí’s employment. After two months of working in the office, Neftalí helped Uncle Orlando host the protestors on behalf of the Mapuche there, inspiring Neftalí’s sense of justice. That night, the office was deliberately burned down in retaliation. Uncle Orlando taught Neftalí that despite hardship and setback, the words of truth can never be silenced.

Three years later, Neftalí was excited to be published in Claridad, Santiago’s university paper, and asked to write more for them. The paper cited Neftalí as a studying poet, which angered Father when he found the paper. He threw Neftalí’s writing out the window in his anger and lit them on fire after forbidding Neftalí from writing again. When Neftalí found out that a writer of free speech died in imprisonment, he felt a rejuvenated commitment to the cause. Upon writing another poem for Claridad, he decided it was in his best interest to create a pen name: Pablo Neruda. When he packed up to leave home, Neftalí felt hopeful. He set out for Santiago, where he wrote no matter his circumstance. Eventually, his writing touched people’s hearts all around the world.