For the past six years, Matty has lived in Village and flourished under the guidance of Seer, a blind man, known for his special sight. Village was a place that welcomed newcomers, but something sinister has seeped into Village and the people have voted to close it to outsiders. Matty has been invaluable as a messenger. Now he must make one last journey through the treacherous forest with his only weapon, a power he unexpectedly discovers within himself. Rating: 5 Stars Oh goodness...prepare for the gushing! Warning there is no way to make this without Giver or Gathering Blue spoilers so don't read this is if you haven't read those. Right off the bat, this is a really fun book for fans of this series. This one is told through the eyes of Matty. Matty has really changed since his days in the Fen (rough neighborhood from Gathering Blue). He now lives with Seer (Kira's father) and is a messenger for the community. One of the few people who can travel into Forest, Matty is still pretty fierce. I LOVED getting to see Matty's growth in this novel. I enjoyed reading about his experience becoming apart of this community. Another character I enjoyed getting to know better is Seer. We get so little of him in Gathering Blue and I was so happy to learn more. Possibly the most exciting thing about this book is Jonas. It's hard to describe how happy I was to learn about his important role in this community and how he has learned and grown. Compared to Gathering Blue I felt like the pacing of this book was fast. The plot was organized in a way that always kept me guessing and waiting for more! This was a re read for me, but I seemed to have remembered very little. Very often I caught myself gasping or crying. I won't spoil the ending for you, but OMG OMG OMG. That's all I'll say... Highly recommend this one for readers of The Giver and Gathering Blue. It was amazing, 5 stars, so amazing!
In her strongest work to date, Lois Lowry once again creates a mysterious but plausible future world. It is a society ruled by savagery and deceit that shuns and discards the weak. Left orphaned and physically flawed, young Kira faces a frightening, uncertain future. Blessed with an almost magical talent that keeps her alive, she struggles with ever broadening responsibilities in her quest for truth, discovering things that will change her life forever. As she did in The Giver, Lowry challenges readers to imagine what our world could become, and what will be considered valuable. Every reader will be taken by Kira's plight and will long ponder her haunting world and the hope for the future.
Rating: 5 Stars
Being born with a twisted leg, Kira, should not have been allowed to live. In this harsh distopian society the injured, disabled, and old are not allowed. If you are of not use to the society then you have no right to live. A startling contrast to it's previous companion novel, The Giver, Lois Lowry dives into the darkest parts of humanity. This is probably the 5th time I re-read this book. Kira is one of my favorite female protagonist. She is a strong, independent, no frills female lead. Her narration is simple and honest. The supporting characters in this story are equally enjoyable. Matt is the embodiment of every reckless little boy you love. His presence is the story allows us to see the compassionate side of Kira. Even in the horrible cruelty they exist in these characters still have moments of joy. What I love about Lois Lowry's writing is how vague she is. Giving just enough detail and then leaving the rest to my imagination. Really it's one of those love it or hate it qualities, but for me it works. This style let's me have a wonderfully interactive reading experience. I can see the society for its brutality, and enhance it to my own specific fears. There are plenty of distopian novels now a days, but you can't claim to understand harshness until you read Gathering Blue. Simple and thought provoking. I HIGHLY recommend this book to readers of The Giver. It's filled with lovely little hints to everyone's future.
Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.
This was a reread for me. It was wonderful to experience this book for the second time. My rereading of it did not, in anyway, affect the emotions that come along with reading this book. I still found myself shocked, and in tears through certain passages. Never has a book so rightfully earned its 5 stars on Goodreads.
The Giver is set in a Utopian world. Different from the distopian novels that are so popular in the YA world today, . The main character Jonas is intelligent and curious. In this world children receive their job assignments when they are 12 years old. When Jonas is selected as the communities new Receiver, he is unsure what to expect. This story is set in an exquisitely well crafted society. Lowry leaves no stone unturned when describing the way food, family, and jobs are handled in her world. Lowry uses her "perfect" world to explain how control and safety can also mean sacrifices. Choices are nonexistent, neither are feelings. Jonas, the main character, takes us on a fascinating journey to find out what this means for humanity. How important are feelings like anger and love? Are they more important than safety, and comfort? The Giver is a must read for everyone. It stands strong as one of my favorite books of all time, and for good reasons. It forces the reader to question the world around them. Thought provoking does not even begin to describe it.
